Photoshop Tutorial #4 : Create a Dramatic Photo Mosaic with Photoshop

*Make sure you follow ALL directions so that you get the correct final result *

Step 1: Start by copying photos you have taken so far this year into a new folder called Mosaic.

I just copied and pasted images at random and ended up with 250 of them. Be sure the images

in this new folder are copies and not originals.

Step 2: Next, you want to start an action. To do this, open up the first image in your new

Mosaic folder and open the Actions palette. (Windows>Actions)

Step 3: Now click the arrow in the upper right hand area of the palette and select new action.

Step 4: Go ahead and name the action, Re-size and click Record

Step 5: Now go to Image>Image Size

Step 6: Uncheck Scale Styles and constrain proportions. Leave Resample Image checked, make

the image size 1cm X 1cm at 200 resolution, click OK, save the image by holding CTRL + S

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Step 7: CLOSE YOUR IMAGE (X out of image) than go back to the Actions Palette and

click stop. You’ve just recorded the image size adjustment. (if you don’t close the image before

you stop the recording be prepared for a headache)

Step 8: The next step will be to turn your action in to a droplet. Go to File>Automate>Create

Droplet. Click the Choose button and decide where you want to save your droplet, select the re-

size action you’ve just created and click OK.

2. Stop recording

1. Close image by clicking

the X before you stop the

recording

Step 9: Click the Choose button and save your droplet on the Desktop, select the re-size action

you’ve just created and click OK.

Step 9: Now go back to the new folder of copied images you created, select them all and drag

them over the Droplet icon. Make sure you are dragging the copies! This will convert each

image to a 1cm X 1cm square.

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Step 9: Now that all the images have been reduced to their smaller size, it’s time to make the

mosaic. To do this click File>Automate>Contact Sheet II.

Step 10: Select the images you want to you use by clicking Choose and then enter the following

measurements:

Vertical Portraits: 25 cm (H) x 20 cm (W) – Resolution - 200

20 Columns and 30 Rows

Uncheck Auto Spacing and Font

Check Flatten Layers

Horizontal Portraits: 20 cm (H) x 25 cm (W) – Resolution - 200

30 Columns and 20 Rows

Uncheck Auto Spacing and Font

Check Flatten Layers

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Step 11: If you didn’t have enough images, simply copy and paste them to fill the canvas, just

be sure to Flatten the image after you do by clicking Layer>Flatten Image.

Copy and paste to fill your background so it looks like the image below….

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Step 12: Add a black and white adjustment layer

Step 12: Next Open the portrait of yours you would like to use as the main image, and crop it

to 25cm x 20 cm - 200 resolution.. or 20cm x 25 cm - 200 resolution..(depending on

orientation)

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Step 13: Turn the image to black and white and adjust your levels so it has good contrast for

best results

Step 14: Flatten the image and then hold CTRL + A, than CTRL + C

Step 15: Go back to you mosaic and hold CTRL + V to paste the image over the mosaic

Step 16: You should now have a mosaic image, make sure Flatten your image and save,

upload to your blog