HOWTO: Pixelization in Fireworks?

Hi All,

I'm trying to do pixelization (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixelization ) in
Fireworks. Here's the workflow I was hoping would work:
1) Select the area of the image to be pixelized and copy it as a new image;
2) Resize the new image to a very few number of pixels;
3) Paste the new image back onto the original as a new layer;
4) Resize the layer until it matches the original; and
5) Line up the new layer so that it obscures the correct portion of the
original. Job done.
Only it doesn't work quite as I expected. In step (4), instead of each square
growing in size as the layer is resized, Fireworks interpolates and adds new
squares so that the pixelated portion appears to get more accurate, more
detailed. How can I resize the layer without Fireworks doing anything but
resize?

Here's an example that's almost (but not quite, see the PS) what I mean:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dumbledad/3004381461/

Cheers,

Tim.

PS I know that Photoshop has a filter that does almost exactly what I want ? a
mosaic pixelization. But I'm having other problems with that (I don't know how
to prevent alpha-blended transparency on the outlying pixels) that I'll
probably ask elsewhere.:confused;

On Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:59:18 +0300, Dumble_dad
<webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I'm trying to do pixelization
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixelization ) in
> Fireworks. Here's the workflow I was hoping would work:
> 1) Select the area of the image to be pixelized and copy it as a new
> image;
> 2) Resize the new image to a very few number of pixels;
> 3) Paste the new image back onto the original as a new layer;
> 4) Resize the layer until it matches the original; and
> 5) Line up the new layer so that it obscures the correct portion of the
> original. Job done.
> Only it doesn't work quite as I expected. In step (4), instead of each
> square
> growing in size as the layer is resized, Fireworks interpolates and adds
> new
> squares so that the pixelated portion appears to get more accurate, more
> detailed. How can I resize the layer without Fireworks doing anything but
> resize?

Should be easy. In your newly pasted image, use "Image size" and reduce
it, choosing "Nearest neighbour" as interpolation algorithm. Them
immediately increase image size back, using "Nearest neighbour" again.


--
Ilya Razmanov
http://photoshop.msk.ru - Photoshop plug-in filters

Nice trick Ilya
I just tried this and it worked well, though not without trial and error.

You have to Resize 'down' to an incredibly smaller ratio of the original
before Resizing it back up again.

h

On Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:07:07 +0300, heathrowe
<webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote:

> Nice trick Ilya
> I just tried this and it worked well, though not without trial and
> error.
>
> You have to Resize 'down' to an incredibly smaller ratio of the original
> before Resizing it back up again.

Yes, that's what I ment by saying "use "Image size" and reduce it", sorry
if it wasn't clear. The main idea is that you "kill" pixels first, then
"restore" them using "Nearest neighbour", which is interpolation "by
constant" and so, unlike interpolation "by line" or "by cubic curve", it
is guaranteed to produce big flat areas you need for you purpose instead
of smooth transitions.

--
Ilya Razmanov
http://photoshop.msk.ru - Photoshop plug-in filters

Indeed thanks - now to remember to reset the interopolation back to the default after using this is another 'trick'. Cheers

h

Hi Tim,

You could try selective JPEG compression to get rid of alpha blending around
the edges and add large pixellated areas.
http://thaiwonders.com/design/index....ew&id=74&Itemi
d=204 Combine it with the workflow you used before, and hopefully it will give
your pics the right look.

Best luck!


SiamJai
~~~~
http://design.thaiwonders.com - Innovative Fireworks Tutorials

Hi, There is a tutorial by Kim Cananaugh on the CMX site explaining exactly
how to do this....

http://www.communitymx.com/content/a...3342BFEA8059EF

Peter
_______________
"Dumble_dad" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:gerua6$elk$1@forums.macromedia.com...
| Hi All,
|
| I'm trying to do pixelization (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixelization )
in
| Fireworks. Here's the workflow I was hoping would work:
| 1) Select the area of the image to be pixelized and copy it as a new
image;
| 2) Resize the new image to a very few number of pixels;
| 3) Paste the new image back onto the original as a new layer;
| 4) Resize the layer until it matches the original; and
| 5) Line up the new layer so that it obscures the correct portion of the
| original. Job done.
| Only it doesn't work quite as I expected. In step (4), instead of each
square
| growing in size as the layer is resized, Fireworks interpolates and adds
new
| squares so that the pixelated portion appears to get more accurate, more
| detailed. How can I resize the layer without Fireworks doing anything but
| resize?
|
| Here's an example that's almost (but not quite, see the PS) what I mean:
| http://www.flickr.com/photos/dumbledad/3004381461/
|
| Cheers,
|
| Tim.
|
| PS I know that Photoshop has a filter that does almost exactly what I want
? a
| mosaic pixelization. But I'm having other problems with that (I don't know
how
| to prevent alpha-blended transparency on the outlying pixels) that I'll
| probably ask elsewhere.:confused;
|

Peter,

Thanks for the link, but that tutorial seems to be reserved exclusively for CMX members. Non-members see only the login screen.

hi tim , try this pixelate plugin by richard rosenman , just try to locate the
ps plugin folder in your preferrences, there are also other cool free plugins
that can be used in fw too.

http://www.richardrosenman.com/media...s/pixelate.zip

his other plugins

http://www.richardrosenman.com/software/downloads/

my thoughts on this would be, make your image a bitmap first , then make a
selection using the polygon tool to areas you want to pixelate, then apply the
filter, hope that works =)

[q]Originally posted by: BLUE2X
hi tim , try this pixelate plugin by richard rosenman , just try to locate the
ps plugin folder in your preferrences, there are also other cool free plugins
that can be used in fw too.

http://www.richardrosenman.com/media...s/pixelate.zip

his other plugins

http://www.richardrosenman.com/software/downloads/

my thoughts on this would be, make your image a bitmap first , then make a
selection using the polygon tool to areas you want to pixelate, then apply the
filter, hope that works =)[/q]

I was just about to suggest the same thing
Too bad it's not possible (not that I am aware of) to have it as a Live Filter.

h