Collage & Layout Composition Expert
Expert in ALL forms of computational collage composition - from Instagram grids to Hockney joiners, from magazine layouts to generative art.
When to Use This Skill
✅ Use for:
Grid Collages: Instagram profiles, regular layouts, tiled compositions Photo Mosaics: Small images forming larger pictures Hockney-Style Joiners: Multi-perspective photographic assemblies Scrapbook/Journal: Mixed media with text, frames, embellishments Magazine/Editorial: Professional layouts with text integration Vision/Mood Boards: Inspiration collections, design references Memory Walls: Scattered Polaroid-style arrangements Social Media: Stories, carousel previews, profile grids Abstract/Generative: Algorithmic and procedural arrangements Art-Historical: Dadaist, Surrealist, Pop Art styles
❌ Do NOT use for:
Simple image editing → native-app-designer Generating new images → Stability AI Single photo quality → photo-composition-critic Image similarity search → clip-aware-embeddings Color palette extraction → color-theory-palette-harmony-expert Expert vs Novice Shibboleths Topic Novice Expert Layout "Just arrange randomly" Visual weight, balance, golden ratio Blending Hard edges or simple feather Poisson blending preserves gradients Color "Match colors manually" Optimal transport; LAB space advantages Composition Fills all space Negative space as design element Scale Same size for everything Varies scale for hierarchy Mosaic "More tiles = better" Tile size vs. recognition tradeoff Hockney "Stitch seamlessly" Imperfection IS the technique Decision Tree: Choosing a Style
What's the purpose?
Systematic display → Grid Collage Artistic portrait from photos → Photo Mosaic Personal memories → Scrapbook or Memory Wall Design inspiration → Mood Board Professional/publication → Magazine Layout Social media → Social Templates Art project → Hockney/Dadaist/Surrealist
What's the vibe?
Clean, modern → Grid with tight gutters Nostalgic, warm → Polaroid scatter, vintage frames Edgy, disruptive → Dadaist sharp cuts Dreamy, surreal → Seamless Poisson blending Cubist, intellectual → Hockney joiners Core Algorithms (Summary) Algorithm Use Case Performance Edge-Based Assembly Hockney joiners 0.5s for 10 photos Poisson Blending Seamless transitions 20ms (512×512) Optimal Transport Color harmonization Real-time w/ affine approx Force-Directed Organic scatter 200ms (50 images) K-d Tree Matching Photo mosaic tiles 2s for 10k tiles
→ See references/algorithms.md for full implementations.
Anti-Patterns to Avoid 1. Ignoring Visual Weight
What it looks like: All images same size, random placement Why it's wrong: No focal point, viewer's eye wanders aimlessly Fix: Establish 60/30/10 hierarchy with one hero image
- Over-Saturating the Canvas
What it looks like: Every pixel filled with image content Why it's wrong: Visual claustrophobia, no breathing room Fix: Use negative space intentionally (20-30% white space minimum)
- Linear FFT for Color Matching
What it looks like: Poor perceptual color matches Why it's wrong: RGB is not perceptually uniform Fix: Use LAB color space for matching
- Seamless Hockney Joiners
What it looks like: Perfectly stitched panorama Why it's wrong: Misses the entire point - multiple perspectives Fix: Embrace ±2° rotation variance, 5-15% overlap, intentional gaps
- Global Poisson Blending
What it looks like: Entire image becomes washed out Why it's wrong: Destroys local contrast, looks fake Fix: Apply locally at seams only, preserve source gradients
- Reusing Mosaic Tiles
What it looks like: Obvious repetition patterns in mosaic Why it's wrong: Human eye detects patterns immediately Fix: Track tile usage, penalize reuse, use larger tile library
MCP Integrations MCP Purpose Stability AI Generate backgrounds, textures, missing elements Firecrawl Research techniques, algorithm papers, art history WebFetch Fetch documentation, tutorials, design references Performance Targets Operation Mac M2 iPhone 15 Pro Grid layout (20 photos) <50ms <100ms Photo mosaic (10k tiles) 2s 5s Force-directed (50 images) 200ms 500ms Poisson blending (512×512) 20ms 50ms Hockney assembly (10 photos) 0.5s 2s References
→ references/collage-types.md - Grid, mosaic, scrapbook, magazine, social templates → references/art-historical-styles.md - Hockney, Dadaist, Surrealist, Rauschenberg → references/algorithms.md - Edge assembly, Poisson, optimal transport, force-directed → references/advanced-techniques.md - Cross-photo interactions, narrative sequences → references/implementation-guide.md - Metal shaders, Core ML, performance
Integrates With photo-composition-critic - Assess individual photos before collaging color-theory-palette-harmony-expert - Extract/match color palettes clip-aware-embeddings - Semantic grouping of images native-app-designer - Build collage creation UI metal-shader-expert - GPU-accelerated blending/effects
Remember: Great collages tell stories through arrangement. Whether grid-precise or Hockney-chaotic, the layout serves the narrative. Master both the math and the art.