How to Choose Your Main Mosaic Photo

Note: This article covers the legacy Photo Mosaic Wall software. For the new PMWall, see PMWall Overview.

Overview

This guide explains the key factors to consider when selecting a photo to use as your main image for a photo mosaic project.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Image Clarity and Contrast

Make sure your photo is clear, has good contrast in colors, and does not have too many small details. A high-quality portrait with a clear subject and good definition will translate well to mosaic format. Cluttered backgrounds and excessive fine details will not.

2. Correct Aspect Ratio

Your main photo must match your mosaic board dimensions. For a 25x25 tile board, use a photo with the same ratio -- approximately 1,500x1,500 pixels is recommended for this size.

3. Sufficient Resolution

Calculate minimum resolution using this formula:

(rows × columns) × 600 ÷ 5

This represents 300 DPI × 2 inches per cell, divided by 5.

Example: For a 25×25 board:

• 25 × 600 = 15,000
• 15,000 ÷ 5 = 3,000 pixels
• Result: a 3,000×3,000 pixel image at 300 DPI

4. File Format

Use either JPG or PNG formats.

Note: Older software versions may not support PNG files for main photos. Converting PNG to JPG requires proper conversion (open in image editor and save as JPG) rather than simply changing the file extension.

5. Color Space Setting

Ensure your image uses sRGB color representation:

1. Right-click the image file
2. Select Properties > Details tab
3. Check the Color representation field under Image properties

If it is not sRGB, open the image in Photoshop and export using:

• File > Export > Export As with proper color space settings

Original Article

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