Darth Vader Lego Mosaic

Ever wanted to know how to convert a image into the pixelly joy we know as Lego? I present one method that's super easy and results in a pretty damn spiffy lego mosaic!

EDIT(Jan 23, 2007): Recently the boys over at Pictobrick released their software and good documentation. Feel free to check them out as well.

EDIT(Jun 27, 2007): I went ahead and setup a blog about making the mosiac as well as any future mosaics I will undertake. Feel free to leave a comment over there as well if you would like DarthLego

""EDIT(Oct 21, 2007): ""Well, I presented this instructable at the Maker Faire in Austin, 2007. For those of you coming here from that event, welcome. I invite you to email me with any questions or comments you may have with any steps that may be confusing. You can find my email address at DarthLego otherwise, leave a comment here!

Step 1 Source Image

The frist step in converting a photo to a lego mosaic is to start with a photo, or in my case, a snazzy graphic that someone had put together. Unfortunately, I have no idea where this graphic came from, if this is yours please shoot me a message and I'll give you credit.

When looking for an ideal photo, keep in mind that the resultant lego mosaic is going to be displayed in a pretty small resolution. For example, the source image is 225 x 169 pixels, the end image was resized down to 96x64 which equals in lego, about 30" x 20". In other words, you will loose a lot of the fidelity of the photo so don't choose a photo with a lot of details. Or if you want the details, be prepared to create a huge mosaic $$$.

Comments

[dr. richtofen]

Very cool mosaic! definatly 5 stars!

[hhhttt]

For some very odd reason, My windows XP computer won't runn the downloaded program. If I send the picture I wanted to mosaic, woulfd you run it through the program for me?

[monsterlego]

The force is strong with this one...

[dimmaz88]

That's amazing dude, I think I'll add this to my list of things to make!

[Mimikry]

dum dum dum dum-di-dum dum-di-dum
mr. vader marches in :)

cool one!

[splazem]

Amazing. Wow, you sure can do anything with legos...

[the_burrito_master]

second picture, "Hopes and dreams may sometimes be crushed but sometimes you must getup and go again"

[fire power 2011]

nice :]

[Matrix-technician]

WOW!! These are flippin awsome!!Keep up the good work!

[brickworkz]

Great mosaic!

I was actually going to a Vader mosaic very similar to this design. I ended up going with a Yoda design instead. Came across this article on Digg.com and wanted to say nice job!

My Yoda (and more info about it) is online here in the Gallery section at www.brickworkz.com if you're interested.

[Senior Waffleman]

Nice :D

[GorillazMiko]

NICE!

[chuybregts]

Thanks! I found your MOC page about it last week and enjoyed seeing your other mosaics. Good stuff indeed! :) Good luck with the Business! Chris

[bricks2pics]

Excellent Darth Mosaic. I have a LEGO Mosaic of Darth Vader designed and all but ready to build. However, made this LEGO Mosaic of a Storm Trooper last year. www.bricks2pics.com

[Senior Waffleman]

That is ridiculusly awesome :D

[Mr. H.S. Thompson]

 THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!

I WANT WANT WANT

[FiletOFish67]

Chuy, I'm having a problem with Bricksaic. When I click "Map," it forms the map. However, the parts count is completely wrong on the bottom for each page and only a few tiles are numbered in the pic (very few). What I end up getting is a picture of a lego mosaic that gives me no information for construction. Do you know what might be wrong?

[samwhiteUK]

can u plz explain how u found out what size to make the image? as u said, we all have our own little 'quirk', and mine is to do stuff manually (without special software) plz help s-j-whitey

[builder968]

poor darth. lol.

[LegoBrickMaster7]

I completed this around a year ago. Its just taken me some time to put it up here. I'm still working towards making a picture frame (in Lego's) to go around it. I've also moved some bricks around to make it look better since this picture.

[chuybregts]

Woot! That's awesome! Thanks for posting the pic! I love the added detail the grey adds.

[benboy207]

Whats the difference between studs up and the other way?

[chuybregts]

When looking at the mosaic straight on, in my case, looking into darth vader's eyes, if the studs (the little bits that say lego) are pointing back at you, that'll be stud's Out. If instead, you see the smooth side of the bricks, that's studs up (as in, the lego studs are pointing up to the sky). They also have what's called, SNOT, which stands for "Stud's not On Top" and that's pretty much any other way of making a mosaic Check out this Mad Hatter for a good example of SNOT.

[benboy207]

OK. I want to do this, but I dont really understand how to get the pieces or make the template thing. Does anyone want to help?

[chuybregts]

What specifically are you having issues with? To get bricks, check out step 4, to make the template, that's what the rest of the article is about. What I'd recommend, is grab the software and grab an image, then start playing with it, eventually it'll all make sense. The software pixelates the image to whatever size mosaic you're after, so for me, I decide how many "32x32" or "48x48" tiles I want my final image to be, then enter that into the software. As for the bricks, bricklink can be a pain, but if you search for the pieces you want, you'll find people selling those pieces, for large mosaics, you may have to order from a number of people. If you need help, do ask, but let us know more specifics :)

[benboy207]

The PicToBrick progam isn't working or me. When you start the program the box that wants you to choose a picture wont show any of my pictures! Am I doing something wrong?

[chuybregts]

I've only briefly played with the PicToBrick program and unfortunately can't help you with it. I used the Bricksaic program instead when I did my mosaics.

[DELETED_DELETED_DarthVader]

(removed by author or community request)

[Derin]

*runs from vader*

[DELETED_DELETED_DarthVader]

(removed by author or community request)

[Derin]

*grabs blaster**shoots*

[chuybregts]

Haha, you could never be replaced by a mere brick! All hail the dark lord!

[DELETED_DELETED_DarthVader]

(removed by author or community request)

[Derin]

*Throws red brick made of lego and filled with cement*

[spork969]

You are now and forever my hero. I am SO doing this.

[chuybregts]

Please do! and then post pictures!!!

[pls]

woah..

[brickplayer]

We have a couple of huge LEGO mosaics I built hanging in our house of our kids. It doesn't make you a nerd if it's picutres of your kids, right?

Maddie and Howie

Mathew and Abby

[radioactivedog]

Really nice work! Thanks for sharing the link information... my son wants to make a Super Mario... this will make that job simpler.

[chuybregts]

Not a problem :) this should be a great project for a kid and those who are kids at heart :) post your creation when you're done!