Photo Grid from Hundreds Sorted by Color

It is easy to tile images onto a canvas with a Photoshop Script, The script  can easy resize the image to fill the tile size and mask the images to the tile's aspect ratio a virtual centered aspect ratio crop.  However,  sorting the image by color and mapping  in black tiles is some pattern in the tiled grid is not a task I would want to tackle.

Script to tiles Image onto a canvas 

/* ==========================================================
// 2012  John J. McAssey (JJMack) 
// ======================================================= */

// This script is supplied as is. It is provided as freeware. 
// The author accepts no liability for any problems arising from its use.

/* Help 
<javascriptresource>
<about>$$$/JavaScripts/PasteImageRoll/About=JJMack's PasteImageRoll^r^rCopyright 2012 Mouseprints.^r^rCreate a document for printing on roll paper^rcan also be used as a wall hanging when^rall selected images have the same orientation.^rImages will be rotated to match cell orientation</about>
<category>JJMack's Collage Script</category>
</javascriptresource>
*/

//Set Defaults here
var dfltRes = 300;	// default print DPI
var dfltCpys = 1;	// default image copies
var dfltPw  = 16;	// default roll paper width in inches
var dfltPl  = '';	// default roll paper length in feet. if set to null script will use 100 ft.
var dfltCw  = 4;	// default cell width in inches best if it divides paper with evenly.
var dfltCh  = 6;	// default cell height in inches
var dfltBw  = 0;	// default Border width in inches example .2 for 1/5 inch
var dfltGw  = 0;	// default Grout width in inches example .2 for 1/5 inch
var dfltRt  = true; // default Rotate image orientation for best fit
//End Defaults

var startDisplayDialogs = app.displayDialogs;
var startRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.NO;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS; // tell ps to work with pixels

try {
	// begin dialog layout
	var RollPaperDialog = new Window('dialog');
	RollPaperDialog.text = 'Paste Image Roll';
	RollPaperDialog.frameLocation = [78, 100];
	RollPaperDialog.alignChildren = 'center';

	RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl = RollPaperDialog.add('panel', [2, 2, 200, 56], 'Print Resolution');
		RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.add('statictext', [10, 16, 50, 48], 'DPI ');
		RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.docResEdt = RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.add('edittext', [50, 13, 90, 34], dfltRes, {name:'prtRes'});
		RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.docResEdt.helpTip = 'Image Resolution';
		RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.add('statictext', [96, 16, 140, 48], 'Copies ');
		RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.imgCpysEdt = RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.add('edittext', [140, 13, 175, 34], dfltCpys, {name:'imgCpys'});
		RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.imgCpysEdt.helpTip = 'Number of copies of selected Images';

	RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl = RollPaperDialog.add('panel', [2, 2, 200, 56], 'Roll Paper Size');
		RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.add('statictext', [10, 16, 50, 48], 'Width ');
		RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.aspectWidthEdt = RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.add('edittext', [50, 13, 90, 34], dfltPw, {name:'pprWth'});
		RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.aspectWidthEdt.helpTip = 'Roll width in inches';
		RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.add('statictext', [96, 16, 140, 48], 'Length ');
		RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.aspectHeightEdt = RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.add('edittext', [140, 13, 175, 34], dfltPl, {name:'pprLnth'});
		RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.aspectHeightEdt.helpTip = 'Remaing roll length in feet';

	RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl = RollPaperDialog.add('panel', [2, 2, 200, 56], 'Tile Cell Size');
		RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.add('statictext', [10, 16, 50, 48], 'Width ');
		RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.aspectWidthEdt = RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.add('edittext', [50, 13, 90, 34], dfltCw, {name:'cllWth'});
		RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.aspectWidthEdt.helpTip = 'Width in inches';
		RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.add('statictext', [96, 16, 140, 48], 'Height ');
		RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.aspectHeightEdt = RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.add('edittext', [140, 13, 175, 34], dfltCh, {name:'cllHgt'});
		RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.aspectHeightEdt.helpTip = 'Height in inches';

	RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl = RollPaperDialog.add('panel', [2, 2, 200, 56], 'Grout Size');
		RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.add('statictext', [10, 16, 50, 48], 'Border ');
		RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.aspectWidthEdt = RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.add('edittext', [50, 13, 90, 34], dfltBw, {name:'grtBdr'});
		RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.aspectWidthEdt.helpTip = 'Width in inches';
		RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.add('statictext', [96, 16, 140, 48], 'Grout ');
		RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.aspectHeightEdt = RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.add('edittext', [140, 13, 175, 34], dfltGw, {name:'grtWth'});
		RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.aspectHeightEdt.helpTip = 'Height in inches';
		
	RollPaperDialog.rotateForBestFitPnl = RollPaperDialog.add('panel', [2, 2, 200, 56], 'Rotate Image For Best Fit');
		RollPaperDialog.rotateForBestFitPnl.add('checkbox',[14, 13, 190, 34],'Rotate Images', {name:'Rt'},);
		RollPaperDialog.rotateForBestFitPnl.Rt.value=dfltRt;
		RollPaperDialog.rotateForBestFitPnl.helpTip = 'Image Orintation to match Tile Orientation';
		
	var buttons = RollPaperDialog.add('group');
	buttons.orientation = 'row';
			var okBtn = buttons.add('button');
		okBtn.text = 'OK';
		okBtn.properties = {name: 'ok'};
			var cancelBtn = buttons.add('button');
		cancelBtn.text = 'Cancel';
		cancelBtn.properties = {name: 'cancel'};

		RollPaperDialog.onShow = function() {
			var ww = RollPaperDialog.bounds.width;  
			var hh = RollPaperDialog.bounds.height;  
			RollPaperDialog.bounds.x  = 78;  
			RollPaperDialog.bounds.y  = 100;  
			RollPaperDialog.bounds.width  = ww;  
			RollPaperDialog.bounds.height  = hh;  
		}

		// do not allow anything except for numbers 0-9
		RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.docResEdt.addEventListener ('keydown', NumericEditKeyboardHandler);
		RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.imgCpysEdt.addEventListener ('keydown', NumericEditKeyboardHandler);
		RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.aspectWidthEdt.addEventListener ('keydown', DesmalEditKeyboardHandler);
		RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.aspectHeightEdt.addEventListener ('keydown', DesmalEditKeyboardHandler);
		RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.aspectWidthEdt.addEventListener ('keydown', DesmalEditKeyboardHandler);
		RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.aspectHeightEdt.addEventListener ('keydown', DesmalEditKeyboardHandler);
		RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.aspectWidthEdt.addEventListener ('keydown', DesmalEditKeyboardHandler);
		RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.aspectHeightEdt.addEventListener ('keydown', DesmalEditKeyboardHandler);
		
	// display dialog and only continues on OK button press (OK = 1, Cancel = 2)
	if (RollPaperDialog.show() == 1) {
		//variables passed from user interface
		var res		= String(RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.prtRes.text); if (res=="") { res = dfltRes;} 
		var copies	= String(RollPaperDialog.PrintResPnl.imgCpys.text); if (copies=="") { copies = dfltCpys;}
		var pprwidth    = String(RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.pprWth.text); if (pprwidth=="") { pprwidth = dfltPw;}
		var pprlength   = String(RollPaperDialog.PaperSizePnl.pprLnth.text); if (pprlength=='') { pprlength= 100; }
		var cellwidth   = String(RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.cllWth.text); if (cellwidth=="") { cellwidth = dfltCw;}
		var cellheight  = String(RollPaperDialog.CellSizePnl.cllHgt.text); if (cellheight=="") { cellheight = dfltCh;}
		var borderwidth = String(RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.grtBdr.text); if (borderwidth=="") { borderwidth = dfltBw;}
		var groutwidth  = String(RollPaperDialog.GroutSizePnl.grtWth.text); if (groutwidth=="") { groutwidth = dfltGw;}
		
		if (RollPaperDialog.rotateForBestFitPnl.Rt.value) { rotateForBestFit = true}
		else {rotateForBestFit = false;}

		var maxpaperwidth=pprwidth*res;						// Printer Paper width in pixels inches*res  
		var maxpaperlnth=pprlength*12*res;					// Printer Paper Roll length in pixels
		var width=cellwidth*res;							// Document Cell width in pixels inches*res
		var height=cellheight*res;							// Document Cell height in pixels inches*res
		var cols=0;				// Document number of columns will be determined by script using paper width and cell width  
		var rows=0;				// Document rows will be determined by script using columns and # of images selected 

		var borderspace = borderwidth*res;					// border size
		var whitespace = groutwidth*res;					// inter image spacing

		if (width>maxpaperwidth) { throw "error1"; }
		cols=Math.round(((maxpaperwidth+whitespace-2*borderspace)/(width+whitespace))-.499); //round down
		if (height>maxpaperlnth) { throw "error2"; }
		var file = selectFile(true);  
  		if (file==null) { throw "error3"; }
		if (file.length<1) { throw "error3"; }
		rows=Math.round((file.length*copies/cols)+.499);	//round up
		if ((height+whitespace)*rows+2*borderspace>(maxpaperlnth+whitespace)) { throw "error4"; }
		var doc = app.documents.add((width+whitespace)*cols-whitespace+2*borderspace, (height+whitespace)*rows-whitespace+2*borderspace, res);
		app.togglePalettes();
		var currrow=0; var pasted=0; 
		
		startDate = (getDateTime());
		SDayTime = startDate.split(", ");
		var time1 = Number(timeString());		
		
		for (var i=0;i<file.length;i++) { 
			if (file[i] instanceof File && !file[i].name.match(/\.(nef|cr3|cr2|crw|dcs|raf|arw|orf|dng|psd|tif|tiff|jpg|jpe|jpeg|png|bmp|)$/i) ) continue; //next file if not matched
			//app.load(file[i]); 								// load it into a document
			open(File(file[i])); 							// Open a document
			var backFile= app.activeDocument;				// image document
			var imageName = backFile.name;					// image file name			
			if (rotateForBestFit) {
				if (backFile.width.value<backFile.height.value&&width>height ) { backFile.rotateCanvas(-90.0);  } // Rotate portraits
				if (backFile.height.value<backFile.width.value&&height>width ) { backFile.rotateCanvas(-90.0);  } // Rotate landscapes
				}
			if (backFile.width.value/backFile.height.value > width/height) { backFile.resizeImage(null, height, res, ResampleMethod.BICUBIC); } // wider
			else {backFile.resizeImage(width, null, res, ResampleMethod.BICUBIC);} // same aspect ratio or taller
			//flatten(); //handle layered images			// flatten active document incase its layered. Kills transparency
			backFile.artLayers.add();						// insure there are Layers to handle Transparency
			backFile.selection.selectAll();					// select all
			backFile.selection.copy(true); 					//copy merge resized image into clipboard
			backFile.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES); 	//close image without saving changes
			for (var n=0;n<copies;n++) {					// number of copies				
				var x =pasted*(width+whitespace)+borderspace;
				var y =currrow*(height+whitespace)+borderspace;
				var selectedRegion = Array(Array(x,y), Array(x+width,y), Array(x+width,y+height), Array(x,y+height));
				doc.selection.select(selectedRegion);
				doc.paste(true); 							//paste image into masked layer your document
				doc.activeLayer.name=imageName;				//label layer with image file name
				doc.selection.select(selectedRegion);
				align('AdCH'); align('AdCV');
				doc.selection.deselect();
				pasted++
				if ( pasted==cols ) { pasted=0; currrow++; }
				}
			}
		app.togglePalettes();
		
		var time2 = Number(timeString());
		endDate = (getDateTime());
		EDayTime = endDate.split(", ");		

		var msg = "To paste in "  + file.length + " Image files" ;
		
		refresh();		
		alert("Start " +  SDayTime[1] + " on "+ SDayTime[0] + "\n"
			+ "Time  "
			//+ ((time2-time1)/1000 )+" Seconds "
			+((time2-time1)/60000 ).toPrecision(2)+" Minutes" 
			//+((time2-time1)/3600000 ).toPrecision(1)+" Hours" 
			+ "\nEnd   " + EDayTime[1]+ " on " + EDayTime[0]
			+ "\n" + msg
			);    
		
		}
	else {
		//alert('Operation Canceled.');
		}
	// Return the app preferences
	app.preferences.rulerUnits = startRulerUnits;
	app.displayDialogs = startDisplayDialogs;
	}
catch(err){
	// Return the app preferences
	app.preferences.rulerUnits = startRulerUnits;
	app.displayDialogs = startDisplayDialogs;
	if (err=="error1") {alert("Paper width exceeded reduce the cell width");}
	else if (err=="error2") {alert("Paper roll length exceeded reduce cell height");}
	else if (err=="error3") {alert("No Images Selected");}
	else if (err=="error4") {alert("Paper roll length exceeded try selecting fewer images or reducing cell height");}
	// Lot's of things can go wrong, Give a generic alert and see if they want the details
	else if ( confirm("Sorry, something major happened and I can't continue! Would you like to see more info?" ) ) { alert(err + ': on line ' + err.line ); }
	}

// -----------------------------------------
// flatten Image
// -----------------------------------------
function flatten() {
	try{
		executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "FltI" ), undefined, DialogModes.NO );
	}catch(e){}
}

// -----------------------------------------
// Align Layers to selection
// -----------------------------------------
function align(method) {
	var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
	var ref = new ActionReference();
	ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" ) );
	desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), ref );
	desc.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "Usng" ), charIDToTypeID( "ADSt" ), charIDToTypeID( method ) );
	try{
		executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "Algn" ), desc, DialogModes.NO );
	}catch(e){}
}

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Function: NumericEditKeyboardHandler
// Usage: Do not allow anything except for numbers 0-9
// Input: ScriptUI keydown event
// Return: <nothing> key is rejected and beep is sounded if invalid
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function NumericEditKeyboardHandler (event) {

    try {

        var keyIsOK = KeyIsNumeric (event) ||
					  KeyIsDelete (event) ||
					  KeyIsLRArrow (event) ||
					  KeyIsTabEnterEscape (event);

        if (! keyIsOK) {
            //    Bad input: tell ScriptUI not to accept the keydown event
            event.preventDefault();

            /*    Notify user of invalid input: make sure NOT
			       to put up an alert dialog or do anything which
		                 requires user interaction, because that
		                 interferes with preventing the 'default'
		                 action for the keydown event */
            app.beep();
        }
    }
    catch (e) {
        ; // alert ("Ack! bug in NumericEditKeyboardHandler: " + e);
    }
}

function DesmalEditKeyboardHandler (event) {

    try {

        var keyIsOK = KeyIsNumeric (event) ||
					  KeyIsPeriod (event) ||
					  KeyIsDelete (event) ||
					  KeyIsLRArrow (event) ||
					  KeyIsTabEnterEscape (event);

        if (! keyIsOK) {
            //    Bad input: tell ScriptUI not to accept the keydown event
            event.preventDefault();

            /*    Notify user of invalid input: make sure NOT
			       to put up an alert dialog or do anything which
		                 requires user interaction, because that
		                 interferes with preventing the 'default'
		                 action for the keydown event */
            app.beep();
        }
    }
    catch (e) {
        ; // alert ("Ack! bug in NumericEditKeyboardHandler: " + e);
    }
}

//    key identifier functions
function KeyHasModifier (event) {
    return event.shiftKey || event.ctrlKey || event.altKey || event.metaKey;
}

function KeyIsNumeric (event) {
    return  (event.keyName >= '0') && (event.keyName <= '9') && ! KeyHasModifier (event);
}

function KeyIsPeriod (event) {
    return  (event.keyName == 'Period') && ! KeyHasModifier (event);
}


function KeyIsDelete (event) {
    //    Shift-delete is ok
    return ((event.keyName == 'Backspace') || (event.keyName == 'Delete')) && ! (event.ctrlKey);
}

function KeyIsLRArrow (event) {
    return ((event.keyName == 'Left') || (event.keyName == 'Right')) && ! (event.altKey || event.metaKey);
}

function KeyIsTabEnterEscape (event) {
    return event.keyName == 'Tab' || event.keyName == 'Enter' || event.keyName == 'Escape';
}
function selectFile (multi) {   
	if (multi == true) {var theString = "please select files"}   
	else {var theString = "please select one file"};   
	if ($.os.search(/windows/i) != -1) {var theFiles = File.openDialog (theString, '*.nef;*.cr3;*.cr2;*.crw;*.dcs;*.raf;*.arw;*.orf;*.dng;*.psd;*.psdt;*.tif;*.tiff;*.jpg;*.jpe;*.jpeg;*.png;*.bmp', multi)}   
	else {var theFiles = File.openDialog (theString, getFiles, multi)};   
	////// filter files  for mac //////   
	function getFiles (theFile) {   
		if (theFile.name.match(/\.(nef|cr3|cr2|crw|dcs|raf|arw|orf|dng|psd|tif|tiff|jpg|jpe|jpeg|png|bmp)$/i) || theFile.constructor.name == "Folder") {  
			return true   
			};   
	};   
	return theFiles   
};	

// Function for returning current date and time
function getDateTime() {
    var date = new Date();
    var dateTime = "";
    if ((date.getMonth() + 1) < 10) { dateTime += "0" + (date.getMonth() + 1) + "/"; }
	else { dateTime += (date.getMonth() + 1) + "/"; }
    if (date.getDate() < 10) { dateTime += "0" + date.getDate() + "/"; }
	else { dateTime += date.getDate() + "/"; }
    dateTime += date.getFullYear() + ", ";
    if (date.getHours() < 10) { dateTime += "0" + date.getHours() + ":"; }
	else { dateTime += date.getHours() + ":"; }
    if (date.getMinutes() < 10) { dateTime += "0" + date.getMinutes() + ":"; } 
	else { dateTime += date.getMinutes() + ":"; }
    if (date.getSeconds() < 10) { dateTime += "0" + date.getSeconds(); }
	else { dateTime += date.getSeconds(); }
    return dateTime;
}

function timeString () {
	var now = new Date();
	return now.getTime()
};	

How would you want to sort by color? How would you want to define that sort pattern? To get the color from each photo, you can create a layer for each file and use the average filter. But it would be more a matter of defining where you want to place or sort the images, buy color.

Hi there,

1. One way to do grids with Photoshop is to use the Contact Sheets. You'll find this in the menu File, then Automate, then Contact Sheet II. This is quite an old functionality in Adobe Photoshop
2. You may create a collage using Photoshop as described here: Create a collage

Hope that helps.

Thanks,

Akash