VFX Atlas
M 061 / 18302 Masks & Controlalgorithm output

Quickshift Superpixels

masks & control

Typeface · Gugi

Atlas demonstration: the free source photo and the computed Quickshift Superpixels. A complex composition of statues and fabric appears fragmented into muted earthy tones. The algorithm has grouped subtle tonal variations into jagged, white-outlined cells that perfectly illustrate the segmentation process.
Atlas demonstration: the free source photo and the computed Quickshift Superpixels. A complex composition of statues and fabric appears fragmented into muted earthy tones. The algorithm has grouped subtle tonal variations into jagged, white-outlined cells that perfectly illustrate the segmentation process.Image: Tanaphong Toochinda daen_2chinda · CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons), processed for the AtlasView source ↗

Prompt

Apply a Quickshift Superpixels effect, dividing the photograph into many irregular, tightly adjoining patches that follow local color boundaries. Fill each patch with its average source color, creating an uneven mosaic with crisp borders and simplified texture rather than geometric tiles. Keep the original subject and composition.

Paste it into LetzAI with your own image to apply the effect ↗

Identify

The photo is divided into irregular regions called superpixels1, which often follow color boundaries rather than recognizable objects.

Principle

Quickshift estimates density2 using pixel color and position, then links each pixel to its nearest neighbor with higher density. Cutting links beyond a distance limit separates the pixels into regions.

Try it out

Vary the distance limit and watch small regions merge or separate.

Classification

Calculated image processing result.

Further examples · 9 images

Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “City-landmark-lights-night (23699876683)”
02 Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “City-landmark-lights-night (23699876683)”A purple-hued landscape is dominated by a sharp diagonal line cutting through the frame. The regions are defined by intense color clusters, creating a stained-glass mosaic effect across the various shades of violet.www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “A mother and her children on a pier (Unsplash)”
03 Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “A mother and her children on a pier (Unsplash)”A group of people lean against a railing overlooking a bright horizon at sunset. The high-contrast boundaries separate the dark figures and the architectural lattice into distinct, flat color blocks.Marco Ceschi spantax (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway, India (2015)”
04 Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway, India (2015)”A perspective view of a highway stretches toward a tunnel entrance surrounded by darkness. The road lanes and markings are transformed into a series of geometric tiles that follow the receding lines of the pavement.Ridham Nagralawala ridham (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Danau Food Juction, Surabaya - Reyhan afif 2017 (Unsplash)”
05 Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Danau Food Juction, Surabaya - Reyhan afif 2017 (Unsplash)”A cityscape at sunset is rendered as a complex network of interlocking color regions. Each segment represents an area of similar local density and hue, creating a stained-glass appearance across the horizon.reyhan afif reyhan (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “See it from the window (Unsplash)”
06 Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “See it from the window (Unsplash)”The sharp angles of a building corner are fragmented into various shades of blue and lavender. The algorithm successfully partitions the sky and architectural surfaces into distinct, irregular polygons.Robert Alves de Jesus robertalvesj (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Silver vintage camera (Unsplash)”
07 Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Silver vintage camera (Unsplash)”A vintage camera is held against a soft background, simplified into bold blocks of tonal color. The irregular boundaries follow the density of the mechanical parts and the surrounding lighting.Vera Ja verajakuschinski (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Time lapse london red bus (Unsplash)”
08 Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Time lapse london red bus (Unsplash)”A busy street scene is transformed into a sepia-toned mosaic of street life and architecture. The segmentation clearly outlines the distinct color zones of the buildings and pavement.David Marcu davidmarcu (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Austin Neill 2017 (Unsplash)”
09 Quickshift Superpixels, applied to “Austin Neill 2017 (Unsplash)”A figure stands in a dark environment with blue lighting, possibly a musician on a stage. The processing simplifies the background into large, irregular polygons while maintaining the silhouette of the central subject.Austin Neill arstyy (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Sources