---
name: "metapixel"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "metapixel"
version: "1.0.2-12+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/metapixel"
---

# metapixel(1)

generator for photomosaics

## NAME

metapixel - generator for photomosaics

## SYNOPSIS

**metapixel-prepare** \[*options*\] \[srcdir\] \[destdir\]

```
prepares the pictures in srcdir by creating resized images and a table file in destdir
```

**metapixel** \[*options*\] \[--metapixel input.jpg output.png --library destdir\]

```
creates a photomosaic output.png using input.jpg as the input image and destdir/tables.mxt as table file
```

## DESCRIPTION

This manual page documents briefly the **metapixel** and **metapixel-prepare** commands. For more information check the README file included in the distribution.

**metapixel** is a program for generating photomosaics. It can generate classical photomosaics, in which the source image is viewed as a matrix of equally sized rectangles for each of which a matching image is substitued, as well as collage-style photomosaics, in which rectangular parts of the source image at arbitrary positions (i.e. not aligned to a matrix) are substituted by matching images.

**metapixel-prepare** is a utility that needs to be run before metapixel can be used. It prepares your source images so that they can be used by **metapixel** to create the actual photomosaic.

## USAGE

**metapixel-prepare srcdir destdir** has to be run first. srcdir is the path to the directory containing the source images, e.g. ~/Pictures/Holidays. destdir, e.g. ~/.metapixel, is the path to the directory where you want to store the rescaled images and the tables.mxt index file. This directory should be created manually before running **metapixel-prepare**.

**metapixel --metapixel input.jpg output.png --library destdir** is then used to transform an image (input.jpg) into a mosaic (output.png) using the source images (described by destdir/tables.mxt).

## OPTIONS

The options are described in the README file or by running **metapixel** or **metapixel-prepare** with the --help option.

## SEE ALSO

The README file is included in the Metapixel distribution.

## AUTHOR

This manual page was written by Chris Vanden Berghe \<Chris@VandenBerghe.org\> for the Debian(TM) system (but may be used by others). Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU General Public License, Version 2 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.

On Debian systems, the complete text of the GNU General Public License can be found in /usr/share/common-licenses/GPL.

## AUTHOR

**Chris Vanden Berghe**

Author.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2004 Chris Vanden Berghe\