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Primitive Pictures is an image processing command-line tool written in Go that reproduces images using geometric primitives (triangles, rectangles, ellipses, polygons, etc.). The core algorithm is iterative and “hill-climbing”: given a target image, it repeatedly finds the best single shape to add that will reduce the error between the current approximation and the target image, then draws that shape. Over time (e.g., adding 50-200 shapes) the output becomes an abstracted version of the input image—recognizable, artistic, and often visually striking. The tool supports input resizing, different shape modes (triangle, rectangle, circle, bezier, polygon), alpha blending, and can output PNG, JPG, SVG, or even animated GIFs that show the incremental build process. Because the Go code is self-contained and efficient, users can run it locally on images, script batch runs, or use it to generate “primitive art” or stylized thumbnails.
Features
- Converts input images into simplified compositions of geometric primitives (triangles, rectangles, ellipses, polygons)
- Command-line tool in Go with flags for input file, output file, number of shapes, mode, size, alpha blending
- Supports multiple output formats including PNG, JPG, SVG, and animated GIF sequences showing build process
- Shape-mode selection (triangle, rectangle, ellipse, polygon, bezier) for different aesthetic outcomes
- Local processing and scripting support for batch jobs or integration in pipelines
- Artistic abstraction and algorithmic image reduction rather than simple filters, producing visually interesting results
Project Samples
