collage-layout-expert
Expert in ALL computational collage composition: photo mosaics, grid layouts, scrapbook/journal styles, magazine editorial, vision boards, mood boards, social media collages, memory walls, abstract/generative arrangements, and art-historical techniques (Hockney joiners, Dadaist photomontage, Surrealist assemblage, Rauschenberg combines). Masters edge-based assembly, Poisson blending, optimal transport color harmonization, and aesthetic optimization. Activate on 'collage', 'photo mosaic', 'grid layout', 'scrapbook', 'vision board', 'mood board', 'photo wall', 'magazine layout', 'Hockney', 'joiner', 'photomontage'. NOT for simple image editing (use native-app-designer), generating new images (use Stability AI), single photo enhancement (use photo-composition-critic), or basic image similarity search (use clip-aware-embeddings).
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/curiositech/some_claude_skills --skill collage-layout-expert- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads collage-layout-expert automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Collage & Layout Composition Expert
Expert in ALL forms of computational collage composition - from Instagram grids to Hockney joiners, from magazine layouts to generative art.
When to Use This Skill
✅ Use for:
- Grid Collages: Instagram profiles, regular layouts, tiled compositions
- Photo Mosaics: Small images forming larger pictures
- Hockney-Style Joiners: Multi-perspective photographic assemblies
- Scrapbook/Journal: Mixed media with text, frames, embellishments
- Magazine/Editorial: Professional layouts with text integration
- Vision/Mood Boards: Inspiration collections, design references
- Memory Walls: Scattered Polaroid-style arrangements
- Social Media: Stories, carousel previews, profile grids
- Abstract/Generative: Algorithmic and procedural arrangements
- Art-Historical: Dadaist, Surrealist, Pop Art styles
❌ Do NOT use for:
- Simple image editing → native-app-designer
- Generating new images → Stability AI
- Single photo quality → photo-composition-critic
- Image similarity search → clip-aware-embeddings
- Color palette extraction → color-theory-palette-harmony-expert
Expert vs Novice Shibboleths
| Topic | Novice | Expert |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | "Just arrange randomly" | Visual weight, balance, golden ratio |
| Blending | Hard edges or simple feather | Poisson blending preserves gradients |
| Color | "Match colors manually" | Optimal transport; LAB space advantages |
| Composition | Fills all space | Negative space as design element |
| Scale | Same size for everything | Varies scale for hierarchy |
| Mosaic | "More tiles = better" | Tile size vs. recognition tradeoff |
| Hockney | "Stitch seamlessly" | Imperfection IS the technique |
Decision Tree: Choosing a Style
What's the purpose?
- Systematic display → Grid Collage
- Artistic portrait from photos → Photo Mosaic
- Personal memories → Scrapbook or Memory Wall
- Design inspiration → Mood Board
- Professional/publication → Magazine Layout
- Social media → Social Templates
- Art project → Hockney/Dadaist/Surrealist
What's the vibe?
- Clean, modern → Grid with tight gutters
- Nostalgic, warm → Polaroid scatter, vintage frames
- Edgy, disruptive → Dadaist sharp cuts
- Dreamy, surreal → Seamless Poisson blending
- Cubist, intellectual → Hockney joiners
Core Algorithms (Summary)
| Algorithm | Use Case | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Edge-Based Assembly | Hockney joiners | 0.5s for 10 photos |
| Poisson Blending | Seamless transitions | 20ms (512×512) |
| Optimal Transport | Color harmonization | Real-time w/ affine approx |
| Force-Directed | Organic scatter | 200ms (50 images) |
| K-d Tree Matching | Photo mosaic tiles | 2s for 10k tiles |
→ See references/algorithms.md for full implementations.
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
1. Ignoring Visual Weight
What it looks like: All images same size, random placement Why it's wrong: No focal point, viewer's eye wanders aimlessly Fix: Establish 60/30/10 hierarchy with one hero image
2. Over-Saturating the Canvas
What it looks like: Every pixel filled with image content Why it's wrong: Visual claustrophobia, no breathing room Fix: Use negative space intentionally (20-30% white space minimum)
3. Linear FFT for Color Matching
What it looks like: Poor perceptual color matches Why it's wrong: RGB is not perceptually uniform Fix: Use LAB color space for matching
4. Seamless Hockney Joiners
What it looks like: Perfectly stitched panorama Why it's wrong: Misses the entire point - multiple perspectives Fix: Embrace ±2° rotation variance, 5-15% overlap, intentional gaps
5. Global Poisson Blending
What it looks like: Entire image becomes washed out Why it's wrong: Destroys local contrast, looks fake Fix: Apply locally at seams only, preserve source gradients
6. Reusing Mosaic Tiles
What it looks like: Obvious repetition patterns in mosaic Why it's wrong: Human eye detects patterns immediately Fix: Track tile usage, penalize reuse, use larger tile library
MCP Integrations
| MCP | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Stability AI | Generate backgrounds, textures, missing elements |
| Firecrawl | Research techniques, algorithm papers, art history |
| WebFetch | Fetch documentation, tutorials, design references |
Performance Targets
| Operation | Mac M2 | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Grid layout (20 photos) | <50ms | <100ms |
| Photo mosaic (10k tiles) | 2s | 5s |
| Force-directed (50 images) | 200ms | 500ms |
| Poisson blending (512×512) | 20ms | 50ms |
| Hockney assembly (10 photos) | 0.5s | 2s |
References
→ references/collage-types.md - Grid, mosaic, scrapbook, magazine, social templates
→ references/art-historical-styles.md - Hockney, Dadaist, Surrealist, Rauschenberg
→ references/algorithms.md - Edge assembly, Poisson, optimal transport, force-directed
→ references/advanced-techniques.md - Cross-photo interactions, narrative sequences
→ references/implementation-guide.md - Metal shaders, Core ML, performance
Integrates With
- photo-composition-critic - Assess individual photos before collaging
- color-theory-palette-harmony-expert - Extract/match color palettes
- clip-aware-embeddings - Semantic grouping of images
- native-app-designer - Build collage creation UI
- metal-shader-expert - GPU-accelerated blending/effects
Remember: Great collages tell stories through arrangement. Whether grid-precise or Hockney-chaotic, the layout serves the narrative. Master both the math and the art.
FAQ
What does the collage-layout-expert skill do?
Expert in ALL computational collage composition: photo mosaics, grid layouts, scrapbook/journal styles, magazine editorial, vision boards, mood boards, social media collages, memory walls, abstract/generative arrangements, and art-historical techniques (Hockney joiners, Dadaist photomontage, Surrealist assemblage, Rauschenberg combines). Masters edge-based assembly, Poisson blending, optimal transport color harmonization, and aesthetic optimization. Activate on 'collage', 'photo mosaic', 'grid layout', 'scrapbook', 'vision board', 'mood board', 'photo wall', 'magazine layout', 'Hockney', 'joiner', 'photomontage'. NOT for simple image editing (use native-app-designer), generating new images (use Stability AI), single photo enhancement (use photo-composition-critic), or basic image similarity search (use clip-aware-embeddings).
How do I install collage-layout-expert?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/curiositech/some_claude_skills --skill collage-layout-expert in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/collage-layout-expert/ (personal) or .claude/skills/collage-layout-expert/ (project).
Which AI agents can use collage-layout-expert?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is collage-layout-expert safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains collage-layout-expert?
It is published by curiositech in curiositech/some_claude_skills. It has 253 recorded installs.
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