Microsoft AutoCollage 2008

Microsoft AutoCollage 2008 is a new desktop application which compiles individual photographs into one seamless collage. Using methods such as object recognition and face detection, Auto Collage combines the separate pictures into a composite collage by deliberately following natural features as a boundary between images. “The most significant feature that differentiates AutoCollage is that it offers exceptionally sophisticated blending technology for photographs, powered by state-of-the-art computer vision techniques," said Alisson Sol, development manager at Microsoft Research Cambridge. Microsoft AutoCollage runs on Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2 and above, and is available worldwide through a 30-day free trial.

Microsoft Research Press Release

CAMBRIDGE, UK - 4 Sept 2008 - Microsoft Research today launched AutoCollage 2008, a desktop application that allows users to easily compile a set of individual photographs into one seamless collage.

In just a few clicks, people can transform an unwieldy group of photos, for example, of an event like a wedding or holiday, into a single collage image that can be printed, used in e-postcards, web pages, desktop backgrounds, or emailed to family and friends.

Available to trial from the Microsoft Research download site, AutoCollage is an advanced computer vision and image processing program that assembles pictures into a seamless collage using methods such as object recognition and face detection. Having automatically identified interesting parts of pictures, AutoCollage combines the separate pictures into a composite collage by deliberately following natural features as a boundary between images.

“The most significant feature that differentiates AutoCollage is that it offers exceptionally sophisticated blending technology for photographs, powered by state-of-the-art computer vision techniques," said Alisson Sol, development manager at Microsoft Research Cambridge. “It’s great that we can give everyone the opportunity to play with and use this compelling technology, and we’re looking forward to seeing what collages they come up with!”

There are three main criteria that AutoCollage considers to ensure that it chooses the best images to feature in the collages it creates:

- Choosing images that are most representative of the overall theme (eg. avoiding duplications, choosing people or groups of people)
- Laying out the images in an interesting way (eg. without one image overly dominating the collage, ensuring important parts of the photo are visible)
- Blending the images together so the joins aren’t visible

“We’ve tested tens of thousands of different collages in the course of our research, and it’s really exciting that the positive feedback we’ve received from our user studies shows we’ve answered these challenges successfully,” said Carsten Rother, researcher in the Computer Vision Group at Microsoft Research Cambridge.

AutoCollage runs on Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2 and above, and is available worldwide through a 30-day free trial.  An unrestricted version is available to purchase in the UK and US only at this time from http://research.microsoft.com/autocollage/Download.aspx

Published: Thursday, September 04, 2008

Reader Comments

1. I wonder who on earth would pay for such app, when even microsoft paint can easily do collages.
   
   What next, an app that uses artificial intelligence to crop your photos? =)

   Microsoft Paint at 05:42pm on Sunday, September 07, 2008

2. Shameful, just shameful. What possible excuse is there for removing Human artistic choices. The computer should stick to being a tool. Excellent collages require excellent image resampling, and alpha-blend masking functions so that the user can quickly position, scale, and blend.
   
   Recently, some uni project placed a free vectorise (trace) program online that allowed brilliant conversion from bit-art to vector. Why couldn't MS do something useful like this, rather than idiot bluesky automation programs that uselessly attempt to replace Human artistic input (an impossible task).
   
   Better, MS should focus on improving their very poor OSs, mediocre WP, and badly dated coding environment. It is a sign that MS cannot succeed (from an engineering POV) in their core businesses that MS wastes time and money in these exotic projects.

   dave at 12:46am on Friday, September 12, 2008

3. In reply to Dave, your so-called "human artistic choices" for getting a collage done in a shop run at about $45 per hour, and that's a cheap estimate. That my friend, is a rip-off. You see, I'm poor; I can't afford to pay some dude $200 to produce a collage for me. And why should I when this program will produce *exactly* the same thing. Your use of jargon almost sounds convincing; but you need to realise the lay-person who likes a beautifully done collage will be MORE than happy with the results of this app. They will be VERY pleasantly suprised. It produces professional, beautiful and artistic quality collages. Period. AND it saves the end-cousumer a bucket load of cash in the process.

   Paul at 07:55am on Friday, September 12, 2008

4. Oh, and did I mention that this application is gonna do a lot of so-called photographic "professionals" out of a lot of work!
   
   I've seen photo's retouched, collages done by "professionals". They're okay... don't come near to what this program can product and like I said, not worth the huge outlay. This was verified by a pro I spoke to tonight; I showed him the output of a couple of colleges I made using this app. He was astounded. Said it would take him many hours to repro this in another commercial app. His company, a big company would charge $200 for the result that this app gave me. He couldn't believe the outstanding quality and composition. Simply put. Go out and buy this program. Now. Thats my 2cents worth.

   Paul at 08:02am on Friday, September 12, 2008