IMG · Images tools

Stained Glass Effect

This tool transforms your images into geometric mosaics by calculating a mathematical Voronoi diagram across the pixels. It creates the iconic look of a shattered mirror or a classical leaded stained-glass window.

Shattering the image

The algorithm works by placing “seeds” across your image. Every single pixel in the photo calculates which seed it is closest to and snaps to that seed’s color. Where two regions meet, they form a perfectly straight edge.

You can control the size of these glass pieces using the Glass Scale slider. Smaller scales will create thousands of tiny shards that preserve the detail of the original photo, while larger scales will abstract the image into massive chunks of color.

Controlling the mosaic

If you want a highly chaotic, shattered look, increase the Shatter Variance. This scatters the seeds randomly. If you prefer a more organized, tile-like mosaic, turn the variance down so the seeds arrange themselves into a uniform grid.

You can also adjust the Grout Thickness to draw lines between the shards. For a traditional gothic church window, use a thick black grout. For a modern, digital art style, try a thin white or neon border.

Frequently Asked Questions

It uses a mathematical concept called a Voronoi diagram. The algorithm scatters a grid of 'seeds' across your image, and assigns every pixel to the seed closest to it. This naturally forms the sharp, organic glass shards you see.

Yes! You can use the Grout Color picker to change the lines between the glass shards. Black gives a traditional leaded stained-glass look, while white or bright colors look more like a digital mosaic.

Increase the Glass Shatter (Variance) slider. At 0%, the points are in a perfect grid. At higher percentages, the points are scattered chaotically, creating highly irregular shards.

It simulates light shining through physical cathedral glass. As you increase the texture, the center of each shard glows brighter and more saturated, the edges darken to simulate shadow, and wavy imperfections appear across the surface of the glass.

Images with strong, high-contrast colors and simple subjects work best. Because the algorithm abstracts the image into large geometric chunks, fine details like distant faces or small text may become unrecognizable.

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