In the rgb2xyz series I transpose some images from 2D to 3D space according to RGB values for each pixel. The resulting images are unique and allow for new ways to see – or visualize – the information in the original content. View images in the full post below (click to enlarge).

The algorithm used is very simple: the pixels in the original image are represented by spheres (in the same color as the corresponding pixel) in 3D space, positioned in x,y,z coordinates according to its color values r,g,b.

I chose four images with very distinct nature in order to explore as much as possible the qualities that would stand out in the proposed transformation.

The images are the Mona Lisa (classic art), Andy Warhol’s banana (a more stylized look), a picture of Marilyn Monroe (an iconic photograph) and Nature.

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Mona Lisa

The rgb2xyz representation for Mona Lisa reflects the predominance of brownish tones, and also a continuous volume.

For comparison I also did some “planar” versions of the images, in 3D space but keeping the pixels original positions.

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Andy Warhol’s Banana

This transformation resulted in an interesting triangular shape, since the image consists basically of three colors – yellow, white and black.

In this case I also experimented making a “planar” version with the position in z axis determined by color intensity.

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Marilyn Monroe

This photograph is very iconic, so in some ways it’s transformation led to a similar result from to the previous image – it basically goes from red to white. But since it is a photograph, the volume is more organic.

And suggestive. ;)

I also did a higher resolution version (higher sphere density).

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Nature

The resulting volume in this transformation is very big, reflecting the organic nature (and visual richness) of the original image, a photograph of a forest.

In this transformation it is also more clear that there is a natural compression that happens to all the images, due to restrictions, limitations or simple bottle-necks in the process of capturing, scanning and digitally manipulating these images. Note that the entire volume has some “hard corners” which certainly are not “natural”.

See more generative.