A recent blog post used a graphic that looked a bit like stained glass or recycled glass tile. The reality was little more that photo manipulation on the iPad. What was not very obvious was the progression.

The initial image was the “data stream” from the classic movie, “The Matrix”.

Using PhotoForge, the image was warped around a point. Next it received a vignette to reduce the edges. The “crystal” effect was added and then a combination of “levels” to brighten it and “hue” to color shift it. A little more contrast and the image was finished. The “button” effect was created in Photogene to round the corners and add an inner glow (actually to darken the edges).

The metamorphosis is dramatic – almost caterpillar to butterfly