Exploring Deep Neural Style with Pikazo app

Every now and then, there is an iOS APP that seems to be really unique and way ahead of its time. I wanted to deeply talk and write about PIKAZO app by Pikazo Inc.

Pikazo 2 Logo

This app allows users to mix and remix ART STYLE and SUBJECT of their own (photographs, sketches, etc) and generate image graphic output that is worth further studying or perhaps as a new original Art pieces especially when printed out into canvas or other products.

The resulting image will be as if the original Artist is painting and recreating for your photo.

You might have heard of recent popular app like Prisma that supposedly can turn photos into stylized graphics? Now, this PIKAZO app does a LOT more and more true to the nature of style transfer.

Keep in mind that this is not the usual sketch filters that we already have for years via Photoshop. With Neural Style Transfer, the machine actually does quite a hard job in separating elements and then re-assemble back into the original photo. At least that how I think of this process.
 
Below is just a quick examples of my creation using the Pikazo app:

iPhone Selfie (2016)

My Wife (2016)

Pretty impressive right? I think so! Let's see some more, but beforehand, I want to give a bit of background story on "neural art transfer" from "deep dream".

STORY OF DEEP STYLE TRANSFER BEFORE PIKAZO APP

My interest in this "Art Style Transfer" actually started a few months ago when I got to an interesting exploration area called machine learning and neural network and deep dream (that I stumbled by accident while I was studying and researching about Python and Jupyter iPython Notebook):  

GOOGLE DEEP DREAM DEMO
https://github.com/google/deepdream

Machine learning is a branch of computer science that try to take data, analyze data and find patterns do this automatically. Potential is huge, including voice recognition, image recognition, etc.

Like most curious geeks, I actually tried to setup my own "Deep Dream" using my own home computer. And I did it, with lots of hassles. Took me hours and eventually days of researching and trying to install all sort of Python repositories and it eventually works.

The setup is long and to get result is also takes a while.

Deep dream algorithm itself is a nice graphics demo displaying computer machine ability to draw photos using collection of photos.

Candi Borobudur by Philip Lesmana photo, redrawn using Temples

Cat on Pot (1998) photo, redrawn using Dog Photos

Google Deep Dream demo is fascinating in itself. This was show around about a year ago in 2015.

Now... from deep dream to "neural style transfer".

The next step in deep dream is neural style transfer, that is less bizarre, but more aesthetically beautiful.

Parisian Ballerina, photo by Jimmy Gunawan. Made in Pikazo.

The process of making "art style transfer" is actually slow and painful. Especially if the machine is using CPU only. Maybe 512 pixel max dimension will take around 30+ hours. Yes, really that slow and painful. Pikazo app does it in under 5 minutes only!

- Deep Dream GPU, can be fast depends on your machine
- Neural Style CPU slow, GPU is really hard to setup
- Neural Style using Pikazo app and Pikazo cloud computing => 5 minutes for 500 x 500 pixel.

I actually found one of Neural Style Transfer repository from GitHub that allows me to create something like below:

Photo is from Emrata / Emily Ratajkowski Instagram photo, and I use anime style graphic to transfer into.

I found that the neural style to be totally amazing research and unusual. In a way, this is a very quick way to see "what result we get when we transfer art style with a photo".

Maybe this can be an ART IN PROGRESS thing? Not a final result? Perhaps it can help people to study art style? And can be more appreciative of the art, when applied to own SUBJECT / CONTENT? This is what I continue to test using the Pikazo app.

#pikazo #pikazo #neuralart #art

A photo posted by Jimmy Gunawan (@enzyme69) on Jul 17, 2016 at 2:11pm PDT

WARNING: ART REMIX AND COPYRIGHT ISSUE (!)

Since I started this "neural style transfer" exploration, I am completely aware and be really careful with copyright issue. Especially when remixing CONTENT and ART STYLE.

Made in Pikazo.

One cannot just mix a photo taken by others and Art Style painted by artists and mix the two and make his/her own.

So, I tried as much to use my own CONTENT / SUBJECT creation, and remixing it with FOUND ART STYLE that I can give credit and attribution.

Photography by Willy Gunawan, my brother. Style: Unknown. Made in Pikazo.

There are limitless ART STYLE to explore out there from Kandinsky until recent modern artists. I definitely appreciate ART STYLE nowadays after Pikazo.

For my own art daily project, I am using old and new photos of mine, recycling years of photos I collected in Flickr and now I use Pikazo to bring it back to life.

If you are feeling adventurous, you are not necessarily need to mix Photo with Style of Art, you could easily mix your own Painting Styles, or Handrawing or perhaps Textures into calculation. You will get some interesting result!

Japanese Girl 05, Made in Pikazo.

Japanese Girl 14, Made in Pikazo.

DISCOVERING PIKAZO and PIKAZO 2 

Pikazo app was originally created by Karl Stiefvater, just a few months ago. I found Pikazo probably by lucky accident. It is a simple app that can transfer STYLE into CONTENT, mix the two and the result is a 500 x 500 pixel dimensions of art. It actually does EVERYTHING that I have tried to do when exploring all kinds of method to do Neural Style transfer using my own computer, and a lot simpler too, thanks to smartphone capability to do it on the fly (I use iPhone).

There is of course a sense of satisfaction having able to make the Neural Style setup using own machine. Before later on finding out some smarter people out there are doing the same and create the tool that does more and I really appraise Pikazo Inc. for this!

So, this is the next step my exploration in Neural Art Style Transfer and I tried using an old photo of mine of this black dog at Crown Street.

I actually test it on hundred of styles using Pikazo app. It gives me 500 x 500 pixel output.

"Black Dog" (2016) Made in Pikazo.

Before long, Pikazo 2 app actually came to surface. Pikazo 2 is a more refined version of the app, allowing users to do more like reading MUSE area for article and inspiration of style. And also users can join the PIKAZO SALON Facebook Group, where other Pikazo artists shares their artworks and talks and comments.

Pikazo 2 by default allows you to draft and create 800 x 800 pixel art works. Don't let the dimension trick you, 800 pixel is actually quite high resolution for sharing.

Portrait Photo and Model: Ricky Adrian / Kie Photography. Made in Pikazo..

If you like to go further on your own artworks, you can apparently buy Jetons and output up to 3200 x 3200 pixels dimension. Large enough to output and print into Canvas or others like T-Shirt or Mugs or whatever design items. Maybe even iPhone case? Yes, why not :)

PIKAZO TIPS

For beginner Pikazo users, I can give you some tips:

• Collect all kind style and photos and be experimental
• Try using close up PORTRAIT or perhaps SELFIE, often time it gives you nice result. As silly as selfie may seem, actually with Pikazo, even the silliest face looks awesome.
• Pikazo Style works best for the most ABSTRACT STYLE, but try all kind of ART STYLE with interesting paint stroke details, and be surprised!
• Explore all kind of Art Style
• Use high resolution photo and art if you can
• Find more inspirations at Pikazo Salon

Black Dog XIV. Made in Pikazo.

OTHER STYLE TRANSFER APP AND PLUGIN

Below is a Deep Style Transfer result using Dwango Python Chainer Plugin for OpenToonz. I tested this using my own machine at home, and took me a few hours to develop and get result. It is very slow on CPU, perhaps faster using GPU, but not easy to setup.

The Prisma app actually does this kind of style very similarly. So I guess it is probably using the same quick and shortcut technique implemented.

Overall, the neural style result you like is back to own personal taste. Prisma app is interesting and fast, it gives effect that is more like a Photoshop filter.

I think I much prefer to use Pikazo for more REAL and sophisticated result. Art form should continue to evolve, analog or digital, or anything. Re-discover old and new styles. Remix it. Appreciate it.

ONE MORE THING...

 I remixed 400 results of "black dog" that I have collected on the same subject, below is "The Black Dog" superimposed over one another. It becomes almost like a real painting:

Result of mixing 400 styles. Almost like original photo, but it feels like real art.

What is next? Probably Neural Art Style applied into movie or animation? We shall see!

"The Gap" (2016), Sydney, Made in Pikazo.

SEE ALSO:
"Loving Vincent" (2016) Trailer


Thanks to Pikazo app this "neural style transfer" becoming an accessible area is for everyone to explore! Using just own smartphone and some bits of creativity, we can create a "NEW" and interesting art result. Have fun and enjoy!

#oldman #customhouse #sydney #art #remix #pikazoapp

A photo posted by Jimmy Gunawan (@enzyme69) on Jul 17, 2016 at 2:50pm PDT

Famous photo of Dalai Lama, using my own Instant Noodles as style.

The Path to iOS Enlightenment

You can ask people around me, sometimes I do treat technology and software like a RELIGION, especially with technologies that are dear to me:

• My smartphone (iPhone)
• My tablet (iPad, there is no other tablets!)
• My computer (MacBookPro)

Why would I do that? My own personal reason is because if one does not believe in any "thing", there is not going much excitements or fun in it.

I believe in Apple since 2010.

LIKE A LEICA LOVE

My younger brother Will for example, has his fascination and believe in camera like Leica and film photography. A bit of ideal romantic for a photographer. For him, beautiful film and print will be the last ultimate result. On that topic, I am a total opposite. Although I have my fascination with film, but my heart is set on Digital, not so much on Analog.

For now, my camera of choice is the iPhone, besides FujiX100 and Olympus PEN. I also have my dusty D700 from my dad. A very good camera, but too bulky and impractical for me. Well, I still use it time to time, but these days, iPhone is always besides my pocket.

I definitely will talk about iPhone-o-graphy more in future articles. Including some photography apps.

Some people treat technology with little or not much respect, changing from one tech to the next tech device, little concern of brand and models following trends and specs numbers, which is a total disgrace in my opinion.

I rather give more respects to people that stick with one brand, providing he/she is not being an ass about it. For all right reasons, you choose your personal "belief".

In the end, the tools that gives you a lot more than just functionality, is something you have to hold into. Not so much of brands. But the people who embrace the tech.

It is not unlike I am following the path of Guy Kawasaki (one of famous Apple Evangelist). I do have big respects in people that gives technology an equal respect. Other person I recall and respect will be the educator John Maeda. He also has his thing on Apple years back.

THE 1st IPAD CHANGES EVERYTHING

It has been a few years since I bought my first iPad and iPhone.

My 1st iPad in 2010 was indeed the most memorable. It does not have cameras, it was a bit heavy, it was a bit slow too and so many past things iPad that way behind compared to current iPad Pro with Pencil! I remember holding the iPad with Grabbit cover that allows my iPad to stay on the palm of my hand. It is just brilliant.

I love my iPad more before I fall in love with the iPhone. That is always the important note.

Here is the whole truth about my change of "religion" into Apple:
I used to just use PC Windows and I rely on Google and put a big trust on those brand and services. I used to avoid anything Apple related. I had my bad experience using Apple back in the college time, because the Macs were a bit old.

I was waiting for "the tablet" from Microsoft or Google... it never come to surface. Till suddenly, the iPad was announced by Steve Jobs. I was like... "I MUST HAVE THAT THING!".

So I bought the iPad and love it since the first day. The iPad is the key into Apple.

It follows with owning the iPhone 4S, which is my first iPhone. And then iPad 2. Which I accidentally drown because of bottle water inside my bag (never ever put bottle water and iPad inside same bag). But then Apple Genius man called Adam replaced my iPad 2 with brand new refurbished iPad. And I was total live changing experience for me.

And a bit later, I queued for iPhone 5S and iPad Air. It was quite an experience.

When you choose Apple as your device and embrace it, you should be "the crazy one".

SIMPLICITY OF SOFTWARE & HARDWARE

I also owned the MacBookPro, just a basic one. Mid 2010 model. The one I am currenly using to type this blog article. It's old and a bit slow now with El Capitano. I might need to retire this soon, thinking to buy new MacBookPro 2016.

I have been adapting to OS X and iOS ever since I own the iPad, iPhone and MacBookPro. All three different devices but all with an elegant UI experience and built in apps.

Apple built in apps featured in both OS (iOS and OS X), although can be easily overlooked by users, are simply brilliant and not something to take granted for:
- Notes
- Photos (covers webcam feature, front camera, back camera)
- Maps
- Calendar
- iTunes (the love hate relationship app)
- Safari (web browser)
- Musics
- Reminder
- Siri (includes Voice Over, Dictation, Dictionary, and Speech)
- and many more

There have been some evolutions going on with OS X and iOS since that time Steve Jobs passed away and being replaced by Tim Cook. I think Apple is aligning itself and a lot simpler and actually bettter vision.

On top of the software, Apple also does its own hardware, which works efficiently with the software. This is always a very important point when owning Apple devices.

When Apple announced Pencil and drawing capability, it is something that eventually be supported all across.

Now, it will not be long until Apple announce the iOS 10 and I think it is a good time to start a blog like this, to talk about Apps, about the iOS, and everything in between.

NOT PRO/EXPERT, BUT ALL ABOUT CONTINUES EXPERIENCE

Price tag is something one needs to be aware of when choosing their "Joy" machine of choice. Apple products, obviously is not cheap. At a glance you may be shocked.

The right way to buy Apple products is to buy the MEDIUM PRICE option. Not the most expensive one, unless you have that extra cash.

After all, you will find out that you can buy MANY other devices but disappointed with its quality. But be happy with ONE a really good device, in this case thing like Apple's iPhone, iPad, and MacBookPro.

Of course, there are the ups and downs in my passion for Apple. Sometimes there is a really good apps that are suddenly discontinued by the developers. It is totally unavoided.

Anyhow, let see how this blog would develop from today.