Chrome extension ImageQuilts allows its users to make collages using Google image search.
Statistician and data visualization expert Edwards Tufte and software engineer Adam Schwartz are the masterminds behind the ImageQuilts plug-in, which allows users to transform their Google image search results into unusual collages.
Edward Tufte is well-known for his writings on information design and he is also a pioneer in the field of data visualization. Tufte is also skilled in the presentation of informational graphics like charts and diagrams and he also has fellowship of the American Statistical Association.
"ImageQuilts allows you to make 'quilts', or matrices of images, out of Google image search results," notes the description of the plug-in on Chrome web store.
The ImageQuilts Chrome extension is very easy to use. Once the plug-in is installed, users just need to conduct an image search on a subject of their choice and an ImageQuilts button will appear just over the search results. Once the user clicks the button, the results of the searched image will join together and form a collage. Users will also have several options to adjust the collage to suit their personal preference.
The Chrome extension offers a lot of customization options that allow users can change the image size and order, zoom into images, add or remove images, and also change the hue of the quilt by using the greyscale tool or inverting the colors.
ImageQuilts can be considered as an impressive tool to summarize and organize visual data. However, the plug-in also suffers from certain issues.
"When searching for products you'll often get a mess of concepts and press shots mixed in with images that Google Images has pulled from news articles, making the job of curating the collage a little cumbersome," reports The Verge.
It is important for users to note that ImageQuilts works only with image results from Google.com. The ImageQuilts button will not show up if users attempt to use any regional variations of Google.
ImageQuilts' size is only 111KB and it is available as a free download from the Chrome web store.
