Valentine Polytomizer: Valentine’s Day Art Maker
From Euclid to Digital Art: The A Math Behind the Polytomizer
My Valentine polytomizer tool builds on ideas that go back over 2,000 years to Euclid, the Greek mathematician known as the “father of geometry.” In the art hub, my tool can be found in Low-Poly tab.
Euclidean Foundations
In his work Elements, Euclid established the foundational rules for points, lines, and triangles, proving that any polygon can be broken down into triangles, and that triangles are the simplest shape that can tile a flat surface without gaps.
Modern Mathematics Meets Ancient Principles
This tool uses that same principle through a modern method called Delaunay triangulation, named after the 20th-century mathematician Boris Delaunay. When you place points on your image and hit Polytomize, the algorithm connects those points into triangles that are as close to equilateral as possible, avoiding long, skinny slivers, which is exactly the kind of “well-formed” triangle Euclid would have appreciated.
How It Works
Each triangle then gets filled with a single color sampled from the image beneath it, turning a detailed photograph into a mosaic of flat geometric shapes. The more points you place in areas of detail, the smaller and more numerous the triangles, preserving more of the original image, while fewer points in simpler areas create bold, dramatic facets.
Step 1: Polytomize Your Image
Upload
- Click the upload zone or drag and drop an image onto it
- The tool accepts JPG, PNG, and most common image formats
Add Points
Choose your tool and create the low-poly effect:
Brush Tool
- Click and drag to add points where you want detail
- Size: Controls the area where points are placed (2-300 pixels)
- Density: How many points to add per stroke (1-50)
- Higher density = more triangles = more detail
Fill Tool
- Click to fill a circular area with evenly-spaced points
- Perfect for quickly covering large areas
- Uses a hexagonal grid pattern for even distribution
Eraser Tool
- Remove points you don’t want
- Drag over areas to clean up mistakes
Undo
- Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac)
- Unlimited undo within your current session
Clear
- Removes all points except the corners
- Fresh start without re-uploading
View Toggles
- Show Image: Toggle the original photo on/off
- Show Points: See or hide the point markers
- Show Triangles: Preview the final triangulated result
Create the Low-Poly Effect
Click “Polytomize!” to run the Delaunay triangulation algorithm. This connects your points into colored triangles based on your original image.
Tips for best results:
- Add more points in detailed areas (faces, important features)
- Use fewer points in simple backgrounds
- Try the Fill tool first, then add detail with the Brush
- Experiment! You can always undo or clear and try again
Step 2: Heart Mask
Once you’re happy with your polytomized image, click “Heart Mask →” to move to the masking phase.
Position Your Heart
- Click and drag the heart anywhere on your image
- Works with a mouse or touch
Customize the Heart
Size
- Slider from 10% to 100%
- Makes the heart larger or smaller
Rotate
- Slider from -180° to 180°
- Tilt the heart at any angle
Feather
- 0-50 pixel soft edge
- Creates a gentle fade at the heart’s border
- Higher values = softer, more romantic edge
Border
- 0-30 pixel border width
- Color selector to choose the border color
- Great for white borders on dark images
Background
- Transparent: PNG with see-through background
- Color: Choose a solid background color
- Perfect for Valentine’s Day, pink or red!
Save Your Creation
Click “Save PNG” to download your finished Valentine image!
Pro Tips
- For portraits: Add lots of points around eyes, mouth, and hairline
- For landscapes: Sparse points create dramatic geometric effects
- Text-friendly: Use lower density for cleaner shapes if adding text later
- High contrast photos work especially well with this effect
- Experiment with feathering: 10-20 pixels gives a soft romantic look
Troubleshooting
- Not enough detail? Add more points and re-polytomize
- Too busy? Clear and start with fewer, more strategic points
- Heart in the wrong spot? Just drag it! You can reposition anytime
- Want to start over? Click “Back” to return to the polytomize phase
Have fun creating your low-poly Valentine artwork! Share your creations on social media and tag us! 💕