Solving a maze with Photoshop.


1. Increase contrast.
2. Select the right wall of the maze using the magic wand.
3. Select > Modify > Expand 4 pixels
4. Create new layer.
5. Fill with Red.
6. Select > Modify > Contract 2 pixels.
7. Delete. Now you’ve got a line tracing the solution.
8. Manually clean up the outer edge, and connect the dots.
9. Cake!’

The picture above is a tiny portion of the huge maze solved by this Photoshop method. Link -via J-Walk Blog

Comments (4)

Newest 4
Newest 4 Comments

That's pretty neat!

I always have just traced the maze backwards. Most maze designers try to make the maze very difficult from beginning to end, but very few also make it difficult from end to beginning. It only took me a couple minutes to visually solve from end to start, far less than it would have taken with the photoshop method.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
This is functionally identical to how you can solve real physical mazes. Put your right hand on the wall to your right as you enter the maze, and keep it there as you follow it through to the exit.

Essentially, in both examples, you are splitting the maze in two. The entrance and exit divide the maze into two different wals that never touch each other. The line that divides the two walls is the shortest distance from the entrance to the exit.

However, both of these methods will only work on the simplest form of maze, that is a maze that has a single entrance and a single exit, each on the outside of the maze.

Many mazes, particularly of the physical variety, have one, or more, goals to be reached in the centre of the maze (often before reaching the final external exit). This method will not necessarily take you to a central goal, and in the case of multiple such goals, is almost guarantees you won't reach them all.

Another type of maze might be one with multiple exits. If only one is the correct exit, this method is not guaranteed to take you there, and if the designer of the maze is smart, this method will definitely not take you there.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Neat concept, but confusing purpose. I know there's a lot of vending machines to blend in with, but wouldn't it be better to just run than to stand around setting that up?
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Heh heh heh, I heard about this on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" a few weeks back. It's a serious invention, MikeG, made for easily frightened women (the inventor invented it for herself first). The Japanese are just weird.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I too heard this on Wait Wait, and simultaneously could and could not believe it. I liked the remark, "supposedly a would-be attacker would walk right by and not notice her... unless he was thirsty."
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Yeah, I could've sworn I've this on Neatorama before. Or maybe it was mental_floss...

Either way, I guess inventions like this will have to do 'till we can invent invisibility cloaks.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
If a woman can temporarily out-distance a mugger while wearing that skirt, and still have time to find a place to stand and set herself up as a faux soda machine, why even bother with this?
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
"While British women might prefer to take self-defence classes, Ms Tsukioka said: "It is just easier for Japanese to hide. Making a scene would be too embarrassing."

Wow.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
@Katey: Yeah, running for your life is embarrassing! If I don't have a giant cola costume at hand, I just break into an interpretive tree dance and then start squawking out Morse code for "Help, Police" like a deranged parrot. Embarrassment crisis averted.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
ROFL violet. I could totally imagine someone doing that while the would-be mugger stands by looking confused ehehehehehehehe... cracking me up......
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"Solving a maze with Photoshop."

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More