bitbamboo Posted January 31, 2022 Posted January 31, 2022 (edited) Despite the opinion that the Lego mosaic theme is boring , a recent huge example together with the announcement of the new Batman and Elvis sets have triggered my interest in building one A quick search shows that there are a few software options to help with the initial shaping link 1, link 2 & many others, but people with experience points out that manual adjustments will be required So, basically you have a clear path ahead to draft it; but then, how do you source the pieces? Which set could be the most cost-effective for your project? All official mosaics bring the base bricks, a frame in black or white and up to 16 colors of 1x1 round tiles or plates in good amounts ,but they are not easy to compare. So I have put together the following table that can be used beforehand, so you limit your palette to what's available in a set (some tools already includes this), or afterwards, choosing if any would solve your needs better than a BricksNPieces / Brincklink order Notes: - I have excluded the World Map 31203 because if you are considering that size, clearly you are not into cost optimisation - The submission of the upcoming Ideas set Starry Night is not flat and looks great, this would require different parts sourcing. @Themiddlebrick uses a noteworthy layered technique in Boba Fett mosaic artwork - Art Project 21226 is listed based on the Lego instructions' last page, and Batman 31205 and Elvis 31204 are listed based on info from Brothers-Brick review ; the rest comes from bricklink - A few DOTS sets might be good parts packs as well, I have included them Set Number 21226 31197 31198 31199 31200 31201 31202 31204 31205 41935 41950 41951 41952 Set (nick)Name Art Project Marilyn The Beatles Iron Man The Sith Hogwarth Mickey Elvis Batman Lots of Dots Lettering Dots Message Board Large board Num. Pieces 4138 3341 2933 3167 3406 4249 2658 3441 4167 1040 722 531 943 Frame colour White Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Dark Black no no White, thin Med. Az.?, thin TILES or plates TILES TILES TILES plates plates plates plates TILES rough plates TILES, shapes TILES, shapes TILES, shapes TILES, shapes Other parts 201 187 187 193 193 202 197 200 200 + part 27925 + part 27925 Bricklink name Color Number 3937 3154 2746 2974 3213 4047 2461 3241 3967 1040 White 1 474 149 61 187 369 835 71 257 60 46+16 167 Light Bluish Gray 86 51 31 110 236 59 26 277 Dark Bluish Gray 85 131 141 91 151 79 52 216 Black 11 254 629 698 476 877 593 662 596 566 60 Dark Red 59 214 328 503 96 339 Red 5 190 308 286 15 213 80 112 40 124+16 46+16 Coral 220 120 167 Dark Brown 120 554 196 200 206 Reddish Brown 88 307 250 191 76 233 165 Dark Tan 69 137 97 Tan 2 241 283 155 32 106 380 Light Nougat 90 360 Nougat 28 200 Medium Nougat 150 281 29 208 182 153 Dark Orange 68 85 162 125 179 55 Orange 4 121 74 40 42 46+16 Bright Light Orange 110 175 65 4+16 127 Yellow 3 299 587 120 124+16 Bright Light Yellow 103 119 92 20 Neon Yellow 236 Yellowish Green 158 20 42 46+16 Lime 34 166 4 Olive Green 155 Dark Green 80 20 Green 6 499 127 Bright Green 36 148 210 20 4+16 Sand Green 48 20 Dark Turquoise 39 120 Light Aqua 152 317 194 40 42+16 46+16 Dark Blue 63 660 121 529 447 409 206 423 40 Blue 7 431 293 120 Dark Azure 153 127 Medium Azure 156 587 10 139 40 74+16 46+16 106? Medium Blue 42 230 Bright Light Blue 105 57 Sand Blue 55 52 23 139 175 Dark Purple 89 60 Medium Lavender 157 95 42 Lavender 154 40 4+16 167? Magenta 71 46 40 Dark Pink 47 587 Bright Pink 104 58 587 46+16 Flat Silver 95 630 Pearl Dark Gray 77 271 153 432 Pearl Gold 115 232 604 Trans-blue? 30? Trans-blue? 30? Trans-blue? 40? The Lego Art discussion thread could be a good place to talk about this, but being in doubt I have started a separate thread because I do not want to launch a discussion on which one is "best". Do not hesitate in merging with that thread Edited February 23, 2022 by bitbamboo Added info for Batman and Elvis on Feb 23rd Quote
The Real Indiana Jones Posted February 4, 2022 Posted February 4, 2022 (edited) Cool, yes, and we should also mention Lego Art Remix at https://lego-art-remix.com/. Personally, I think that one it is the best, and there isn't much more you could possibly add to make it any more perfect! Also, I think your eye is correct... The Elvis Art set 31204 will include a few hundred "nougat" tiles, and I think that will be the first time they've ever appeared in that exact color. Naturally, they made them to add a lot more subtlety to the skin tones. Plus, I think it has more of both "medium nougat" and "dark orange" tiles too. So I think that's all of the flesh-tone colors that are currently available in the 2022 palette, since "salmon", "light salmon" and "dark nougat" plastic is not currently in active production. So I will get the set, just so I can use the tiles to make a totally different portrait I am planning. I don't care about Elvis, and I won't make his portrait at all, but it's definitely the ideal parts-pack set for making a portrait of anyone else you like! And ultimately, how long do we have to wait to get round tiles in "classic green", "dark green", and "dark purple"? You can buy fake ones in bulk from bootleg manufacturers, but I do not dare type their name, haha! =D Edited February 4, 2022 by The Real Indiana Jones Quote
Themiddlebrick Posted February 21, 2022 Posted February 21, 2022 On 2/4/2022 at 1:38 AM, The Real Indiana Jones said: Cool, yes, and we should also mention Lego Art Remix at https://lego-art-remix.com/. Personally, I think that one it is the best, and there isn't much more you could possibly add to make it any more perfect! Also, I think your eye is correct... The Elvis Art set 31204 will include a few hundred "nougat" tiles, and I think that will be the first time they've ever appeared in that exact color. Naturally, they made them to add a lot more subtlety to the skin tones. Plus, I think it has more of both "medium nougat" and "dark orange" tiles too. So I think that's all of the flesh-tone colors that are currently available in the 2022 palette, since "salmon", "light salmon" and "dark nougat" plastic is not currently in active production. So I will get the set, just so I can use the tiles to make a totally different portrait I am planning. I don't care about Elvis, and I won't make his portrait at all, but it's definitely the ideal parts-pack set for making a portrait of anyone else you like! And ultimately, how long do we have to wait to get round tiles in "classic green", "dark green", and "dark purple"? You can buy fake ones in bulk from bootleg manufacturers, but I do not dare type their name, haha! =D Agreed, I'm looking forward to those nougat round tiles! I am also refreshing the Bricks and Pieces page on LEGO SaH daily waiting for the new basic green round tiles to arrive! There are a few in the globe set but I'm looking for more like 100! Dark green would be a dream... I just hope with TLG's investment in the dots and art themes that we get them someday in the not too distant future! @bitbamboo In your table, it says the Batman mosaic frame is in Dark Black. I'm assuming it is a typo and you mean black (or maybe blue?). I'm curious because I am looking to put a dark brown frame on one of my mosaics but the 2 x 2 corner plates are not currently available in Dark Brown Quote
The Real Indiana Jones Posted February 21, 2022 Posted February 21, 2022 (edited) On 2/21/2022 at 1:02 PM, Themiddlebrick said: Agreed, I'm looking forward to those nougat round tiles! I am also refreshing the Bricks and Pieces page on LEGO SaH daily waiting for the new basic green round tiles to arrive! There are a few in the globe set but I'm looking for more like 100! Dark green would be a dream... I just hope with TLG's investment in the dots and art themes that we get them someday in the not too distant future! Ah, yes, the ones in The Globe set are basic classic Green, finally...! =D But a few round tile colors are still missing in action: - Dark Green - Sand Green - Dark Purple - Medium Lavender (Thanos's color) - Pearl Dark Gray (a.k.a. Gunmetal Gray) I tried spray-painting the greens and gunmetals a few months ago, and the sheen looks OK as a temporary place-holder. Also, (trigger warning: clone brands) a lot of these tile colors can be bought in bulk from various bootleg manufacturers... For art tiles, the quality might be adequate to just fill in the blanks for now, and then you can replace them later when the real ones are finally available... Some of the colors are a tiny bit different hue from the official Lego colors, and some have a bit of a ripple or a dimple on the surface. It also depends on how loyalist and purist you are! =D Edited February 23, 2022 by The Real Indiana Jones Quote
bitbamboo Posted February 23, 2022 Author Posted February 23, 2022 The Brothers Brick review of Batman mosaic confirms the brand new medium lavender 1 x 1 round plate , not tile. Although there are 1x1 square tiles available Quote
The Real Indiana Jones Posted February 23, 2022 Posted February 23, 2022 (edited) 53 minutes ago, bitbamboo said: The Brothers Brick review of Batman mosaic confirms the brand new medium lavender 1 x 1 round plate , not tile. Although there are 1x1 square tiles available Thanks! Out of curiosity, what colors on the current 2022 palette do not have 1x1 ROUND PLATES (i.e. studs) made yet? For example, all of the various lighter blues? I am using tiles here, and I mentioned just above which tile colors are still missing, but I may also do one with studs too in the future... And I have a feeling that every new art set will include one or two new tile/stud colors, just to tempt us to get it! =D Edited February 23, 2022 by The Real Indiana Jones Quote
bitbamboo Posted February 23, 2022 Author Posted February 23, 2022 I'm using tiles as well, but the stacking technique mentioned in Batman review makes plates to look tempting; Anyway I'll probably go for the layered idea as it improves the detail and I have limitted space. My source of truth is obviously bricklink , and my biggest surpise has been that green 1x1 tile is new from 21332 The Globe. So, not yet aware of the color gaps in plates. I'll share if I finally need to investigate them. There are a couple of novelty-tiles in Elvis but I do not think that adding new colors will be activelly seek when selecting the motives. There are very few missing colors and most images can be rendered with the above palette, in any case time will tell. Quote
The Real Indiana Jones Posted February 23, 2022 Posted February 23, 2022 (edited) Hmm... Or you could also stack up 1 or 2 or 3 trans-clear round studs, and then cap off each one with the colored stud or tile on top. Or alternately, have you seen this one, where he stacks up all 1x1 square trans-clear plates, so they look more and more opaque, and so it looks like ice-floes in the ocean. Imagine this but with a dark blue background like the ocean? https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/80036-mosaic-david-bowie-as-the-thin-white-duke/ Edited February 23, 2022 by The Real Indiana Jones Quote
Themiddlebrick Posted February 24, 2022 Posted February 24, 2022 I was a bit disappointed that the first two reviews of the Elvis set didn't mention the new nougat tiles...at least Brickfanatics corrected theirs (no surprise seeing you call out that omission @bitbamboo!) Personally, the biggest gap in the plates' color palette is the lack of dark green (earth green) which is the one that I have the hardest time correcting. I can usually find a solution to lighter blue between some of the "greener" blues, light aqua, medium azure, which are at least close. I think that more than the mosaic sets, TLG's dedication to the dots theme will give us more colors in tiles- though in smaller quantities obviously. I wonder how successful the mosaic theme is overall - there is definitely a niche audience, but is it enough for long-term sustainability? I wonder. I honestly don't know. I hope so though because I appreciate their willingness to experiment and I'd like to see it pay off. Quote
The Real Indiana Jones Posted February 24, 2022 Posted February 24, 2022 Yes, so the colors still missing for round plates (studs) are: dark green, light nougat, nougat, coral, lavender, medium lavender, bright light blue, medium blue, and dark azure. So aside from dark greens and flesh tones, it's all of the exotic colors like light purples and variously subtle light blues you get in the Dots sets. Also, that new key-tool that they include in the Dots sets is excellent. Grab one on your next BrickLink order! Quote
The Real Indiana Jones Posted March 19, 2022 Posted March 19, 2022 Hey all, as I mentioned elsewhere, it's worth noting here that there are two new official colors in the Lego palette this year... Aside from "neon yellow", there is a distinctly new flesh tone that BrickLink is calling "medium brown". It's a step darker than medium nougat, and a step lighter than reddish brown, so a nice coffee-with-milk kind of color. You may have noticed it in set 76399 Hogwarts Magical Trunk, with the interchangeable student minifigs, and some minidolls in Friends sets too. Hopefully, they will make art tiles of that new color, because it's a perfect shade for more subtle shading on art portraits! I think they previously had the wrong RGB value for it, but now it's fixed... They might also need to correct some of the photos of parts... https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=84086#T=C&C=240 Quote
The Real Indiana Jones Posted October 10, 2022 Posted October 10, 2022 (edited) Naturally, the reason this topic is defunct now, is that almost all of the tile and stud colors are available in bulk on Pick-A-Brick for just 3 to 5 cents each now! Here's convenient links for you. https://www.lego.com/en-us/pick-and-build/pick-a-brick?query=35381&page=1&perPage=400&includeOutOfStock=true https://www.lego.com/en-us/pick-and-build/pick-a-brick?query=6141&perPage=400&includeOutOfStock=true Plus, If there are any subtle custom colors you might need, like violet, or salmon, or cafe-au-lait, et cetera, you can get nice quality off-brand parts on Ali-Express. Here's a few examples. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803946227208.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000023.1.258be0f6hxZJht&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt&_randl_shipto=US https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803948166967.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000023.3.258be0f6hxZJht&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt&_randl_shipto=US Let us know if you have similar suggestions. I'm planning some bigger works, and it's simpler to buy it all in bigger bulk. And I'm tired of waiting for Lego to release those last few colors! =) Edited October 10, 2022 by The Real Indiana Jones Quote
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