Thanks Graechan; the addition of the wider spaces between stones really make me happy. Because the layers are separate, I can add grout my own way which is cool too.

Hey Graechan. If you really want to shine the cobble stones, you can always run G'MIC's local orientation with a slight increase in the Smoothness slider and set it to Grain Extrace with a copy of the stones on top set to color and another copy above that set to light with adjusted opacity to taste. See XCF (7-Zip) file for layer details. Note to merge all visible before applying the grout.

OK Lyle, I give up. Been working on this for about an hour and a half now and I can't figure out what you did to get the tiles to look so flattened on top. What's up with the rings? You keepin' secrets again?

This is my latest and greatest couple of attempts.

I'm really having fun with this Graetchan! To get the grout like I like it, I alpha to select the image layer and go to the grout layer and delete the selection therefore making a sort of grout "lattice" layer. Then dup, blur, & inverted bump. This time I added the original image above the selection blur layer in overlay mode. Also did a Layer FX bevel & emboss and put them at the top. Then ran the glossy stroke 3d. I also tried to immulate Lyle's image and ran GIMIC's gradient Norm @ 5 on the image layer and place it under the original image layer. I just can't seem to duplicate what Lyle did.

LOL; to create the grout, I dupped the stones and, on the base layer, ran G'MIC's Gradient Norm preset adjusting the Top slider until I got the ring effect; might have done this step twice; can't remember in my half-heimerz state. Also, I like the reflection effect that you did for your result; nice added touch.

Thanks Lyle. I was fooling around with the Gradient norm too but just could not get it to look right. Guess I wasn't holding my tongue right. Anyway this was great fun. Thanks again Graechan!

I like the glossy result Graechan. Don't think you updated the Script since Saturday though so, if it's the same as the last effort, I'll have to play more with the settings.

Just updated to rel 3, but please keep playing with the script, its a great source of inspiration.

I like it Graechan but the Overlay layer step use to be part of the keep the layer separate part but now is no long. I like to tone down the Overlay effect (personal choice) so it would be cool to keep that as an option. Also, not sure if you saw the glossy result using Local Orientation; not sure if it's worth another option since I'm not sure how hard it would be to implement in the Script as an option. Also toying with lens distortion and reverse lens distortion to add variety to the tile sizes.

ref: http://www.fontplay.com/freephotos/sixt ... 6-0015.jpg

LOL! I know what you mean by "dreaded". It can be a real pain sometimes but I can definitely see the effects and I think they look really great. Your efforts were definitely worth it. You mentioned changing the grout but I didn't notice a lot of difference. Whadja do to it?

The only additional option I can think of is a checkbox to reverse or recess the grout instead of being raised above the tiles.