Ever since neural networks started getting more exposure on the web, millions of users have used them to create and transform images of all kinds. If there's one app that took full advantage of this new source of popularity, it's Prisma, but for now it's only compatible with iOS and Android. If you want an “equivalent” on your computer without downloading secondary software, all you have to do is visit Dreamscope, an old acquaintance here at NeoTeo.
Google DeepDream started doing its thing in June of last year, and from then on, neural networks applied to art reached critical mass. Image editing and transformation gave way to video processing and even to the reconstruction of entire films. Several services tried to keep up with users, but many servers quickly became saturated, and only the most robust options remained standing. One of the platforms that took mobile devices by storm is Prisma, and with just two months as a stable version it already has more than a million active users. However, the combination of art and neural networks was “born” on the computer. Is there anything similar to Prisma that is easy to use, PC-compatible, and free?
The answer to that question is none other than Dreamscope, which we first explored in July 2015. In these thirteen months Dreamscope has grown significantly, and today we find a much more polished interface, presenting all available effects (49, and an option to customize) in a horizontal layout. The differences between effects are quite clear, but since there's no preview function, you'll have to pick a filter, start the process, wait, and if Dreamscope doesn't deliver what you imagined, load the image again. The only “pre-processing” changes the interface offers are brightness, contrast, rotation, and an emphasis to preserve original colors.
Another detail to keep in mind with Dreamscope is that its processing often reduces the image resolution. The final size depends on the chosen effect (in some cases, the “crop” is 50 percent), so the recommendation is to use images with the highest possible resolution. Dreamscope is free, and although in its terms of use we discovered several entries that remind us of Facebook's conditions, the truth is its main function doesn't require creating an account; it's completely optional. In short: Dreamscope is a solid alternative to Prisma, and the best part is you don't depend on a mobile device.
