by Satori·VFX
Images © Satori. Used for product review; image policy.
Recursive Mosaic earns its place in the Toolfarm library for its recursive take on pixelization, subdividing the grid to keep chosen detail while discarding the rest.
Recursive Mosaic is a pixelization effect for After Effects and Premiere Pro. It divides the image into a grid and further subdivides the squares or rectangles until it reaches a specified detail level, so the image looks pixelated while chosen details can be preserved. It suits novel pixelization effects or JPEG artifact simulation.
Parameters give control over the look. Channels sets which color channels the effect applies to: Luminosity uses all channels in sync, RGB uses them separately, or you can target only red, green, blue or alpha. Mosaic intensity determines how blocky the result is, from preserving the original to allowing only the largest blocks. Grid Width and Grid Height set the initial horizontal and vertical subdivisions, and Maximum Iterations limits the recursions. Intensity Source lets you drive the effect from a different layer or Premiere track.
Recursive Mosaic now supports multi-frame rendering, Apple Silicon (M1) and curve modulation of the mosaic mapping. It runs across After Effects and Premiere Pro releases from CS6 through 2024.
Recursive Mosaic is best for artists creating pixelization effects or simulating JPEG artifacts in After Effects and Premiere Pro.
Recursive Mosaic is completely free to download and use.
Recursive Mosaic supports a broad range of releases in both hosts. For After Effects it lists compatibility from CS6 through CC and the yearly versions up to 2024, including CC 2014, CC 2015, CC 2015.3, CC 2017, CC 2018, CC 2019 and 2020 through 2023. For Premiere the same span applies, from CS6 up to 2024. If you run one of these versions, check the developer's page to confirm the current build before installing.
Recursive Mosaic added native Apple Silicon (M1) support, shipping as a universal macOS binary. Multi-frame rendering support was introduced in the same period, alongside curve modulation of the mosaic mapping. If you are on an Apple Silicon machine, this means the plugin can run natively without relying on translation. For the exact host versions covered on macOS, refer to the compatibility details on the developer's page.
Recursive Mosaic includes an Intensity Source parameter that lets you use a different layer, or a track in Premiere, as the source for the effect. Alongside it, Mosaic intensity controls how blocky the result is, Grid Width and Grid Height set the initial subdivisions, and Maximum Iterations limits the recursion depth. Together these give you control over how much detail is preserved or discarded.
Recursive Mosaic is listed as free in this catalog. Licensing terms can change, so check the developer Satori's page for current details before you download or install. That page is also the best place to confirm the version and host compatibility for your setup. Recursive Mosaic is a pixelization effect for After Effects and Premiere Pro, dividing an image into a grid and subdividing it to preserve or discard detail, so the free listing here still points back to the developer as the authoritative source for licensing and updates.
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