How HiveForge Works
1. Honeycomb Mesh Tessellation
HiveForge starts by dividing your image into hexagonal cells using honeycomb tessellation. Hexagons are optimal because they:
- Provide uniform coverage with no gaps
- Have 6 neighbors (more than squares) for smoother gradients
- Naturally align with organic shapes
2. Adaptive Refinement
High-error regions (edges, detail areas) are automatically refined with smaller cells. The refinement loop continues until quality targets are met:
- SSIM ≥ 0.95: Structural similarity to original
- ΔE00 ≤ 3: Perceptual color accuracy
3. Color Sampling
Each cell samples colors in linear RGB color space (not sRGB) for accurate averaging. Edge colors are computed separately for seamless gradient transitions.
4. Wedge Gradient Generation
Each hexagonal cell is split into 6 triangular wedges. Each wedge gets a linear gradient from the cell center to the shared edge. This creates smooth, continuous color transitions.
5. Multi-Stop Gradients
For complex color transitions, HiveForge uses multi-stop gradients optimized using CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) to minimize perceptual error. Stops are added until the color difference threshold is met.
6. Print-Safe SVG Output
The final SVG uses only RIP-compatible primitives:
- Linear gradients with
userSpaceOnUse - Closed path elements
- No filters, masks, or embedded images