I’ve been testing out a bunch of the layers available as part of Google’s recently-released DeepDream code. Since tumblr will only allow so many photos at a time, here’s a summary of #layer test, all of which was completed with default settings:

Layer 1

All Layer 1: Very simplified, tends to come out looking like an overused Photoshop filter. Not my favorites.



Layer 2

conv2 and pool2: Still very simple, but a little less auto-filter looking. Starting to get interesting.



Layer 3

inception_3a and pool3: Probably my favorites for this underwater scene. Interesting detail without getting into dogslug territory.



inception_3b: Very painting-like. Still dogslug-free.

Layer 4

inception_4a: Starting to see eyeballs, but it’s not overly intrusive yet.



inception_4b: Gettin’ a little sluggy up in here.

inception_4c: With the exception of 1x1, getting a lot more eyes and new creatures.

inception_4d: The creatures are evolving.

inception_4e and pool4: Kind of a mess. Getting back into Photoshop auto-filter territory, but with extra legs.

Layer 5

inception_5a: Venturing into a totally new ecosystem. This would probably have the best effect with a higher number of steps/iterations.



inception_5b and pool5: Might work better on higher contrast, but in general not as exciting as some of the previous layers. Bumping up steps might help on this one too.

Conclusion: For this type of photo, Layer 3 appears to be the sweet spot where you get interesting images without being overwhelmed by genetic mutations. Changing the other settings may yield better results in the more complex layers.