the original pixel sorting algorithm is by Kim Asendorf
http://prostheticknowledge.tumblr.com/post/32963838252/kim-asendorfs-pixel-sorting-code-is-now
In [1]:
    
from PIL import Image  # so we can work with images
    
In [2]:
    
from pixel_sorting import sort_image  # so we can sort the pixels of the image
    
In [3]:
    
from matplotlib import pyplot  # so we can see the resulting images
    
In [4]:
    
# we load the image we'll be working with
island = Image.open("../images/island.jpg")
    
In [5]:
    
# let's see what it looks like
pyplot.imshow(island)
    
    Out[5]:
    
In [6]:
    
# sort the image, this might take a while (< 10 sec usually)
sorted_island = sort_image(island, 0, 0)
    
In [7]:
    
# let's see what it looks like
pyplot.imshow(sorted_island)
    
    Out[7]:
    
In [8]:
    
# save the ouput
sorted_island.save("../images/island_sorted_once.jpg")