Overlay-PNG-Layers-from-CSV-via-Python

Overlay PNG layers according to a CSV file using a Python script and the Pillow library.

Overview

Our Compiler.py python script overlays PNG layers to create a new PNG, based on instructions in a CSV file. Before modifying and running this script, you'll need PNG layers to combine and a CSV file containing the filenames of those layers in the order you'd like them to be overlaid.

The script imports the csv module to read your CSV file and the PIL (or Pillow) library to manipulate image files.

Steps to update Compiler.py

First, adjust Compiler.csv to match the filename of your CSV roster.

Then, adjust the layer objects for the layers in your project. For the Yellowstone Firepit Crew, each image consisted of five layers (background, hobby, body, eyes and a special object). And each image was named per the first column of the CSV.

For debugging purposes, we use descriptive labels for each variable.

name = row[0]
backgroundimg = row[1]
hobbyimg = row[2]
bodyimg = row[3]
eyesimg = row[4]
specialimg = row[5]

Sync any changes above to the below commands: opening each layer and then pasting each layer on the background. Replace the background prefix for the paste and save commands with your first layer.

background = Image.open(backgroundimg+".png")
hobby = Image.open(hobbyimg+".png")
body = Image.open(bodyimg+".png")
eyes = Image.open(eyesimg+".png")
special = Image.open(specialimg+".png")
...
background.paste(hobby,(0,0),hobby)
background.paste(body,(0,0),body)
background.paste(eyes,(0,0),eyes)
background.paste(special,(0,0),special)
...
background.save(name+".png", "PNG")

Create your new PNGs

Run the Compiler.py script in your IDE/CLI of choice. If you're new to Python scripts, check out this Python tutorial from VS Code.