What is Picbreeder?

Picbreeder is based on an idea called evolutionary art, which is a technique developed by scientists that allows pictures to be bred almost like animals. For example, you can start with a butterfly and actually breed it into an airplane by selecting parents that look like airplanes. While evolutionary art used to be the solitary activity of a small group of experts, Picbreeder brings it to the masses so that not only can you breed our own pictures and share them with others, but you can also create new breeds (called branches) from other people's pictures. It takes a little practice, but it's a surprisingly powerful way to produce original artwork without the need for prior talent or skill.