diff --git a/scripts/vips_composite.py b/scripts/vips_composite.py
index 0e856c6..57d7803 100644
--- a/scripts/vips_composite.py
+++ b/scripts/vips_composite.py
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@ import random
 import os
 import math
 
+import numpy as np
+
+
+def bg_fill(width: int, height: int, channels: int = 3, fill: int = 255):
+    a = np.ones(shape=(height, width, channels)) * fill
+    return pyvips.Image.new_from_array(a)
+
 
 def create_grid_composite(
     directory, k, spacing_inches, output_file="output.png", dpi=300
@@ -23,7 +30,8 @@ def create_grid_composite(
     ]
 
     # Calculate the size of the composite image
-    widths, heights = zip(*[image.size for image in images])
+    # widths, heights = zip(*[image.size for image in images])
+    widths, heights = [1800], [1800]
     max_width = max(widths)
     max_height = max(heights)
 
@@ -32,7 +40,8 @@ def create_grid_composite(
     total_height = k * max_height + (k + 1) * spacing_pixels
 
     # Create a blank image for the composite
-    composite = pyvips.Image.black(total_width, total_height)
+    # composite = pyvips.Image.black(total_width, total_height, bands=4)
+    composite = bg_fill(total_width, total_height, channels=1, fill=255)
 
     # Place images into the composite
     for i, image in enumerate(images):
@@ -40,15 +49,19 @@ def create_grid_composite(
         col = i % k
         x = col * (max_width + spacing_pixels) + spacing_pixels
         y = row * (max_height + spacing_pixels) + spacing_pixels
-        composite = composite.insert(image, x, y)
+
+        composite = composite.insert(image.flatten(background=[255, 255, 255]), x, y)
 
     # Save the composite image
     composite.write_to_file(output_file)
+    x = pyvips.Image.thumbnail(output_file, 1080 * 4)
+    x.write_to_file("out_sm.png")
+    print(output_file)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     # Example usage
     directory = "/teamspace/studios/this_studio/out_sortcolors/umap/"  # Change to your directory path
-    k = 3  # For a 3x3 grid
+    k = 10
     spacing_inches = 0.5  # Half an inch between images
     create_grid_composite(directory, k, spacing_inches)