Mask effect or bitmap usage?

Hi,

i’ve seen on internet several website where a photo is divided into small square (at least virtually) and each square is after displayed as following to reconstruct the whole photo.

  • each square is place on stage on a particular place (same location as on the photo)
  • each square randomly are selected and are displayed from size (0,0) to it final size (so a smal part of photo, for example 50 x 50 px).

this effect is really nice but i do not know how to do it in AS3, because :

  • first : each square seem to be only added to the photo (the phot it self seems to not be divided into little square).
  • second : each square start from 0 to reach their final size (but randomly and smoothly)

could anyone help me ?
is there any tutorial for that ?
do they use mask for that effect ?

thx.

A.