Category preset · photographs
Tomodachi Life Photo to Pixel Art
Convert selfies, pet portraits, and landscapes into Palette House pixel art. The tool is pre-tuned for photographic input: Detailed + Floyd–Steinberg + Edge Enhance — the algorithm that handles gradients gracefully, plus a sharpening pass that keeps eyes, mouths, and silhouettes legible at 64×64.
Recommended settings
StyleDetailed (64×64 grid)
Brush in-game4 px
DitheringFloyd–Steinberg
Edge enhanceOn
Contrast+10 to +20
Photo → pixel art
1 · Source image
⬆
Drop a PNG / JPG here
Or click to browse
No image? → Try the demo gradient
2 · Pick a style
Detailed = 64×64 grid · Balanced = 32×32 · Retro = 16×16 · Chunky = 8×8
3 · Dithering algorithm
4 · Adjustments
Side-by-side compare
Original
Pixel art
Your pixel art preview appears here
Upload an image on the left, or click Try the demo gradient to test the dithering algorithms.
Output specs
Upload an image to see the output.
Tips · photo sources
Getting recognisable people and pets at 64×64
- Crop to the face. A wide group photo loses every individual. Crop to one subject’s head + shoulders for portrait work.
- Pick high-contrast photos. Strong directional lighting, plain background, clear features. Cloudy soft lighting muddies the conversion.
- Use the Contrast slider. If your output looks flat, +20 contrast often restores the subject. Brightness is your last resort — it shifts the whole image.
- Try Atkinson if F–S is too noisy. For faces, Atkinson distributes less error per pixel and can look cleaner. Test both with the side-by-side compare.
- Print a recipe card. Photos take longer to paint than logos because there are no "blocks" — many cells have unique colours. Print and follow the recipe systematically.
Photo pixel art · FAQ
Conversion strategies for photographic input.
How well do photos convert at Tomodachi Life resolution?
Faces survive, landscapes flatten, intricate scenes blur. The Palette House canvas is small and the palette is limited — a portrait shows the person, but a wedding crowd shot becomes abstract colour blocks. Crop tightly to the subject.
Best preset for photos?
Detailed (64×64 grid, 4-px brush in-game) with Floyd–Steinberg dithering and Edge enhance ON. Floyd–Steinberg spreads gradient error naturally; edge enhance keeps facial features and silhouettes readable.
Can I make pet portrait pixel art?
Yes — and pets are some of the most rewarding sources. Pick a front-facing photo with the face filling the frame, a plain background, and good lighting. A black-and-white cat or a yellow lab reads instantly at 64×64.
Why does my photo look muddy in the output?
Three common causes: (1) busy background dilutes the subject — crop tighter. (2) Low contrast in the source — increase Contrast slider by +20. (3) Source is too dark — bump Brightness +10–20. The side-by-side compare lets you iterate quickly.