How does the color quantization process work?
When you select a console palette, our script loops through each downsampled pixel and calculates the mathematical **Euclidean distance** in 3D RGB space between the pixel's original color and each available color in the target retro palette. It then maps the pixel to the color with the smallest distance, creating a highly authentic color profile.
What is dither filtering, and why is it useful?
Legacy hardware systems had strict color limits (often only 4 or 16 colors), which made smooth gradients impossible. Dithering solved this by alternating colors in checkered patterns. To look at, the human eye blends these checkers into a new intermediate shade. Our tool uses standard ordered dithering matrices to recreate this retro shadow effect.
Can I adjust the pixel resolution size?
Yes, absolutely. You can use the downsample slider to set resolution bounds anywhere from a blocky 16×16 sprite grid up to a highly detailed 128×128 retro landscape canvas.
Is my photo uploaded to a server to apply the pixel art filters?
No. SimplyUtils is committed to absolute privacy. The color distance mapping and dithering math run entirely locally in your browser tab using native JavaScript canvas arrays. Your images are never transmitted or stored on foreign servers.
Strict Local Renders: Because all rendering operations take place completely inside your local browser memory space, your images are never sent over the internet or stored on a server.