Palette Selection by Use Case: Quick Decision Matrix
Pick the right palette for avatars, logos, sprites, UI, and posters using a practical decision matrix and fallback rules.
Quick presets
Fast matrix: palette vs outcome
Choose by intent first, then tune pixel size and color limits.
- Game Boy: minimal, nostalgic, high identity
- NES: colorful retro, great for photo conversions
- PICO-8: vibrant indie-game vibe
- Grayscale: logo/icon clarity and serious tone
When custom palette beats stock palettes
Brand work and product UI often need strict brand colors. In these cases, define a custom palette and keep it fixed.
- Use fixed palette for design systems and UI kits
- Lock 1 accent + 2 neutrals for consistent brand output
- Avoid automatic palette switching between related assets
Fallback rules when results look wrong
Use these overrides to recover quickly without restarting.
- Too childish/saturated: try grayscale or reduce accent colors
- Too dull: switch from grayscale to NES or PICO-8
- Skin tones break: use Floyd-Steinberg and raise maxColors slightly
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