How to Use the PICO-8 Palette for Pixel Art
When and how to use the PICO-8 palette for vibrant retro pixel art. Best for avatars, icons, and sprites that need consistent color identity.
Quick presets
Why PICO-8 works so well
PICO-8 is a curated 16-color palette built for readability. It makes images feel “game-like” and consistent instantly.
- Great for avatars, icons, UI, and sprites
- Strong “brand identity” look across many images
- Pairs well with dithering for photos
Use cases (what it’s best for)
PICO-8 is not always “better”—it’s a style choice. These are the best-fit scenarios.
- PFP/avatars: consistent colors across a series
- Indie UI: readable accents and highlights
- Sprites: limited colors keep frames consistent
Recommended settings (fast)
Start with these and only change one variable at a time.
- Photo → PICO-8: Floyd-Steinberg + pixel size 10 + maxColors 24
- Logo/UI → PICO-8: Nearest + pixel size 10–12
- If it feels too “posterized” → increase maxColors or try Median Cut instead
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