Exact color counts
Reduce to 8, 16, 32 — or any custom number — using median-cut quantization for accurate representative colors.
Reduce, control and reuse colors precisely
Quantize any image to an exact number of colors with median-cut and dithering, inspect the palette, and export it for code, design tools, and pixel art — all in your browser.
No AI. Accurate algorithmic color reduction. Your image is never uploaded.
Click, drop, or paste an image to start
Reduced
Original
Processing…
Colors
Dithering
Palette
Click any swatch to copy its HEX code.
Color usage
Export
Compare dithering
Switch between None, Floyd–Steinberg, and Ordered (Bayer 4×4) and see the difference instantly.
Export everywhere
Save your palette as HEX, CSS variables, JSON, GIMP .gpl, or Adobe .ase for any workflow.
No AI, no uploads
Precise algorithmic processing runs entirely in your browser. Your image never leaves your device.
Who uses PaletteForge?
Anyone who needs to control exactly which colors an image uses.
Pixel artists & game devs
Constrain sprites and tilesets to a fixed palette, compare dithering styles, and export .ase straight into Aseprite.
Brand & web designers
Extract a tight palette from a reference image and export CSS variables or .ase swatches for a consistent system.
Print & screen printing
Limit artwork to a precise number of inks before separating colors for screen printing or risograph.
Web performance
Reduce colors to shrink indexed PNGs and keep illustrations crisp at smaller file sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. All color reduction happens entirely in your browser using local processing. Your image is never sent to any server.
What reduction algorithm does it use?
PaletteForge uses median-cut quantization to choose representative colors, with a perceptual weighted-RGB distance so similar colors map correctly. It is precise, deterministic algorithmic processing — no AI.
Which dithering options are available?
None, Floyd–Steinberg error diffusion, and Ordered dithering with a Bayer 4×4 matrix. You can switch between them and compare results instantly.
Can I use the .ase file in Adobe or Aseprite?
Yes. The exported .ase is a standard Adobe Swatch Exchange file with RGB colors and loads in Adobe apps and Aseprite.
Is PaletteForge free?
Yes, completely free. No account required, no usage limits, no watermarks.
How to Use PaletteForge
Reduce colors in 3 steps
- Load an image — drop a file, pick one, or paste from the clipboard. Nothing is uploaded; processing is local.
- Choose a color count and dithering mode. Use the before/after slider to compare the reduced result against the original.
- Copy any HEX, export the palette as HEX/CSS/JSON/.gpl/.ase, or download the reduced PNG.
Privacy: your image never leaves your device
PaletteForge processes images entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. No file is transmitted to any server, which makes it safe for confidential or unreleased assets. Reload the page and everything is gone — nothing was ever sent anywhere.
