Change Bitmap Depth

Convert images to retro bit depths: 1-bit monochrome, 2-bit Game Boy, 4-bit EGA, 8-bit VGA with Bayer ordered dithering. 100% private in-browser tool.

Private • In-browser processing • Zero server uploads

Interactive workspace loading...

How to Use Change Bitmap Depth

1
Upload Image
Load any PNG, JPG, or WebP picture into the workspace.
2
Select Bit Depth
Pick your target bit depth (e.g. 1-bit for monochrome, 4-bit for 16 retro shades).
3
Choose Dithering
Enable Bayer 4x4 matrix dithering to smooth out harsh gradients.
4
Download Image
Inspect the vintage retro pixel preview and download your graphic.

Key Features

Classic Color Depths
1-bit monochrome, 2-bit (4 colors), 4-bit (16 colors), 8-bit (256 colors), and 16-bit High Color.
Bayer Ordered Dithering
Smooths color banding and tonal transitions using retro matrix dithering.
True Color Preservation
Produces crisp retro aesthetics for game art and vintage printing.
100% Client-Side Privacy
All color quantization runs directly inside your browser.

Common Use Cases

  • Generating vintage 1-bit graphics for receipt printers, e-ink displays, and Pebble smartwatches.
  • Designing retro pixel art sprites for vintage video game platforms like Game Boy and NES.
  • Stylizing photos with 90s aesthetic dithering and low-fi digital crunch.
  • Compressing image assets for embedded microcontroller displays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ordered dithering uses a fixed threshold matrix (like a 4x4 Bayer pattern) to distribute quantization error spatially, simulating intermediate color shades with crosshatching patterns.

1-bit depth allows only two distinct states per pixel: 0 (pure black) or 1 (pure white), creating stark monochrome line art.

No. The quantization algorithm runs entirely client-side using JavaScript typed arrays.

Animate Bitmap Sprites
Turn a BMP sprite sheet into an animated preview with custom frame size and speed.
Extract Bitmap Color Palette
Extract and display the color palette from a BMP image.
RGB Bitmap to BGR Bitmap
Swap RGB and BGR channel order in a BMP image.
Symbols to Bitmap
Convert ASCII symbol art (#, ., X etc.) to a black-and-white BMP image.
Change PNG Colors
Replace specific colors in a PNG image with new ones using a color picker.