PICO-8, Endesga 32 & Friends: Retro Palettes Explained
Pixel artists don't pick colors freely — they pick a palette and live inside it. The famous ones have names, histories and devoted followings. PixelPic ships the real things, so here's what you're choosing between.
The artist palettes
PICO-8 — the indie signature
Sixteen fixed colors from the PICO-8 “fantasy console,” whose constraints birthed a generation of indie games (Celeste began here). Teal seas, pink accents, peach skin tones — instantly recognizable. Use it for: anything you want to look like a beloved indie game; portraits take on real charm.
Endesga 32 — the sprite-work standard
Artist Endesga's 32-color set, famous for hue-shifted ramps — colors shift hue as they brighten instead of just getting lighter, which is what makes shading look alive. Widely considered the gold standard for modern game sprites. Use it for: organic subjects — people, pets, landscapes — where you want vibrancy with polish.
SLSO8 — eight colors of mood
Just eight colors running from deep indigo to warm cream. The tiny count forces dramatic, poster-like results with heavy atmosphere. Use it for: sunsets, silhouettes, moody portraits — images that live on contrast.
AAP-64 — the big box of crayons
Sixty-four colors by AdigunPolack, the roomiest palette here — nuanced skin tones, greens and sky gradients while staying unmistakably pixel art. Use it for: detailed scenes and group photos where smaller palettes flatten too much.
Fantasy 24 — storybook tones
Twenty-four colors tuned for a softer, painterly, RPG-flavored feel. Use it for: nature, cottages, golden-hour shots — anything that should feel like a quest location.
The era palettes
Alongside the artist sets, PixelPic includes era styles — 8-Bit Classic, Retro Handheld, Home Computer, Retro Arcade, Retro OS — that channel specific hardware generations rather than specific artists. The 8-bit guide maps each to its era.
And the two wildcards
- AI Reimagine — the default: the AI chooses colors to suit your specific photo. Best first run, and the right pick when you don't want to think about palettes at all.
- Original — keeps your photo's own colors. Least “arty,” most faithful.
The palette tour: run one photo through PICO-8, Endesga 32 and SLSO8 back to back — every version is saved in the project for side-by-side comparison. Nothing teaches palette taste faster, and it costs three taps.
Try the legendary palettes on your photos
PICO-8, Endesga 32, SLSO8, AAP-64 and more — the real palettes, one tap each. Free to try.
FAQ
What is the PICO-8 palette?
The 16 fixed colors of the PICO-8 fantasy console — modern indie pixel art's signature look.
What is Endesga 32 used for?
Professional sprite work — its hue-shifted ramps make shading look alive. Great on people and nature.
Why use a fixed palette instead of the photo's own colors?
Constraint is the style — curated colors force bold choices, which is what separates pixel art from a shrunken photo.