community-pixel-art

Files (7)

• ATTRIBUTION.md
• SKILL.md
• palettes.md · references/
• __init__.py · scripts/
• palettes.py · scripts/
• pixel_art.py · scripts/
• pixel_art_video.py · scripts/

SKILL.md (first lines)

# Pixel Art

Convert any image into retro pixel art, then optionally animate it into a short
MP4 or GIF with era-appropriate effects (rain, fireflies, snow, embers).

Two scripts ship with this skill:

- `scripts/pixel_art.py` — photo → pixel-art PNG (Floyd-Steinberg dithering)
- `scripts/pixel_art_video.py` — pixel-art PNG → animated MP4 (+ optional GIF)

Each is importable or runnable directly. Presets snap to hardware palettes
when you want era-accurate colors (NES, Game Boy, PICO-8, etc.), or use
adaptive N-color quantization for arcade/SNES-style looks.

## When to Use

- User wants retro pixel art from a source image
- User asks for NES / Game Boy / PICO-8 / C64 / arcade / SNES styling
- User wants a short looping animation (rain scene, night sky, snow, etc.)
- Posters, album covers, social posts, sprites, characters, avatars

## Workflow

Before generating, confirm the style with the user. Different presets produce
very different outputs and regenerating is costly.

### Step 1 — Offer a style

Call `clarify` with 4 representative presets. Pick the set based on what the
user asked for — don't just dump all 14.

Default menu when the user's intent is unclear:

```python
clarify(
    question="Which pixel-art style do you want?",
    choices=[
        "arcade — bold, chunky 80s cabinet feel (16 colors, 8px)",
        "nes — Nintendo 8-bit hardware palette (54 colors, 8px)",
        "gameboy — 4-shade green Game Boy DMG",
        "snes — cleaner 16-bit look (32 colors, 4px)",
    ],
)
```

When the user already named an era (e.g. "80s arcade", "Gameboy"), skip
`clarify` and use the matching preset directly.

### Step 2 — Offer animation (optional)

If the user asked for a video/GIF, or the output might benefit from motion,
ask which scene:

```python
clarify(
    question="Want to animate it? Pick a scene or skip.",
    choices=[
        "night — stars + fireflies + leaves",
        "urban — rain + neon pulse",
        "snow — falling snowflakes",
        "skip — just the image",
    ],
)
```

Do NOT call `clarify` more than twice in a row. One for style, one for scene if
animation is on the table. If the user explicitly asked for a specific style
and scene in their message, skip `clarify` entirely.

### Step 3 — Generate

Run `pixel_art()` first; if animation was requested, chain into
`pixel_art_video()` on the result.

## Preset Catalog

| Preset           | Era              | Palette        | Block | Best for                    |
| ---------------- | ---------------- | -------------- | ----- | --------------------------- |
| `arcade`         | 80s arcade       | adaptive 16    | 8px   | Bold posters, hero art      |
| `snes`           | 16-bit           | adaptive 32    | 4px   | Characters, detailed scenes |
| `nes`            | 8-bit            | NES (54)       | 8px   | True NES look               |
| `gameboy`        | DMG handheld     | 4 green shades | 8px   | Monochrome Game Boy         |
| `gameboy_pocket` | Pocket handheld  | 4 grey shades  | 8px   | Mono GB Pocket              |
| `pico8`          | PICO-8           | 16 fixed       | 6px   | Fantasy-console look        |
| `c64`            | Commodore 64     | 16 fixed       | 8px   | 8-bit home computer         |
| `apple2`         | Apple II hi-res  | 6 fixed        | 10px  | Extreme retro, 6 colors     |
| `teletext`       | BBC Teletext     | 8 pure         | 10px  | Chunky primary colors       |
| `mspaint`        | Windows MS Paint | 24 fixed       | 8px   | Nostalgic desktop           |
| `mono_green`     | CRT phosphor     | 2 green        | 6px   | Terminal/CRT aesthetic      |
| `mono_amber`     | CRT amber        | 2 amber        | 6px   | Amber monitor look          |
| `neon`           | Cyberpunk        | 10 neons       | 6px   | Vaporwave/cyber             |
| `pastel`         | Soft pastel      | 10 pastels     | 6px   | Kawaii / gentle             |

Named palettes live in `scripts/palettes.py` (see `references/palettes.md` for
the complete list — 28 named palettes total). Any preset can be overridden:

```python
pixel_art("in.png", "out.png", preset="snes", palette="PICO_8", block=6)
```

## Scene Catalog (for video)

| Scene        | Effects                                       |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| `night`      | Twinkling stars + fireflies + drifting leaves |
| `dusk`       | Fireflies + sparkles                          |
| `tavern`     | Dust motes + warm sparkles                    |
| `indoor`     | Dust motes                                    |
| `urban`      | Rain + neon pulse                             |
| `nature`     | Leaves + fireflies                            |
| `magic`      | Sparkles + fireflies                          |
| `storm`      | Rain + lightning                              |
| `underwater` | Bubbles + light sparkles                      |
| `fire`       | Embers + sparkles                             |
| `snow`       | Snowflakes + sparkles                         |
| `desert`     | Heat shimmer + dust                           |

## Invocation Patterns

From ArgentAIOS/argentos-core, MIT.

More from ArgentAIOS/argentos-core