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 Tommy-yw/RunbookHermes, MIT.

More from Tommy-yw/RunbookHermes