8Bit Photo Lab, Retro Effects
Free App
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About 8Bit Photo Lab, Retro Effects
8Bit Photo Lab will convert any picture on your phone or straight from your camera to retro 8-bit pixel art!
Choose a picture, scroll through a selection of pre-defined 8-bit filters and immediately review the vintage effect. Save or share the result in just one click!
Features
★ make pixel art, pixelate your photos, create memes, design flashy posters, have fun!
★ choose from over 40 color palettes: GameBoy, GameBoy Advance, NES, TO7/70, Amstrad CPC 6128, Apple II, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 16 & 64, VIC 20, CGA, EGA, SAM Coupé, VGA (256 colors)...
★ custom color palettes with the option to interpolate colors, allowing for duotone effects
★ 15 dithering types: error diffusion, noise, pattern, checkerboard...
★ huge finely selectable resolution range from 8 x 8 to 2048 x 2048
★ multiple pixel aspect ratios and attribute clash modes
★ output styles offer alternatives to regular flat pixels: fuse beads, bricks, puzzle, painted...
★ add retro 8-bit text and glitches
★ tastefully decorate with a selection of 8-bit stickers
★ flick right or left and immediately apply the filter to another picture from your collection!
★ high quality output, up to 4096 x 4096 in PNG
★ optional grid overlay for bead artists and cross-stitchers
The app has two goals: be dead simple to use and powerful enough to produce good-looking and effective results.
The reality of old school graphic conversions is that it can be tricky to get good results in all conditions. Low contrast or greyish images tend to be rendered as a murky mess if a straightforward downsampling is applied. 8Bit Photo Lab has a number of parameters that are key to optimizing the final look of your images. Every pixel counts when dealing with low resolution images.
Usage
You can start off with one of the predefined looks (star icon) but you can mix and match colors, ditherings, resolutions and more until you get the effect you want.
Change a parameter and the result is immediately updated. Browse through multiple looks in an instant!
The three main parameters are resolution, palettes and dithering. Ditherings allow to simulate a larger range of colors than what the limited palette offers. Various options are offered here. Pattern dithering was often seen used in older paint software as well as the user interfaces for many operating systems. Checkerboard dithering was commonly employed in games. Error diffusion, gives the most faithful rendering.
Four parameters adjust color values for each pixel. You'll find familiar brightness, saturation and contrast settings as well as the very useful local contrast setting (also known as unsharp mask). Local contrast is very effective at bringing out detail and allowing to reduce resolution while retaining good subject definition. As an interesting side effect, reducing local contrast produces a soft focus effect which may take your art in another direction altogether. Giving saturation a boost can help make the most of some of the flashy color palettes.
Cropping will allow you to select just the part of your pic that you like. A tiny part of an image can still have enough resolution to be turned to an 8-bit picture. Even if your subject is small there is hope!
Old computers had few colors to play. They also crashed often in weird ways. Use the glitch menu (blender icon) to add mayhem to your pics. Screen melt, pixel scattering, pixel sorting, cellular automaton, block swapping, RGB offseting, interlacing are on the menu.
Finally a good old text tool is always useful, whether you're looking to make memes, add a title or a text bubble, the app has a large selection of 8-bit fonts and borders to choose from!
PRO version
Unlocks the following:
★ wallpapers
★ larger range of parameters
★ more ditherings and palettes, including custom palettes
★ extra fonts and borders
★ extra glitches
★ lossless file compression (PNG), higher output resolution (up to 4096 x 4096), 1:1 output resolution
Choose a picture, scroll through a selection of pre-defined 8-bit filters and immediately review the vintage effect. Save or share the result in just one click!
Features
★ make pixel art, pixelate your photos, create memes, design flashy posters, have fun!
★ choose from over 40 color palettes: GameBoy, GameBoy Advance, NES, TO7/70, Amstrad CPC 6128, Apple II, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 16 & 64, VIC 20, CGA, EGA, SAM Coupé, VGA (256 colors)...
★ custom color palettes with the option to interpolate colors, allowing for duotone effects
★ 15 dithering types: error diffusion, noise, pattern, checkerboard...
★ huge finely selectable resolution range from 8 x 8 to 2048 x 2048
★ multiple pixel aspect ratios and attribute clash modes
★ output styles offer alternatives to regular flat pixels: fuse beads, bricks, puzzle, painted...
★ add retro 8-bit text and glitches
★ tastefully decorate with a selection of 8-bit stickers
★ flick right or left and immediately apply the filter to another picture from your collection!
★ high quality output, up to 4096 x 4096 in PNG
★ optional grid overlay for bead artists and cross-stitchers
The app has two goals: be dead simple to use and powerful enough to produce good-looking and effective results.
The reality of old school graphic conversions is that it can be tricky to get good results in all conditions. Low contrast or greyish images tend to be rendered as a murky mess if a straightforward downsampling is applied. 8Bit Photo Lab has a number of parameters that are key to optimizing the final look of your images. Every pixel counts when dealing with low resolution images.
Usage
You can start off with one of the predefined looks (star icon) but you can mix and match colors, ditherings, resolutions and more until you get the effect you want.
Change a parameter and the result is immediately updated. Browse through multiple looks in an instant!
The three main parameters are resolution, palettes and dithering. Ditherings allow to simulate a larger range of colors than what the limited palette offers. Various options are offered here. Pattern dithering was often seen used in older paint software as well as the user interfaces for many operating systems. Checkerboard dithering was commonly employed in games. Error diffusion, gives the most faithful rendering.
Four parameters adjust color values for each pixel. You'll find familiar brightness, saturation and contrast settings as well as the very useful local contrast setting (also known as unsharp mask). Local contrast is very effective at bringing out detail and allowing to reduce resolution while retaining good subject definition. As an interesting side effect, reducing local contrast produces a soft focus effect which may take your art in another direction altogether. Giving saturation a boost can help make the most of some of the flashy color palettes.
Cropping will allow you to select just the part of your pic that you like. A tiny part of an image can still have enough resolution to be turned to an 8-bit picture. Even if your subject is small there is hope!
Old computers had few colors to play. They also crashed often in weird ways. Use the glitch menu (blender icon) to add mayhem to your pics. Screen melt, pixel scattering, pixel sorting, cellular automaton, block swapping, RGB offseting, interlacing are on the menu.
Finally a good old text tool is always useful, whether you're looking to make memes, add a title or a text bubble, the app has a large selection of 8-bit fonts and borders to choose from!
PRO version
Unlocks the following:
★ wallpapers
★ larger range of parameters
★ more ditherings and palettes, including custom palettes
★ extra fonts and borders
★ extra glitches
★ lossless file compression (PNG), higher output resolution (up to 4096 x 4096), 1:1 output resolution
All Application Badges
Good rating
Free
downl.
downl.
Android
2.3+
2.3+
Android app
App History & Updates
What's Changed
+ 3 new brick toy palettes (1 FREE, 2 PRO)
+ parameterized output styles: Askew, Tiles, Beads, Border (PRO)
+ 7 new hat stickers (in accessories under the ribbon icon) (3 FREE, 4 PRO)
+ 3 new brick toy palettes (1 FREE, 2 PRO)
+ parameterized output styles: Askew, Tiles, Beads, Border (PRO)
+ 7 new hat stickers (in accessories under the ribbon icon) (3 FREE, 4 PRO)
More downloads 8Bit Photo Lab, Retro Effects reached 500 000 - 1 000 000 downloads
Version update 8Bit Photo Lab, Retro Effects was updated to version 1.9.4
Version update 8Bit Photo Lab, Retro Effects was updated to version 1.7.2
More downloads 8Bit Photo Lab, Retro Effects reached 100 000 - 500 000 downloads
What are users saying about 8Bit Photo Lab, Retro Effects
W
by W####:
by W####:
This app is amazing, takes me back to my Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and Monochrome IBM-XT days. I have been playing hours and hours and created almost a thousand retro pics. Is there a way to delete all the pics once you've removed them from the 8 bit folder?
K
by K####:
by K####:
I enjoy it because it's a great little time waster when I have a few minutes to burn. I grew up during the days of the NES and Super NES so I appreciate the throwback to the days of low resolution and limited color. I went with the pro version because supporting the developer a software you like is important, so I want to help ensure that updates keep coming along so I can use this app for years to come.
K
by K####:
by K####:
I work in graphic design/illustration fields and this app puts together lots of tools and effects that would usually require me a full computer and much of the adobe cs package to achieve. Best money I ever spent on the play store.
K
by K####:
by K####:
Awesome app! Unlike your average pixelation app, 8bit lab is truly a lab, giving you all sort of variables to play with and get creative. If you have unorthodox creative urges or simply feel nostalgic, I definitely recommend this app. I'd also recommend buying the pro version as it makes the app even more potent - absolutely with it!
D
by D####:
by D####:
Brilliant app! Amazing features, works realy well and gives lots of creative possibilities. iI only wish it would have a feature of recording what i'm doing in to a gif or video that i can edit in to a gif. But then i would have to give it 6 stars :D
K
by K####:
by K####:
Woah. Just wow! Menu is abit messy. But output is so good! Pls give me a sale :)
F
by F####:
by F####:
This app is great ! Genius even ! Please bring it to apple products I love to use it on my iPad! Would be much better than my phone.
K
by K####:
by K####:
So much fun! So powerful! Faithfully recreate all the worst artifacting of the early digital photo we worked SO hard to get away from!
K
by K####:
by K####:
The photo picker doesn't work for me. There's an error coming up saying "no activity found to handle intent." (S5 Mini, Android 6)
K
by K####:
by K####:
This app is awesome and definitely makes me want to have the full version :) Lots of editing tools, very friendly UI. I'd give it another star if I could
K
by K####:
by K####:
Thank you! So much fun to tinker with.
K
by K####:
by K####:
It's intuitive and I find myself playing around with it constantly.
K
by K####:
by K####:
Keeps crashing. Unusable.
G
by G####:
by G####:
Dooooope. I use it on most pictures I edit.
U
by U####:
by U####:
I'm just in love ! I love create with pixel and this app goes deep !
K
by K####:
by K####:
darling little nostalgia toolbox. great work!
K
by K####:
by K####:
Just perfect!
K
by K####:
by K####:
Amazing 8 Bit photo editor!
F
by F####:
by F####:
Crashes on launch
K
by K####:
by K####:
I love this.
K
by K####:
by K####:
Love it!
G
by G####:
by G####:
Amazing ❤it
S
by S####:
by S####:
Love it
T
by T####:
by T####:
Now app is super slow and annoying. Can't just tweak stuff anymore app takes forever to go through changes.
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
App is great but text borders don't seem to be working. Also aspect ratio on stickers is off and no way to change it manually. Also would be nice if you could use the text and stamps without the other effects. I have pro and am happy with it otherwise.
F
by F####:
by F####:
I think you have a memory leak somewhere. After a while of using the app, switching images and effects, it slows down applying the effects and eventually stops, locking up the whole phone. Nexus 6p
K
by K####:
by K####:
I love this app and bought the premium version within 5 minutes. It's useful as an art tool and can be used to design hama/perler bead and cross-stitch patterns with the relevant features. It's also incredibly easy to create your own presets and palettes. The only thing that would make it better for me are better cropping tools plus cropping carrying over to any effects change, and also the ability to work on animated GIFs.
F
by F####:
by F####:
I love this app!! This is so helpful. I instantly bought it when I learned how reasonable the price is . Only gripe is there needs to be an undo button in more places. I also wish I could label the names of colors to refer to bead colors
T
by T####:
by T####:
I'm loving it so far but I think if you could incorporate a double exposure and masking tool which would make this an awesome app. I would give you 10
K
by K####:
by K####:
This app is awesome I have been able to use this without any problems 5 out of 5 stars loved it
U
by U####:
by U####:
Awesome. That was fast. Still a 5* app (even before) :)
K
by K####:
by K####:
Love this app it is sooo awesome and I get lots of Instagram likes one person told me that my art from this was their fav of the day and it was a design company Whoot !!!
K
by K####:
by K####:
How do I get the app to process photos in the correct orientation? Turns every photo I take on its side. :~/
K
by K####:
by K####:
Like all other tools, in the hands of the right user, it becomes passion.
K
by K####:
by K####:
I couldn't live without it anymore.
S
by S####:
by S####:
Very authentic. I only wish it had CGA's green palette too.
U
by U####:
by U####:
2005 UX
K
by K####:
by K####:
Easy to use, even with this sh*tty phone. Nice!
V
by V####:
by V####:
Great app if you are into 8-bit
by K####:
Amazing app. I grew up on the 8 bit era so I know the kind of palettes, resolutions, patterns, artifacts, etc. of the different machines. I am amazed to the level of detail and accuracy of this app. You could do the same (well, kind of) with Photoshop, but it would be such a tedious job, that it would kill all the joy and creativity of this app. Also, everything is so well though in this app, even text styles, stickers, the blender fx... I am both impressed and delighted. I bought the Pro version even if just to support this talented creator. Congratulations to Ilixa.