picshader.
Canvas
GuideExplore

About picshader

Images are edited and exported on your device. Your images are never uploaded, and your favorites and presets stay in this browser :)

Built with ❤️ by rezerov

Drop an image

PNG, JPG or WebP · or paste from your clipboard
Loading editor…

Export image

— pxIncludes your frame

Copy uses the same image, frame, and output size as download.

Free CGA Photo Effect

Map a pixelated image to a black, white, cyan, and magenta retro-computer palette.

Original autumn mountain lake photograph
Original
CGA applied to the mountain lake sample
Example result

Examples use the bundled photograph by Michal Janek. Photo credit and license. Open your own image above to edit it locally.

How to apply CGA

  1. Open your photo in the editor above. CGA is already selected, and the sample is ready to try.
  2. Adjust Strength, Scale, Dither in the Effect tab. You can drag sliders or type validated numbers directly.
  3. Hold Original or Space to compare. Add a crop or frame if needed, then choose Export to download the finished image.

Getting the look

Increase Dither to introduce patterned transitions between the four colors. Adjust Scale around the smallest details you want to preserve in the pixel grid.

CGA controls

Strength
0–100%. Starting setting: 100%.
Scale
2–80. Starting setting: 8.
Dither
0–100%. Starting setting: 60%.

Reset effect settings restores these defaults. Save a preset to reuse your own effect and frame combination on another image.

Files and export

Open a PNG, JPEG, or WebP with the file picker, drag-and-drop, or clipboard paste. All image processing happens on your device. Choose PNG or WebP to preserve transparency, or JPEG to flatten it onto a color. Exports use the original image resolution plus the frame unless you choose a smaller size.

A modern browser with WebGL2 is required. Browser and GPU limits can prevent very large exports; picshader explains the limit and offers a smaller size. No account or watermark is required.