App Overview Pixel Master is a feature-rich Android application designed for creating retro-style pixel art from photos. The app transforms modern images into nostalgic 8-bit style graphics reminiscent of classic computing systems and vintage video games. With an intuitive interface and powerful image processing capabilities, Pixel Master offers both casual users and pixel art enthusiasts a simple way to create retro-styled digital art. Technical Specifications
Platform: Android Framework: Modern Jetpack Compose UI Design System: Material 3 Architecture: Component-based with clean separation of UI and processing logic Languages: Kotlin Minimum SDK: Compatible with modern Android versions Processing: Asynchronous image processing with coroutines
Key Features 1. Image Selection and Manipulation
Gallery integration for easy image selection Real-time image preview Ability to toggle between original and processed images for comparison Support for various image formats
2. Dual Filter System
Pixelation Filter: Basic pixelation effect with adjustable pixel block size (1-100) 8-Bit Retro Filter: Advanced filter combining pixelation with color palette reduction
3. Authentic Retro Palettes Five carefully recreated classic computing color palettes:
ZX Spectrum Dim: Original 8-color palette from the ZX Spectrum ZX Spectrum Bright: High-intensity version of the Spectrum palette VIC-20: 16-color palette from the Commodore VIC-20 C-64: 16-color palette from the Commodore 64 Apple II: 16-color palette from the Apple II
4. Advanced Processing Controls
Adjustable pixel size for precise control over the pixelation effect Collapsible filter options panel for a cleaner interface Real-time progress indicator with percentage display
5. Export Functionality
One-touch saving to device gallery Automatic naming with timestamps PNG format preservation with transparency support Compatibility with Android's content provider system
User Interface Main Screen (PixelArtScreen)
Top Bar: App title with settings access Filter Selection Area: Toggle between Pixelation and 8-Bit Retro modes Filter Controls: Sliders and palette selection based on chosen filter Image Display: Central area showing current image with filter type indicator Action Buttons: Compare (toggle between original/processed), Select (image picker), and Save
Settings Screen
Simple settings interface with legal information Privacy Policy and Terms of Service links Clean navigation with back button
Image Processing Technology Pixelation Algorithm The app uses a block-based pixelation technique that:
Reduces image resolution based on the selected pixel size Re-enlarges the image without interpolation to create distinct pixel blocks Maintains aspect ratio and image boundaries
8-Bit Color Reduction For authentic retro visuals, the app:
Applies pixelation first to create a blocky appearance Maps each pixel color to the nearest available color in the selected palette Uses efficient color distance calculations for optimal performance Processes images in the background with progress tracking
User Experience
Intuitive workflow: select → adjust → apply → save Immediate visual feedback when adjusting parameters Smooth transitions between screens Error handling with user-friendly messages Responsive design adapting to different screen sizes
Technical Implementation Highlights
Optimized bitmap processing for better performance on mobile devices Background thread processing to keep UI responsive Efficient memory management for handling large images Modern Jetpack Compose UI implementation with reusable components Clean separation between UI and image processing logic
Pixel Master transforms ordinary photos into nostalgic pixel art with authentic retro aesthetics, offering a perfect balance of simplicity and powerful features for both casual users and pixel art enthusiasts.
