CleanorTools
Indexed PNG

PNG-8 Quantizer

Details

How to use PNG-8 Quantizer

What the tool does, how to run it, and what to expect from the result.

How to convert a PNG to PNG-8

To convert a PNG to PNG-8, load the image into the quantizer and choose how many colors the indexed palette should hold. The tool reduces the artwork to that palette and shows you the result so you can judge the visual tradeoff before downloading.

Because indexed PNG is a different decision from ordinary compression, the quantizer lets you preview the palette reduction clearly across multiple backgrounds. When fewer colors are acceptable for the asset, you download a smaller indexed PNG; if not, you can keep the original.

All quantization and export happen locally in your browser, so the PNG stays on your device and nothing is sent to a server.

  • Drop the PNG in, or click the dropzone to choose it
  • Set the Palette size: it starts at 128, and flat graphics often survive 64 or even 32
  • Check the preview against a light and a dark background: banding shows first on gradients
  • Export the PNG-8 locally, with transparency preserved

Where PNG-8 still helps most

PNG-8 works best for logos, icons, simple illustrations, transparent stickers, and other graphics that do not need photo-like color depth. For these assets, reducing to an indexed palette can cut file size significantly with little or no visible loss.

It is less suited to photographs and complex gradients, where a limited palette can introduce banding. The tool makes the difference easy to see by letting you preview the indexed result before you commit to the export.

  • Logos and brand marks
  • Icons and UI graphics
  • Flat illustrations and simple art
  • Transparent stickers and overlays
Tips

Getting a better result out of PNG-8 Quantizer

Specific settings and thresholds, not general advice.

  • Palette size starts at 128. Flat graphics, icons and UI screenshots often survive 64 or even 32 colours with nothing visible, and that is where the file size collapses.
  • Photographs are the wrong input. A photo has thousands of subtly different colours, and forcing it to 256 produces visible banding on every gradient. Use JPEG, WebP or AVIF instead.
  • Transparency is preserved, but it becomes binary. PNG-8 has one transparent index, not an alpha channel, so a soft feathered edge turns into a hard one.
  • Check the preview against both a light and a dark background. Banding and the hard transparency edge are invisible on one and obvious on the other.
  • PNG-8 is still the right answer for a certain kind of asset: a flat logo, a simple icon, a diagram. For everything photographic, a modern lossy format wins by a wide margin.
Limits

What PNG-8 Quantizer does not do

The honest boundary, so you do not lose time finding it yourself.

  • It does not resize or crop.
  • It has no soft transparency. PNG-8 carries one transparent index, not an alpha channel.
  • It is a poor fit for photographs, where the reduced palette bands visibly.
  • It does not convert to another format.
Reference

Terms used on this page

Short, plain-language definitions for the formats and settings above.

Files & formatsPNGPNG (.png) is a lossless image format that keeps every pixel exact and supports transparency. That makes it ideal for screenshots, logos, and graphics, but files are much larger than JPEG or WebP — so a folder full of PNG screenshots can quietly fill storage.General
At a glance

Who PNG-8 Quantizer is for

A quick way to understand who this helps, what it solves, and where it connects next.

Best fit

People preparing logos, interface graphics, stickers, flat illustrations, and transparent assets that can tolerate a smaller indexed palette

Ideal for

Creating a smaller indexed PNG export when the artwork is still visually acceptable with fewer colors

FAQ

Common questions

Short answers for the questions people usually have before trying a utility like this.

Is the PNG-8 quantizer free?

Yes. This PNG-8 quantizer is free and runs entirely in your browser, with no account or installation needed.

Is PNG-8 always smaller than a normal PNG?

Not always, but it often becomes much smaller when the artwork uses a limited number of colors or simpler transparency.

Can this preserve transparency?

Yes. The quantizer exports an indexed PNG that keeps transparency where the reduced palette allows it.

Does this upload the PNG to a server?

No. Quantization and export happen locally in your browser, so the file never leaves your device.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. The quantizer runs in any modern browser, including mobile, since all processing is done on your device.

What palette size should I use for PNG-8?

Start at 128 and go down. Flat graphics, icons and UI screenshots often look identical at 64 or even 32 colours, and that is exactly where the file size drops sharply.

Will PNG-8 keep my transparency?

Yes, but only the hard kind. PNG-8 has a single transparent index rather than a real alpha channel, so a soft, feathered edge becomes a hard one. For a soft edge, keep the 24-bit PNG or use WebP.

Can I quantize a photograph?

You can, and you should not. A photo has thousands of subtly different colours, and forcing it into a small palette produces obvious banding on every gradient. JPEG, WebP or AVIF is the right answer for photos.

Is PNG-8 still worth using?

For flat logos, icons and diagrams, yes: it is lossless within its palette and extremely small. For anything photographic, a modern lossy format beats it by a wide margin.

Why does my PNG-8 look banded?

Because the palette is too small for the content, almost always a gradient or a photograph. Raise the palette size, or accept that this asset belongs in a different format.

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