Import from Photo

SpriteFrame can convert a photo into a pixel art frame, either as a new canvas or as an added frame in an existing one.

Starting an import

• From the gallery’s empty state, tap Import from Photo to start a new canvas from a photo.
• From an existing canvas, tap Import from Photo in the frames panel to add the result as a new frame.

Select a photo with the photo picker, then configure the import settings before confirming.

Import mode (existing canvas only)

When importing into an existing canvas, choose how the result is applied:

• Add as a new frame.
• Replace the current frame.

Size

Pick the output canvas size the same way as when creating a new canvas — a preset or a custom size, subject to the Free/Pro size limits.

Color mode

Color mode controls how the photo’s colors are mapped onto the canvas:

• Full Color — keeps the full range of colors, quantized to fit the canvas.
• Current Palette — maps colors onto the palette already used in the canvas (only available when importing into an existing canvas).
• Preset retro palettes — Game Boy, NES, PICO-8, DB16, AAP-16, Bubblegum 16, Game Boy Color, SNES, and Sega Master System, each reproducing the limited color set of that platform.

Preset and current-palette modes use dithering to approximate colors outside the palette, giving a more natural gradient than flat color-matching alone.

Preview

The preview pane shows the converted result live as you change size and color mode, so you can settle on the size and palette before confirming the import.

Confirm

Tap Import to add the result to your canvas, or Cancel to discard it.

Reference images

Separately from importing, you can overlay a reference image on the canvas to trace or match by hand — useful when you’d rather draw the sprite yourself than convert it. The reference sits above the canvas without becoming part of your artwork.

• Use a photo from your library, or set another frame as the reference.
• Adjust the reference opacity so it stays a faint guide.
• Toggle its visibility on or off while you work.

The reference is never exported and never edited — it’s purely a drawing aid.