Landscape
For a simple landscape, start at 12 colors, a 2% detail filter, and smoothing 20. Sky, land, and the main shadow stay separate, and small branches drop out.
Simplify your photo into clear color shapes
Color Simplifier Online
A color simplifier groups similar colors in a photo into a small set of flat shapes, then removes specks and fine texture so the main masses are easy to see.
Turn a busy photo into a clean painting reference with fewer, flatter colors. Adjust the palette, remove tiny details, and smooth noisy areas until the main shapes stand out.
Upload a JPG, PNG, or WebP image, preview the result, then download or print a PNG. No subscription or credits are needed.
Make a simpler color reference
Choose a photo and adjust three settings. The preview updates automatically.
Drop a photo here or choose one from your device
JPG, PNG, or WebP · up to 20 MBWhat it does
What does color simplification do?
Color simplification groups similar pixels into a palette you choose, from 2 to 100 colors. The detail filter then removes regions that are too small to paint. Smoothing blends fine texture before those colors are chosen, so the remaining shapes stay broad instead of speckled.
Painters use the result to see the big masses before mixing paint. Students use it for a limited-palette study. Designers use it when a photo should read as flat color shapes. The downloaded file is still a picture: this tool does not draw outlines or assign numbers to regions. A clear subject with a few large areas of light and shadow simplifies cleanly. Skin can separate into patches, lettering and fine foliage often turn into noise, and a very dark photo usually needs fewer colors so the shadows stay together.
When a project needs a numbered template, use the Photo to paint by numbers.
The three controls
Which settings should I start with?
Three controls decide how much of the photo survives. These ranges are starting points. Adjust them while you watch the preview.
Colors
The Colors control sets the size of the palette, from 2 to 100. Fewer colors keep only the largest masses. Portraits and pets usually need more colors than a simple landscape, because small shifts in skin and fur disappear when the palette drops below about 16 colors.
Detail Filter
The detail filter measures each color region as a share of the image and removes the ones that are too small. Raise it when specks, bright highlights, and background clutter remain. Leave it near 1% when those small marks belong to the subject.
Smoothing
Smoothing blends fine texture before the colors are reduced. Higher values turn leaves, fabric, and hair into broader shapes. Leave it at 0 when you want the edges in the photo to stay crisp.
| Subject | Colors | Detail filter | Smoothing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple landscape or still life | 8–12 | 2–5% | 20–40 |
| Portrait or pet | 16–24 | 1–2% | 10–25 |
| Busy city or foliage | 24–40 | 0–1% | 0–15 |
| Two-value shape plan | 2–4 | 5–10% | 40–70 |
Try these settings
What settings work for a landscape, pet, or portrait?
These are starting points for a photo like the one shown. Upload your own picture and adjust from there.
Pet
For a pet, start at 20 colors, a 1% detail filter, and smoothing 15. Fur and markings need more colors than a landscape, and a light detail filter keeps the eyes and nose.
Portrait
For a portrait, start at 18 colors, a 1% detail filter, and smoothing 15. Keep smoothing modest so the face stays in separate shapes, and raise the detail filter only if background clutter remains.
A clearer way to see color
Focus on the shapes that matter
A simplified reference helps you plan a painting before getting lost in texture and tiny details.
Plan a painting
See the main color masses at a glance and decide where light, shadow, and focal points belong.
Build a color study
Reduce a complicated photograph to a manageable palette for practice, sketching, or design.
Take it to your easel
Add a reference grid, then download or print the simplified image to work from offline.
How it works
From photo to color study
1
Choose your photo
Upload a JPG, PNG, or WebP image of up to 20 MB.
2
Tune the detail
Choose the number of colors, remove small regions, and smooth fine texture.
3
Download or print
Compare the result with your original, add a grid if needed, and save a PNG.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Color Simplifier FAQ
Upload the photo, then move the Colors slider. A lower number keeps fewer flat shapes. The preview updates as you change Colors, Detail Filter, and Smoothing. Download the PNG when the main shapes are clear.
Most painting references work between 8 and 24 colors. A simple landscape can sit around 8 to 12. A portrait or pet usually needs 16 to 24 so skin or fur does not collapse into one patch. Use 2 to 4 colors when you only want the largest light and shadow shapes.
No. Color Simplifier keeps a picture made of flat color shapes. It does not add outlines or numbers. When you want a numbered template, use the paint-by-numbers converter.
A clear subject with a few large areas of light and shadow simplifies cleanly. Skin can separate into patches. Lettering, fences, and fine foliage often turn into noise. A very dark photo usually needs fewer colors so the shadows stay in one or two shapes.
The photo is sent for processing, and the temporary files are removed afterwards. You do not need an account to simplify, download, or print the result.
Posterize maps each pixel to a smaller set of color levels and leaves every speck in place. This tool also removes tiny regions and can smooth texture first, so the result is broader shapes you can paint from.
Yes. You can simplify, download, and print your image without a subscription or credits.
Use a JPG, PNG, or WebP image smaller than 20 MB. The photo is sent securely for processing and temporary files are removed afterwards.
It removes small color regions and specks. Increase it when a photo has too much visual noise.
Smoothing merges fine texture before colors are reduced. Higher values create broader, calmer shapes.
Yes. Turn on the grid and choose its size. The grid is included when you download or print the PNG.
Ready to simplify your next reference?
Simplify a Photo