Shrink images, keep transparency with 8-bit alpha
This retro-themed web service is aimed at developers who want the benefits of 24-bit PNGs but the size of 8-bit PNGs.
As explained in this article, PNGs are complicated business. Some have alpha transparency (they can be slightly see-through) some have single-bit transparency (either completely transparent or completely opaque, nothing in between). Some have 24-bit colour (16.7 million colours available), some have 8-bit colour (255 colours available).
This situation isn’t helped by the fact that Adobe Photoshop, the most popular graphics application in the world, can’t save a file as 8-bit with alpha. That’s where we come in. Save your 24-bit PNG, drag it into the top window on 8bitalpha.com and a second later, the bottom window will give you the 8-bit version with full alpha. Save. Done.
