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PNG / JPEG to MSX Converter (SCREEN 2 / ROM)

Convert PNG or JPEG images to MSX SCREEN 2 • ROM cartridge / SC2 / PNG

The MSX draws SCREEN 2 with the TMS9918 video chip: 256×192 pixels, 15 fixed colours, and at most 2 colours per 8×1 pixel run. This converter picks the best pair of colours for every one of the 6144 runs, applies a classic ordered dither, and builds a 16 KB cartridge ROM that shows the picture at power-on on any MSX, plus the standard BSAVE .SC2 picture. It runs entirely in your browser — your image is never uploaded.

📁
DROP YOUR IMAGE HERE
or click to browse • PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF, WEBP
Source image for MSX conversion
Conversion options
MODE
15 colours, 2 per 8×1 run
RESIZE
→ 256×192
DITHER
50% ordered (Bayer 4×4)
BRIGHTNESS
0
CONTRAST
0
SATURATION
0
FILE NAME
8 chars max (MSX-DOS names)
⏳ CONVERTING...
⬇ .ROM ⬇ .SC2 ⬇ .PNG
How to use

🎮 .ROM — Cartridge, recommended

A 16 KB cartridge image starting at 4000h: its Z80 code sets the colours, switches to SCREEN 2 through the BIOS and copies the picture into video memory. No BASIC needed, so it also runs with the free C-BIOS.

  • openMSX: openmsx -carta picture.rom, or insert it from the menu
  • blueMSX / WebMSX: open the .rom as cartridge 1
  • Real MSX: flash it to a MegaFlashROM SCC+ or Carnivore2, or load it with a ROM loader

🌈 SCREEN 8 — MSX2

256×212 with 256 fixed colours (one byte per pixel, GGGRRRBB) and no colour clash: smooth photos on any MSX2, MSX2+ or turbo R. The cartridge is a 64 KB ASCII16 MegaROM (54 KB of picture); in openMSX it is detected automatically, or add -romtype ASCII16. The .SC8 loads with SCREEN 8:BLOAD"PICTURE.SC8",S.

🖼 .SC2 — BSAVE picture

The classic MSX picture file: a 7-byte BSAVE header then video memory 0000h-37FFh. In MSX-BASIC: 10 SCREEN 2:BLOAD"PICTURE.SC2",S 20 GOTO 20.

🎚 Tips

  • SCREEN 2 has a single grey between black and white: grey photos turn into black and grey dithering
  • Raise saturation to bring colours out, lower the dither for logos and flat art

FAQ

What is SCREEN 2?

The MSX1 bitmap mode of the TMS9918 video chip: 256x192 pixels and 15 fixed colours, with at most 2 colours in every horizontal run of 8 pixels. It works on every MSX, MSX2 and MSX2+.

How do I view the image?

Load the .ROM as a cartridge in openMSX, blueMSX or WebMSX, or flash it to a MegaFlashROM or Carnivore cartridge on a real MSX: the picture appears at power-on. It even runs with the free C-BIOS.

What is SCREEN 8?

The MSX2 bitmap mode with 256 fixed colours and one byte per pixel at 256x212: no colour clash at all, ideal for photos. It needs an MSX2 or later (the free C-BIOS MSX2 works too).

What is the .SC2 file?

A BSAVE dump of the video memory, the classic MSX picture format. In MSX-BASIC type SCREEN 2 then BLOAD"NAME.SC2",S and add a loop such as 10 GOTO 10 to keep it on screen.

Are my images uploaded to a server?

No, everything runs in your browser; nothing leaves your device.

The TMS9918 has cousins: try the PNG to ZX Spectrum converter or the PNG to Commodore 64 converter, or browse all RetroVault tools.

Your image stays in your browser — it is never uploaded to our server

MSX1 / MSX2 / MSX2+ / turbo R • TMS9918 SCREEN 2 • openMSX + C-BIOS tested