PixelLab API Comparison Test

Same source sprite processed with different endpoints, sizes, and settings. All images rendered at pixelated scaling.

Display size: 192px

1. Tank Upscale Comparison

Source: imgTanks-r0-c0.png (48x48) — Friendly Commando tank facing south

Original

48x48
No processing
$0.00

v1 Pixflux 64px

48 → 64 | str=700
Current approach
$0.007/sprite
958 = $6.39

v2 Resize 128px

48 → 128 | smart upscale
Purpose-built for pixel art
$0.012/sprite
958 = $11.11

v2 Resize 200px

48 → 200 (max)
Highest resolution
$0.020/sprite
958 = $19.06

v1 Pixflux 200px

48 → 200 | str=700
v1 at same size as v2
$0.007/sprite
958 = $6.70

2. Building Upscale

Source: imgBuildings-r2-c1.png (144x144)

Original

144x144
$0.00

v2 Resize 200px

144 → 200
$0.022/sprite

3. Terrain Upscale

Source: imgRocks-r0-c3.png (48x48)

Original

48x48
$0.00

v2 Resize 128px

48 → 128
$0.013/sprite

4. 8-Direction Rotations (64px)

v2/generate-8-rotations-v2 — one API call generates all 8 directions. Cost: $0.048/call ($0.006/direction). Compare to 8 individual resize calls at $0.012 each = $0.096

North

East

South

West

5. 8-Direction Rotations (128px)

Same endpoint, larger output. Cost: ~$0.048/call

North

East

South

West

6. Cost Summary

Approach	Endpoint	Output	$/sprite	958 sprites	Quality
v1 Pixflux 64	v1/pixflux	64x64	$0.007	$6.39	Low — barely larger
v1 Pixflux 200	v1/pixflux	200x200	$0.007	$6.70	Medium — cheap but less smart
v2 Resize 128	v2/resize	128x128	$0.012	$11.11	Good — smart pixel art upscale
v2 Resize 200	v2/resize	200x200	$0.020	$19.06	Best — but overkill?
v2 8-Rotations 128	v2/8-rotations	8x 128x128	$0.006	varies	Great for tanks/turrets

Budget: $24.72 remaining of $25.00
Test cost: $0.28 for 10 tests (6 successful images + 16 rotation images)
Recommended: v2/resize at 128px for most sprites ($11.11 total), v2/8-rotations for tanks ($0.048/variant for all 8 dirs)