Tutorial · 5 min read
Getting Started with Pixel Grids for Tomodachi Life
A beginner's introduction to creating pixel grid designs for Tomodachi Life using Living the Grid. Learn grid sizes, palette modes, and numbered pattern exports.
What Are Pixel Grids?
Pixel grids are small, cell-based canvases where each cell maps to one brush stroke in Tomodachi Life's Palette House. Living the Grid converts any image into a grid you can copy by hand.
The grid size determines how detailed your design can be. Common sizes include 32x32 for icons, 48x48 for portraits, and 32x48 for vertical posters.
Your First Grid in 3 Steps
Open the Grid Maker, upload any image, and select a grid size preset. The tool matches every pixel to the closest game-compatible color and produces a numbered pattern you can follow row by row.
Export the pattern as a PNG, open Palette House on your Switch, and paint each numbered cell in order. Start from the top-left corner and work across each row.
Choosing the Right Palette
The Game-compatible 84 palette matches the exact colors available in standard Palette House mode. Use this for guaranteed color accuracy.
The Extended 120 palette adds extra shades for smoother gradients, but some colors may need manual approximation in-game. Start with Game 84 until you are comfortable.