Duotone Generator
Turn your photos into vibrant two-tone pop art. Control brightness and contrast for the perfect mix.
Color Controls
Presets
Create Iconic Pop Art
The Duotone Effect has evolved from a 19th-century printing cost-saver to a 21st-century digital design staple. Popularized recently by Spotify's vibrant playlist covers and high-end fashion campaigns, duotones turn ordinary photos into cohesive, branded art pieces.
Our Duotone Generator puts this power in your browser. Unlike simple "tint" tools which just wash color over an image, we use professional Gradient Mapping. This replaces your image's darkest shadows with one color and brightest highlights with another, preserving detail while completely transforming the mood.
How to Make a Duotone
- 1Upload High-Contrast Photo
Duotones thrive on contrast. Photos with clear separation between dark and light areas (like portraits with side lighting) work best.
- 2Pick Your Pair
Select a dark color for shadows (e.g., Deep Purple) and a light color for highlights (e.g., Neon Green). Or click a Preset to start.
- 3Fine-Tune Details
If the image looks flat, increase the 'Contrast' slider. This separates the two colors and makes the effect bolder.
Gradient Mapping
Professional color mapping technique, not just a simple overlay.
Instant Presets
One-click access to trending styles like "Spotify", "Retro", and "Vaporwave".
100% Private
Processing happens locally. Your personal photos never leave your device.
Multiple Formats
Export as crisp PNG for graphics or WebP for fast-loading websites.
Contrast Control
Built-in pre-processing to ensure your duotone pops, even if the original is dull.
Responsive
Works perfectly on mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers.
Pro Design Tips
Typography & Backgrounds
Duotones flatten the color range of an image, making them perfect backgrounds for text. If you plan to add text later, choose a duotone pair that contrasts well with white or black text.
Color Psychology
Use Red/Dark Blue for energy and power (sports, action). Use Pink/Purple for creativity and modern vibes (music, art). Use Green/Grey for tech and finance.
Who Is This Tool For?
Musicians & Curators
Create unified cover art for tracks and playlists that looks professional instantly.
Social Media Managers
Apply brand colors to stock photos to make them unique and consistent with your feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Duotone effect?
Duotone is a reprographic technique that superimposes one contrasting color (usually dark) over another color (usually light). Historically used to save money on printing costs, it was revitalized by Spotify in 2015 as a core branding element. In digital design, it replaces the black and white values of an image with two specific colors, creating a bold, high-impact aesthetic.
How do I create a Spotify playlist cover?
It's simple: 1. Upload a high-contrast portrait. 2. Choose our 'Spotify' preset (Deep Purple & Neon Green). 3. Adjust the 'Contrast' slider until the face is clearly defined. 4. Download and add your text in a bold sans-serif font.
What is Gradient Mapping?
Gradient Mapping is the technical process behind this tool. It analyzes the luminance (brightness) of every pixel in your photo. Dark pixels are mapped to your chosen 'Shadow' color, bright pixels are mapped to the 'Highlight' color, and mid-tones are mapped to the colors in between. This creates a smooth transition unlike a simple color overlay.
Why does my image look muddy or flat?
If your duotone looks flat, your original image likely lacks contrast (everything is grey). Use the 'Base Contrast' slider in our tool to push the darks darker and lights lighter before the color is applied. This separates the two colors and makes the subject pop.
Which color combinations work best?
The best duotones use complementary colors (opposite each other on the color wheel) or high-contrast pairs. Examples: Navy Blue + Bright Coral, Deep Purple + Lime Green, or Dark Grey + Canary Yellow. Avoid choosing two mid-tone colors, as the image will lose definition.
Is this tool free?
Yes, the Duotone Generator is 100% free with no watermark. You can create as many images as you want for personal or commercial projects.
Are my photos private?
Absolutely. We use client-side processing, meaning your photos are edited directly in your web browser. They are never uploaded to our servers, ensuring your data remains completely private.
Can I make a tritone or monotone image?
You can make a monotone image by setting both colors to the same hue but different brightness (e.g., Dark Blue and Light Blue). Our tool is specifically optimized for 2-color Duotone maps, but you can achieve tritone-like looks by using images with strong mid-tones.
Does it support transparent PNGs?
Yes! If you upload a PNG with a transparent background, the transparency is preserved. The duotone effect will only apply to the visible pixels, making it perfect for creating logo assets or web graphics.
What dimensions are best for social media?
For Instagram posts, use 1080x1080 or 1080x1350. For Twitter headers, 1500x500. Our tool exports at the original resolution of your upload, so start with a high-quality image for the best results.