Solarize a PNG
Invert color values strictly above a certain exposure threshold point. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
Drop a file here, or click to browse
Files never leave your device
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Solarize a PNG
- 1. Upload the PNG. Add the photo you want to apply the effect to, such as photo.png, so the tool can invert values above your chosen threshold.
- 2. Set the threshold. Move the Threshold (0-255) slider to choose the brightness cutoff. Values above the threshold get inverted while values below it stay unchanged, producing the classic partial-negative look.
- 3. Download the solarized PNG. Save the result, such as photo.png with bright tones inverted above 128, once the balance between untouched shadows and inverted highlights looks right.
When to use Solarize a PNG
Solarize a PNG inverts color values strictly above a chosen exposure threshold, recreating the darkroom Sabattier effect where only the brighter tones flip. It is a distinctive stylistic filter for photos that need a surreal, high-contrast treatment.
- Recreating a classic darkroom photography effect. A photographer wants the striking partial-negative look historically produced by re-exposing film mid-development, without needing a physical darkroom to achieve it.
- Designing a surreal album cover. An album cover wants a psychedelic, high-contrast visual treatment. Solarizing a photo at a moderate threshold like 128 produces the distinctive inverted-highlight aesthetic.
- Creating a striking poster from an ordinary photo. A plain photo needs to stand out as bold graphic art for a poster. Solarizing it flips just the bright tones, giving an unusual look that a simple filter would not achieve.
Examples
Sabattier effect
Input
photo.png
Output
photo.png with bright tones inverted above 128
About the Solarize a PNG tool
Solarize a PNG is a free online tool that works entirely inside your web browser. Invert color values strictly above a certain exposure threshold point. Because the processing happens on your own device, nothing you enter is uploaded, logged or stored anywhere.
This page is one of 108 PNG utilities on EditSafely. Each one does a single job well, and all of them follow the same rule: your input stays on your machine.
You can shape the output with the Threshold (0–255) setting, and the result refreshes the moment you change it. The finished file is put together in browser memory and saved with the Download button, so it never touches a server on the way to your disk. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
Because nothing leaves your device, the tool is suitable for sensitive content such as internal documents, credentials or customer data. It also responds instantly, since every keystroke is handled on your own machine rather than by a remote API.
Frequently asked questions
Does Solarize a PNG cost anything?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No data leaves your device. The whole tool is JavaScript that runs inside your browser tab, so there is no upload, no server-side processing and no log of what you did. If you disconnect from the internet after the page loads, it keeps working.
Which files does Solarize a PNG accept?
It accepts PNG images. There is no file size cap imposed by a server; very large files are limited only by your device's memory.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
Nothing to install and no account needed. Open the page in any up-to-date browser, including on a phone or tablet, and the tool is ready.
How do I save the output?
Click the Download button once the result is ready. The file is built in your browser's memory and handed straight to your downloads folder, without passing through a server.