Set up PixelLab

PixelLab is PixelKiln's default provider and the production choice for current projects. Its generation and account-management paths have been exercised against a live account.

Visit PixelLab or open the official API reference.

Add the credential

Create .env.local beside pixelkiln.manifest.json:

PIXELLAB_API_KEY=...

Keep this file out of Git. PixelKiln also reads the variable from the current process environment.

Select PixelLab

The provider field is optional because pixellab is the default. Declaring it makes the choice clear:

{
  "name": "my-game",
  "provider": "pixellab",
  "styles": {
    "props": {
      "generator": "map",
      "outDir": "assets/generated/props",
      "promptSuffix": ", isolated pixel-art game asset"
    }
  },
  "assets": {
    "anvil": {
      "prompt": "a compact blacksmith anvil",
      "width": 64,
      "height": 64
    }
  }
}

Run the free checks before a paid request:

pixelkiln doctor --dry-run
pixelkiln plan
pixelkiln gen --budget 1

Copy the exact estimate from plan into --budget. PixelLab budgets use subscription generations.

Choose a generator

Generator	Start here when	Measured cost
map	You need one prop, icon, building, or landmark at arbitrary dimensions	1 generation
pixflux	You need a closed palette or a full-bleed background	1 generation
1dir	You need references or several candidates for human review	20 to 40 generations
tiles	You need ground variations or a connected structural set	20 to 40 generations

map accepts these values:

• view: low top-down, high top-down, or side
• outline: single color outline, selective outline, or lineless
• shading: flat shading, basic shading, medium shading, or detailed shading
• detail: low detail, medium detail, or high detail

PixelLab describes map objects as transparent, but the 256px map objects in our environment benchmark were opaque. Check the alpha channel before building a production batch. For a scenic background, use pixflux with noBackground: false.

Read Generator selection for the full constraints and measured economics.

Account workflows

The PixelLab adapter supports balance, adopt, salvage, tag, and the separate confirmed purge flow. These are useful when several projects share one provider account or when existing local art needs its original provenance. Read Recovery and account safety before changing remote objects.

PixelLab's official MCP server gives agents direct access to PixelLab generation tools. It complements PixelKiln: the MCP handles creation, while PixelKiln owns project state, budgets, review, recovery, and packaging.

What is outside this adapter

PixelLab offers more than PixelKiln currently exposes. Character generation, multi-direction rotation, and animation are not part of this adapter. Use the manifest reference for the fields PixelKiln supports today.