ADVICE

[Burrito]

I realize this is probably going to be a stupid question...but I don't care, as I have no shame.
Converting from 24-bit to 8-bit without making whatever you're converting look crappy.  I've tried using MSPaint, but MSPaint sucks and all.
Is there an easier way to do it?  Any good freeware programs out there?  Seriously.  Anything but MSPaint.

[Meiscool-2]

Isn't 8-bit supposed to be in low quality?

[Prpl_Mage]

Yes, as Meiscool said. The very meaning of 8 bit is that it only uses 8 colours. It will look crappy since the sprite you edit had 24 colours.

A good tool though is Irfanview, it got the option to decrease the colour depth. But chances are that the colours will remain crappy after converted.

[Burrito]

So IrfanView has a convert to 256 color option...?
Wow.  Now I feel a bit stupid for not noticing that before.
Anyway, thanks a lot.

[Rahl]

I use photoshop.