Welcome to tileforge! This handy tool lets you cut any image into map tiles, ready for your mapping projects — all happening right in your web browser. Whether you're creating custom maps, zoomable images, or learning about geographic tiles, tileforge makes it simple without needing to install anything complicated.
tileforge is a user-friendly application that slices your images into XYZ format map tiles. The best part? Everything happens directly in your browser, powered by modern technologies like Rust and WebAssembly. This means fast processing without installing software or sending your images to a server.
If you need a command-line interface (CLI) version for advanced use, tileforge includes that too, but for now, we’ll focus on the browser-friendly, easy way to get started.
tileforge supports the popular XYZ tile format used by many map tools like Leaflet and OpenStreetMap, so your tiles work wherever maps are used.
- No installs or setups needed. Just open your browser.
- Slice any image—photos, drawings, map scans.
- Create XYZ map tiles for use in slippy maps.
- Works offline!. Your images stay private; no uploading.
- Fast and efficient, powered by Rust and WebAssembly.
- BONUS: A CLI is available if you want to get more technical later.
tileforge is designed to work smoothly on most modern devices:
- Operating Systems: Windows 10 or later, macOS Mojave or later, Linux distributions, and Chromebook browsers.
- Browser Support: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari (latest versions recommended).
- Internet Connection: Only needed to access the tool for the first time (runs offline after).
- Hardware: Standard laptop or desktop with 2GB RAM minimum; high-res images will process faster with more RAM and a better CPU but nothing special is required.
- Disk Space: No installation — just space for your original images and resulting tiles if you choose to download them.
- Interactive browser interface: Upload your image and instantly see tile previews.
- Supports common image formats: JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, and others.
- Choose zoom levels and tile size: Customize how detailed your tile slices are.
- Download tiles as ZIP packages: Ready to use in your mapping projects or websites.
- Offline use: Once loaded, no internet needed to process new images.
- Included CLI: For advanced users who prefer a command line.
- Open source and privacy-minded: Your data stays on your device.
Starting with tileforge is easy, even if you're not a tech expert.
To get started, open your favorite web browser and visit the tileforge page here.
This page is your gateway to using tileforge. Since tileforge runs inside your browser, there's no need to install complicated software.
Within the repository page, look for a “Web Demo” or “Try it online” link. This will open tileforge’s web app interface where all the magic happens.
If you don’t see this immediately, just follow the instructions below to download and use the pre-built web interface:
- Click the green Code button and select Download ZIP to get the full package with web app support.
- Extract the files onto your computer.
- Open the
index.htmlfile in your preferred browser.
Once tileforge’s interface is open:
- Click the Upload Image button.
- Choose the picture you want to slice into map tiles.
- Wait a moment as tileforge processes your image.
Supported image formats include JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF.
tileforge makes it easy to choose how your image is sliced:
- Select the Tile Size (common sizes are 256x256 or 512x512 pixels).
- Choose the Zoom Levels you want. More zoom levels mean more detail but larger file size.
- Preview how tiles will look in the browser.
After you’re happy with your settings, click Download Tiles.
tileforge will package your tiles into a ZIP file that you can save to your computer. These folders and files are ready to be used with popular map tools like Leaflet or OpenStreetMap.
For users interested in trying the CLI (Command Line Interface) version of tileforge:
- Download the CLI binaries or source code from the repository’s releases section.
- Follow the CLI README instructions (found in
cli/README.md) to slice images through simple commands. - The CLI is designed for users comfortable with typing commands — don’t worry if this isn’t you!
- Tiles look blurry? Try increasing zoom levels or adjusting tile size.
- Image won’t upload? Double-check that the file format is supported.
- Browser runs slow? Close other tabs, or try a faster browser like Chrome or Firefox.
- No internet after initial load? tileforge still works offline once opened.
If you encounter any issues, you can create a support ticket on the GitHub Issues page.
- Personal maps: Visualize hiking trails, neighborhood layouts, or custom guides.
- Websites & blogs: Add interactive zoomable images.
- Educational projects: Learn how map tiling works.
- App or game development: Integrate detailed image maps.
- Anywhere XYZ tiles are supported!
tileforge is open source and welcomes contributions! If you want:
- To report bugs
- Request new features
- Share your projects using tileforge
Head over to the repository’s Issues and Discussions tabs. The community is friendly and helpful.
Whether you’re building a small personal map or experimenting with image-based tiles, tileforge makes the process simple and accessible for everyone. Thanks for choosing tileforge!