DEV Community: Atharv Tathe

I Built a Simple Tool to Pixelate Images Instantly (Free & No Upload Required)

Atharv Tathe — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 08:51:12 +0000

Sometimes you just want to blur or pixelate a part of an image quickly - maybe to hide sensitive information, anonymize a screenshot, or create a pixel art style effect.

Most tools I found were either:

slow
required uploading images to a server
or were filled with ads and unnecessary steps.

So I decided to build a simple tool:

👉 https://www.pixelateimage.co

It lets you pixelate images instantly in the browser with no uploads.

Why I Built This

As developers we often share screenshots that contain:

API keys
email addresses
phone numbers
user data
internal URLs

Blurring or pixelating that information quickly should be easy.

But most tools required uploading the image, which isn't ideal for privacy.

So I built a client-side pixelation tool that runs entirely in your browser.

Features

Instant Pixelation

Upload an image and apply a pixelation effect instantly.

100% Client-Side Processing

Your image never leaves your device. Everything happens in the browser.

Adjustable Pixel Size

You can control how strong the pixelation effect is.

Fast Canvas Rendering

The tool uses HTML5 Canvas to apply the pixelation effect efficiently.

One-Click Download

Download the pixelated image instantly.

How It Works (Under the Hood)

The tool uses the HTML Canvas API to manipulate image pixels.

The basic idea:

Load the image into a canvas
Divide the image into blocks
Replace each block with the average color of its pixels
Render the block as a square

Simplified pseudo-code:

for (let y = 0; y < height; y += pixelSize) {
  for (let x = 0; x < width; x += pixelSize) {
    const color = getAverageColor(x, y, pixelSize)
    drawSquare(x, y, pixelSize, color)
  }
}

This creates the classic pixelated mosaic effect.

Use Cases

Developers and creators use pixelation for many things:

Hiding sensitive information in screenshots
Protecting identities in photos
Creating pixel art style images
Anonymizing faces or license plates
Making stylized social media content

Tech Stack

The tool is intentionally simple and lightweight.

Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Nextjs
Rendering: HTML5 Canvas
Processing: Client-side only

No backend required.

Why Client-Side Tools Matter

Privacy is a big deal when dealing with images.

Uploading screenshots to random servers can expose sensitive information.

By processing images entirely in the browser, tools like this ensure:

better privacy
faster performance
no server costs

Try It Out

You can try the tool here:

👉 https://www.pixelateimage.co

Feedback is welcome! If you have ideas for improvements or features, let me know.

Future Improvements

Some features I'm considering adding:

Face detection pixelation
Blur + pixelate options

If you're building simple browser tools using Canvas, I'd love to see them too.

I Built AI Virtual Staging tool

Atharv Tathe — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 06:29:42 +0000

When I first started browsing real estate listings more closely, one thing kept bothering me.

So many good properties were presented… badly.

Empty rooms.
Cold spaces.
Perfectly fine homes that looked forgettable.

And the worst part? The house itself wasn’t the problem. The presentation was.

That’s where the idea for aivirtualstaging.net was born.

Empty Rooms Don’t Help Buyers Decide

As humans, we don’t imagine easily from nothing.

An empty living room doesn’t tell you:

Where the sofa goes

How big the space actually feels

Whether a dining table will fit

If the room feels cozy or awkward

Agents know this. Builders know this.
That’s why physical staging exists, but it’s expensive, slow, and not always practical.

Virtual staging should solve this problem.

But in reality, many virtual staging tools introduce new problems.

What I Didn’t Like About Existing Virtual Staging Tools

Before building anything, I tested a lot of existing solutions. And I kept seeing the same issues again and again:

Furniture that looks out of scale

Rooms that suddenly feel wider or deeper

Camera angles that mysteriously change

Lighting that no longer matches the original photo

Images that scream “this is fake”

For real estate listings, that’s dangerous.

Buyers expect honesty.
Agents need consistency.
Listings must match reality.

So I decided to build something that prioritizes authenticity over exaggeration.

The Core Philosophy: Never Break the Room

From day one, I set a few strict rules for aivirtualstaging.net:

The room is sacred.

That means:

Camera Angle Is Never Changed

The uploaded photo is the single source of truth.
No cropping. No zooming. No perspective tricks.

The Layout Always Stays Intact

Walls, doors, windows, floors, ceilings - untouched.
If it exists in the photo, it stays exactly where it is.

Furniture Must Make Physical Sense

No floating sofas.
No beds blocking doorways.
No chairs clipped into walls.

Every piece of furniture must look like a human could actually place it there.

Lighting Must Match Reality

Artificial lighting can easily ruin realism.
So shadows, reflections, and light direction stay consistent with the original image.

If the photo was taken on a cloudy afternoon, it should still feel like that.

Why Realism Matters More Than “Wow”

A lot of AI tools aim to impress at first glance.

Bright colors.
Stylish furniture.
Instagram-ready interiors.

But real estate isn’t Instagram.

Agents don’t want buyers to fall in love with furniture.
They want buyers to understand space.

That’s why my goal isn’t to create fantasy interiors - it’s to help buyers answer questions like:

“Will my bed fit here?”

“Where does the TV go?”

“Is this room too small or just empty?”

“Can I picture myself living here?”

If the image answers those questions, it has done its job.

Features Built From Real Use Cases

Instead of adding dozens of options, I focused on what agents actually need.

Virtual Staging by Room Type

A living room shouldn’t look like a showroom.
A bedroom should feel calm, not crowded.
A kitchen should remain functional and realistic.

Each room is staged with intent, not decoration overload.

Day to Dusk Conversion

Evening photos sell emotion.

Day-to-dusk images:

Feel warmer
Look premium
Stand out in listings

The goal here isn’t dramatic skies - it’s subtle transformation that still looks believable.

Furniture Removal

Sometimes the best staging is less.

Old furniture, clutter, or mismatched pieces can make rooms look smaller than they are.
Furniture removal helps reset the space without altering structure or lighting.

Built for Speed, Not Complexity

One thing I hate about many tools is friction.

Real estate workflows are already busy.
Agents don’t want to “learn” software.

So aivirtualstaging.net is designed to be straightforward:

Upload the image

Select room type and style

Generate

Download and use in your listing

That’s it.

No design skills.
No confusing sliders.
No trial and error loops.

Who This Is Really For

I built this primarily for:

Real estate agents
Brokers
Property managers
Builders and developers

But honestly, it’s for anyone who wants property photos to feel honest, warm, and inviting, without misleading buyers.

What I’m Actively Improving

This isn’t a “launch and forget” project.

I’m continuously working on:

Better furniture diversity

Improved handling of small and awkward rooms

More consistent styling across images

Edge cases where realism can break

Every update is driven by one question:

“Would this pass as a real photo in a serious listing?”

If the answer is no, it doesn’t ship.

Why I’m Sharing This on dev.to

I wanted to write this here because many of you are builders.

You know how tempting it is to chase features, hype, and shortcuts.

But sometimes the better product comes from restraint — from saying no to things that look impressive but break trust.

This project taught me that realism is harder than creativity, but far more valuable.

Try It, Break It, Critique It

If you work in real estate or are curious about virtual staging, try aivirtualstaging.net.

I’m genuinely open to feedback, especially criticism.
That’s how this gets better.

Thanks for reading.
And if you’re building something too: keep it honest, keep it simple, and keep shipping.

I Built a time card calculator Because Calculating Work Hours Shouldn’t Be This Hard

Atharv Tathe — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 11:50:46 +0000

For a long time, calculating my work hours felt like a small but persistent annoyance. I’d jot down start times and end times, subtract breaks, double check totals, and then still wonder if I messed something up.

It wasn’t a big problem… but it was a recurring one.
And like any developer who gets repeatedly irritated by something, I did what we usually do: I built a solution.

So here it is: https://mytimecardcalculator.com

A simple, free, and clean time card calculator that helps anyone calculate their work hours accurately, whether you’re an employee, freelancer, contractor, or shift worker.

The Real Reason I Built It

The idea didn’t come from a grand plan. It came from a very relatable moment: me, sitting with my laptop, staring at a spreadsheet, realizing I had entered the same set of hours three different ways and still wasn’t fully sure if my totals were right.

I tried a few online calculators, but most of them:

looked cluttered
had intrusive ads
were overloaded with fields
required login or account creation
or were simply too outdated

I didn’t need a full HR system. I didn’t need timesheet history.
I just needed a place to enter a few times and get a clean result.

So I built exactly that.

What MyTimeCardCalculator.com Does (And Why It Works Well)

The tool is intentionally simple, but that’s what makes it effective. Here’s what it offers:

✔️ Clean and intuitive UI

I wanted a tool you could understand in 2 seconds. No tutorials. No guessing.
Just pick your start time, end time, break duration, and you’re done.

✔️ Daily AND weekly calculations

Many calculators only support one shift. Mine supports an entire week — great for people who track weekly totals for payroll or clients.

✔️ Works with overnight shifts

One of the trickiest parts of time tracking.
If your shift goes from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, the calculator handles it smoothly.

✔️ PDF Export using jsPDF

This was a highly requested feature even before I built it.
You can instantly generate a downloadable, clean PDF of your completed time card — formatted neatly using jsPDF, entirely client-side, no servers involved.

Perfect for submitting timesheets to employers or keeping personal records.

✔️ 100% Free, No Login, No Tracking

Nothing is stored. Nothing is uploaded. No accounts, no cookies.
Just a simple browser tool that respects your privacy.

✔️ Mobile-first experience

A lot of people track hours on the go, especially shift workers.
So the layout is optimized to work smoothly on smartphones and tablets.

A Bit More About the Tech Stack

here’s the geeky breakdown:

Frontend: Next.js
Styling: Tailwind CSS
PDF Generation: jsPDF
Time logic: Custom JavaScript helpers using native Date APIs
Hosting: Vercel

Time calculations happen entirely in the browser. No API calls, no server roundtrips.

PDF generation also happens directly client-side with jsPDF, so the download is instant and private.

Challenges & Interesting Problems Solved

Every small project has that one thing you thought would take 5 minutes… but takes 5 hours. Here were a few:

Handling Overnight Shifts

If you work from 10 PM → 6 AM, technically “end time” is the next day.
I wrote a custom logic that detects when the end time passes midnight and adjusts the calculation accordingly.

Designing a Weekly Table That Fits on Mobile

Tables + mobile screens = pain.
I had to rethink spacing, font sizes, and breakpoints to make everything readable without horizontal scrolling.

Creating Human-Friendly PDF Layouts with jsPDF

jsPDF is powerful, but formatting text, aligning columns, and keeping everything clean took some trial and error.
The final result looks like a proper timesheet, not a random export.

Preventing Weird Inputs From Breaking Everything

People enter time in all sorts of ways:

“9”

“9:00”

“09:00 AM”

“21:00”

I added smart checks so the calculator can handle inconsistencies without confusing the user.

Why I Love Building Tools Like This

There’s something very satisfying about building tools that solve small, real problems.
Not massive SaaS platforms.
Not giant dashboards.

Just tiny, useful, practical tools that make someone’s day easier — maybe yours, maybe mine, maybe both.

And honestly, I think the web needs more of that. More simple tools, fewer bloated systems.

What’s Coming Next

Even though the tool already feels polished, I’m planning a few more features:

More PDF customization (branding, notes, signatures)
CSV Export

Nothing that complicates the tool, just enhancements that keep it simple but more flexible.

Try It And Tell Me What You Think

If you track your hours or know someone who does, give it a try:

https://mytimecardcalculator.com

I’d genuinely love to know what you think.
Suggestions, feature ideas, UI feedback — everything helps.

And if you're also building tiny, useful web tools, share them in the comments.
I love checking out what others in the community are creating.

Thanks for reading!

Introducing CaricatureMaker.net : My Little Side Project to Turn Photos Into Caricatures

Atharv Tathe — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 06:20:07 +0000

Hey folks,

I’ve been tinkering on a fun side project lately, and I finally feel ready to share it with the world. It’s called CaricatureMaker.net
, and as the name suggests, it’s a simple online tool that turns any photo into a caricature instantly.

How the Idea Started

I’ve always loved caricatures, you see them at fairs, amusement parks, or in newspapers where artists exaggerate faces in a way that’s both funny and artistic. The thing is, unless you know a caricature artist, they’re not exactly easy to get.

Most of us don’t have the time (or patience) to spend hours on Photoshop trying to create that effect ourselves. I thought: what if you could get a caricature in a couple of seconds, right from your browser?

That question turned into late night coding sessions, experimenting with AI models, and slowly shaping this project into something people could actually use.

What I Ended Up Building

After a lot of trial and error, I built a simple flow:

Upload a photo: Just pick any portrait.
AI processing kicks in: The backend transforms the photo into a fun caricature style.
Download instantly: No watermark

I deliberately kept the UI minimal because I wanted the process to feel quick, clean, and enjoyable.

Features Right Now

Instant caricature generation (literally takes seconds).
Mobile friendly so it works well on phones too.
No fuss or design skills.

Tech Side (for the curious)

Since this is Dev.to, I know some of you might be interested in the stack. Here’s the gist:

Frontend: Next.js + TailwindCSS (kept it lightweight).
Backend: Node.js + Express for the API endpoints.
AI model: Runs image transformations server-side, optimized for speed.
Hosting: Deployed Railway and Vercel

Who Might Enjoy This

Anyone looking for a fun profile picture.
Content creators who want quirky visuals for posts.
People who just want to laugh at a caricature of themselves.
I’ve already had friends try it out and send me hilarious caricatures of their pets, which I didn’t plan for but actually works pretty well.

What’s Next

This is still very much a work in progress. Some things on my mind:

Adding more caricature styles (comic, manga-inspired, etc.).
Giving users the ability to tweak exaggeration levels.
Maybe even a “caricature group photo” option.

Wrapping Up

I built Caricature Maker because I wanted to merge my love for creative visuals with my interest in AI tools. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s fun, fast, and already putting smiles on people’s faces.

If you want to try it out, here’s the link:
https://caricaturemaker.net/

I’d love to hear your thoughts — whether it’s ideas for features, technical feedback, or just sharing your funniest caricature results.

Thanks for reading!

I Built a Free Online Signature Generator

Atharv Tathe — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 11:09:55 +0000

Hey devs!

I recently launched a small tool called SignatureGenerator.me — a fast, free, privacy-first digital signature creator. It lets you draw or type your signature right in the browser and download it instantly, no sign-up or watermark involved.

Let me walk you through what it does, why I built it, and how it works under the hood.

🛠 Why I Built This
I needed to sign a PDF and was frustrated with the existing options:

Bloated tools with popups and ads
Forced account creation
Watermarks unless you pay
Server uploads of personal signatures (big no-no for privacy)

So I thought — why not build a minimal web app that runs 100% on the frontend? That’s how SignatureGenerator.me was born.

✨ Key Features

Draw or Type your signature
Choose from elegant, script-style fonts
Download as a high-res PNG with transparent background
All offline – nothing is stored or sent to a server
Fully responsive (works great on touchscreens)

🧱 Tech Stack
The tool is built with:

HTML Canvas API for drawing
React for interactivity
Tailwind CSS for styling
Google Fonts for nice script typefaces
FileSaver.js (or plain canvas export) for image download

Everything is rendered and processed client-side, so no backend at all. Your signature stays private.

🧪 Lessons Learned
Handling both mouse and touch inputs for canvas drawing is tricky I had to normalize events carefully.

Font rendering can vary across browsers, so I had to test a lot to make the typed signatures look polished.

Optimizing for mobile touch UX (clear button, draw sensitivity) made a big difference in usability.

📸 Try It Live
👉 Signature Generator

Whether you're signing PDFs, customizing an email footer, or adding a signature to a design, it takes seconds.

I Made a Caricature Maker – Here's Why

Atharv Tathe — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 13:00:23 +0000

Hi everyone,

I recently launched something fun that I’ve been working on: CaricatureMaker.net website where you can upload a photo and get a playful, exaggerated caricature of yourself in just a few seconds.

No app to download, just visit, upload, and enjoy the result.

In this post, I wanted to share the story behind why I built it and what I’ve learned from the process.

Why Caricatures?
Caricatures have always made me smile. They’re funny, light-hearted, and somehow manage to highlight the unique things about a person in a creative way.

You’ve probably seen artists making them at tourist spots or in cartoons. They usually exaggerate facial features — like a big smile, prominent nose, or expressive eyes — in a way that’s fun, not insulting.

I thought: why not bring that experience online?

What I Wanted to Create
My goal was simple:

Make it easy for anyone to create a caricature
Keep it fun and fast

The idea was to take something traditionally done by hand and bring it into a modern, easy-to-use website.

How It Works (In Simple Terms)
You visit the site, upload a clear photo (a front-facing face works best), and within seconds, the site gives you back a caricature version of that photo.

It’s not perfect — sometimes the results are hilarious, other times surprisingly accurate — but that’s part of the charm.

The whole process usually takes just a few seconds, and the final image is yours to download or share.

What I Learned from Building This
Even though this was a fun project, I learned a few important things:

Simple ideas can bring joy – Not everything has to be complex or serious to be useful or loved.

User experience matters – Making something fast and easy to use makes a big difference.

People love sharing fun things – A lot of users started sending their caricatures to friends or posting them on social media, and the site started spreading naturally.

Try It Out
If you want to see what your caricature might look like, give it a try:
👉 caricaturemaker.net

It only takes a few seconds and works best with a clear photo of your face.

What's Next?
This is just the beginning. I’m already thinking about adding more features, like:

Different caricature styles
Caricatures of pets or couples
Print options (stickers, mugs, etc.)

But for now, I just wanted to put something fun out into the world.

If you try it out, I’d love to know what you think.

Thanks for reading!

I made a simple and easy to used Tip Calculator

Atharv Tathe — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 07:31:54 +0000

Have you ever found yourself at the end of a delightful meal, unsure of how much to tip your server? Calculating tips can sometimes feel like a math quiz, especially when you’re dining with friends or splitting the bill. That’s where Tip Calculator comes in to save the day!

What is Tip Calculator?

Tip Calculator is a simple, user-friendly tool designed to take the guesswork out of tipping. Whether you're at a restaurant, a coffee shop, or ordering takeout, our tool helps you calculate the perfect tip in just a few seconds.

Why Use Tip Calculator?

Quick and Easy Calculations

With Tip Calculator, there’s no need to pull out your phone’s calculator app or do mental math. Simply input the bill amount, select your desired tip percentage, and let the tool do the rest.

Customizable Options

Not everyone tips the same way, and that’s okay! Tip Calculator allows you to adjust the percentage to match your preferences or local tipping customs.

Split the Bill with Ease

Dining with friends? Tip Calculator includes a handy feature to split the bill and tip among multiple people, ensuring everyone pays their fair share.

Accessible Anywhere

Tip Calculator is available online, so you can use it on your smartphone, tablet, or computer whenever you need it.

How Does It Work?

Using Tip Calculator is as easy as 1-2-3:

Enter the bill amount.
Choose your tip percentage.
Decide how many people are splitting the bill (if applicable).

In an instant, you’ll see the total amount to pay, the tip amount, and how much each person owes.

Who Can Benefit from Tip Calculator?

Frequent diners: Enjoy stress-free dining experiences by never worrying about tip calculations again.
Groups and families: Easily split bills without confusion or arguments.
Travelers: Adapt to different tipping customs around the world with ease.

Try It Today!
here is the link : https://tip-calculator.co/

Say goodbye to tipping confusion and hello to convenience! Visit Tip Calculator now and see how simple tipping can be. Whether it’s a casual coffee run or a fancy dinner, Tip Calculator is here to make your life easier.

Start tipping smarter today with Tip Calculator—because every great meal deserves the perfect tip!

Introducing : Pie Chart Maker

Atharv Tathe — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 04:23:24 +0000

Hello everyone 🖐, Hope you all are doing well, Atharv here, a frontend developer passionate about building side projects. I'm so excited to share my next side product, Pie Chart Maker with you all.

Try Pie chart maker

✨️Inspiration

Pie charts are one of the most popular graphs used in reports and presenstations. Pie charts are often used in business. So I started thinking of building a web app for the same, with more additional features.

Introducing Pie chart maker

Pie chart maker is a free online tool using which you can make visually pleasing and beautiful pie charts. You can download the pie charts as a png/jpg image or as an svg file.

With Pie chart maker, you can make beautiful and visually satisfying pie charts with just few clicks. It is really easy to use. You don’t have to deal with traditional complex applications anymore. Simply enter the data and your pie chart will be ready. You can configure the other options according to your need.

Features of Pie chart maker 😍

Change background color

You can change the background color of pie charts according to your choice. Select the color picker and take the color as you need. The changes in color automatically get reflected in preview given below.

Make 3D

You can make a 3 dimentional pie charts with just one click. There is no extra configuration needed. There is a toggle button for making a 3D pie chart.

Change position of legend

You can change the postion of legend according to your need. There are various options for legend position such as top, bottom, left and right. There is default option for labeled legend.

Make Doughnut chart

You can make a doughnut chart with just one click. All you need to do is to change the size of pie hole accordingly. 0.4 pie hole size suits best.

Download graph

You can download the pie chart for your use in three different formats such as .png, .jpg or .svg.

👩‍💻 Built with

Next.js : For building the whole UI
Tailwind CSS : For complete styling
Vercel : For frontend hosting
react-icons : For icons

🤗 Final words.

Hope you enjoyed Pie chart maker, Don't forget to bookmark the website, it will be very useful.
Share it with your friends and let them know about Pie chart maker, Looking forward to your feedback and suggestions. Feel free to share your thoughts and feedback. and help it make even better and super handy.