pixelartmakerImage to Pixel Art Converter
Upload any photo, PNG, JPG or WEBP and watch it transform into crisp, beautiful pixel art — entirely in your browser, entirely for free.
Drop an image here or click to upload
PNG, JPG, WEBP, GIF, SVG — processed entirely in your browser
How to convert an image to pixel art
Converting an image to pixel art is a process of creative simplification. Our tool takes your photo and maps it onto a grid where each cell — your "pixel" — becomes one solid color. Here's exactly what happens behind the scenes:
- 1
Downsampling
Your image is scaled down to a small grid determined by the pixel size you choose. Pixel size of 8 means every 8×8 area becomes a single colored block.
- 2
Color sampling & palette mapping
The tool computes the dominant color in each cell. If you picked a palette like Pico-8 or Game Boy, each color is matched to its nearest equivalent using RGB distance.
- 3
Dithering & upscale
Optional Floyd-Steinberg dithering spreads color errors for smoother gradients. The result is then rendered back at full size with perfectly crisp square blocks.
Choosing the right pixel size
Pixel size is the single most important control in pixel art conversion. Here's a practical guide.
| Pixel size | Effect | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 2–4px | Very detailed, barely pixelated | Subtle retro effect, social media |
| 6–10px | Classic video game look | Game sprites, avatars, emotes |
| 12–20px | Bold, chunky, recognisable | Thumbnails, icons, prints |
| 24–48px | Abstract mosaic effect | Art prints, backgrounds |
| 48px+ | Maximum pixel art impact | Posters, large-format prints |
The sweet spot for most conversions is 8–16px — images stay recognisable while achieving that authentic retro game aesthetic. Smaller pixel sizes retain more original detail; larger sizes create a more stylised, abstract look.
Understanding color palettes
Color palettes are what truly make pixel art feel authentic. Real retro hardware had severe hardware limitations.
- NES (1983): 54 colors total, only 25 usable on screen simultaneously.
- Game Boy (1989): 4 shades of green-grey, that's it.
- Pico-8 (2015): 16 carefully chosen colors, beloved by indie devs today.
Using a limited palette forces your converted image to use only those specific colors, resulting in a cohesive, intentional look that photographs and digital images don't naturally have. Available palettes: Pico-8, Game Boy, NES, Commodore 64, CGA, Atari 2600, Sweetie-16 and DB32.
What is dithering and should you use it?
A technique from the earliest days of computing — and still one of the most useful tools in pixel art.
Floyd-Steinberg dithering works by calculating the error (difference between the exact color and the nearest palette color) at each pixel, then distributing that error to neighbouring pixels. The result looks like a fine stipple pattern up close but reads as a smooth gradient from a distance.
Use dithering when
Your image has soft gradients (sky, skin tones, water), you're using a very limited palette, and you want a more painterly, authentic retro look.
Skip dithering when
Your image has sharp edges and solid colors (logos, icons, cartoon-style art), or you want a cleaner, more modern pixel look.
What can you do with your pixel art?
Game development
Use converted images as sprite references, background textures or finished assets in Unity, Godot, GameMaker and Phaser.
Stream & Discord
Create custom emotes for Twitch and Discord. Pixel art emotes read clearly at small sizes and feel unique.
Perler beads & cross-stitch
Convert a photo, then use the Grid Maker to create a bead pattern. Each grid cell = one bead or one stitch.
Profile pictures & avatars
Pixel portraits are everywhere on X, GitHub and Discord. A good pixel avatar reads at 16×16 or 32×32.
NFTs & collectibles
The NFT space has a strong pixel art tradition. Our tool converts photos while you retain full commercial rights.
Personalised gifts
Convert a photo of a pet, person or place and print it on canvas, a t-shirt, a mug or a poster.
Frequently asked questions
Upload your image using the button above or drag and drop it into the tool. Adjust the Pixel Size slider to control detail level. Optionally select a color palette and toggle dithering. Click Download to save your pixel art as a PNG.