Choose your image
Open a PNG, JPEG, or static WebP, or try one of the examples. A clear subject with a simple background is a useful starting point. Your image is processed on your device, so there is no account to create and no server upload.
FREE ONLINE CONVERTER
Image to Pixel Art
Convert an image to pixel art in your browser. Adjust the pixel size and colors, then download a crisp PNG. Free to use, with no sign-up.
Your image stays on your device.
A real photo. A pixel version.TRY A SAMPLE
Original photo INPUT
Pixel result OUTPUT
64 × 64 px · 32 colors · no dithering
How to convert an image to pixel art
Make the pixels yours
Start at 64 pixels wide and compare the result with the original. Crop around the part of the image you want to keep, then choose an adaptive or preset palette. Try fewer colors for a simpler result. You can also select a palette swatch to replace that color throughout the converted image.
Download your PNG
Download a PNG at the converted pixel dimensions, or enlarge it by an exact integer multiple. The larger export keeps the same pixel pattern without smoothing. Choose the scale that suits where you will display the image; the checkerboard and preview background are not included.
Choose the right settings
Start with 64 pixels wide
Start with 64 pixels wide to see which features survive the conversion. Try 32 for a simpler silhouette or 128 for more detail. More pixels can retain small features, but they can also make the result look closer to a small photograph. If a face or object becomes hard to recognize, crop closer before increasing the size. The height follows the image or crop proportions, so a tall image may need a smaller width to fit the output limit.
Let the image guide the colors
Adaptive builds a palette from the colors in your image, up to the selected limit of 8, 16, 32, or 64 colors. Start with 32, then compare a smaller palette. Fewer colors can make shapes easier to read, while more colors can retain subtle shading. Presets instead map the whole image to a fixed black-and-white, grayscale, or retro palette. Choose the approach that suits the picture, then use individual color replacement for a final adjustment.
Use dithering when it helps
Dithering adds small patterns of neighboring colors to suggest extra shades. It can help a sky, shadow, or smooth gradient look less abrupt when the palette is limited. It can also make skin, fur, or flat backgrounds look busy. Compare the same size and palette with dithering on and off. Look at the result at its native size as well as an enlarged view; choose the setting that keeps your subject readable.
Choose an image that works well at a small size
Start with a clear subject
You can convert a photo to pixel art, but the starting picture still matters. Look for a subject that stands out from its background and stays recognizable when viewed small. The converter reduces the image you supply; it does not invent missing features. A close portrait, a pet against a plain background, or an object with a strong outline is a useful first test.
Give the subject more of the frame
Crop out empty space or distracting surroundings before settling on a pixel width. A subject that fills more of the crop has more pixels available for its features. When comparing crops, check whether the eyes, outline, or other defining details still read clearly. Cropping changes the composition, so compare it with the original before downloading.
Decide which details matter
Fine text, hair, foliage, and distant buildings may merge into larger blocks. That is a normal consequence of reducing an image. If the details are essential, try a closer crop or a larger output. If you want a simpler icon-like result, accept the loss of small details and focus on the shape and main colors. The portrait, cat, and coast examples let you compare different subjects at 64 and 128 pixels wide before opening your own file.
Improve your pixel art result
The subject is hard to recognize
If the result is hard to recognize, first check the crop and pixel width. Give the main subject more space in the frame or increase the width. Keep in mind that a larger PNG export does not recover detail lost during conversion: export scale only enlarges the existing pixels.
The colors look muddy
If the colors look muddy, compare fewer colors or a different palette. A smaller adaptive palette can simplify similar tones; a fixed preset changes the overall color style. If one color is distracting, select its swatch and replace it. That change affects the color everywhere in the result, rather than painting individual pixels.
The image looks noisy
If the image looks noisy, turn dithering off and compare again at the same dimensions. Busy source textures can remain busy after conversion, so a tighter crop may also help. Use the Original and Result views to judge which features have changed, and download the version that reads best at the size you intend to use.
Check the finished PNG
Inspect the result at its native size to judge how readable it is. Use a larger zoom to inspect blocks and colors; zoom changes only the preview. Before downloading, check the final PNG dimensions shown beside the scale controls. Open the saved PNG in the app where you plan to use it, because that app may display it larger or smaller than its actual dimensions.
A few common questions
Which files and image sizes can I use?
Choose a PNG, JPEG, or static WebP up to 20 MiB, 16,000,000 pixels in total, and 8192 pixels on either side. GIF, animated PNG, and animated WebP are not supported. Resize an oversized image before opening it here.
The converted result must fit within 256 × 256 pixels. Width and height keep the image or crop proportions. Opening a tall image or applying a tall crop automatically reduces the width to fit. Exceptionally thin images may still need cropping at a width of 1 pixel. Export at 1×, 2×, 4×, or 8× for a PNG up to 2048 × 2048 pixels.
Can I undo changes or keep editing later?
Undo and Redo keep up to 30 changes for the current image. Replacing the image starts a new edit history. Changes to size, crop, palette, or dithering reset manual color replacements; Undo restores them. Reloading or closing the page clears your session, so download your result before leaving.
Does my image leave my device?
The converter processes your image in your browser. It does not send your uploaded image to a server. Example images are downloaded from this site when selected.
Is this an AI pixel art generator?
No. It converts the image you supply by reducing its dimensions and mapping its colors. It does not invent new details or redraw the subject.
Will my PNG keep its transparent background?
Transparent input is preserved through conversion and PNG export. The checkerboard and preview background are display aids and are not part of the downloaded image.
What is the difference between image size and export scale?
Image size determines the number of pixels in the converted result. Export scale enlarges those pixels without smoothing them. A 64 × 62 result exported at 4× becomes a 256 × 248 PNG.
Real photos, real conversion. Photo credits ↗
Photography from Pexels, cropped for these samples. Pixel results are generated by this converter. Photos are examples, not endorsements.