Convert an image to pixel art online

Turn a photo or illustration into pixel art with an 8–128 pixel-wide grid, a reduced color palette, optional dithering, and a crisp PNG download.

or drop one image here

JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF or BMP · up to 100 MB

Your image is processed locally and never uploaded

A practical online pixel art converter

Control the pixel grid

Choose how many pixels wide the artwork should be while the height follows the source image's aspect ratio.

Shape the color palette

Choose 4–64 adaptive colors or use the fixed Game Boy, PICO-8, or grayscale palette. Dithering can preserve the impression of extra tones.

Keep the image on your device

Decoding, color reduction, preview, and PNG export all run in your browser. The image is never uploaded to ImageNow.

How it works

  1. Choose or drop one JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, or BMP image.
  2. Set the pixel grid width and choose an adaptive or fixed color palette.
  3. Use dithering and optional grid lines while checking the live pixel art preview.
  4. Download the finished pixel art as a PNG.

Pixel art is not the same as privacy pixelation

This converter lowers both the pixel resolution and the number of colors, then enlarges the result with sharp square edges to create a deliberate retro style. Privacy pixelation simply groups an image into larger blocks to hide a face, text, or another area. Use this page to make pixel art; use Pixelate Image when the goal is obscuring information.

Choose grid width, palette, and dithering together

A smaller grid width makes shapes chunkier and removes fine detail; a larger grid preserves more of the source. Adaptive mode builds a reduced palette from the image, while Game Boy, PICO-8, and grayscale use fixed colors. Dithering distributes palette colors into a fine pattern, which can preserve gradients and shading but may look busier on simple icons.

Images that work well as pixel art

A clear silhouette, strong contrast, an uncluttered background, and one main subject usually work best on a small grid. Photos with many tiny objects may need more grid pixels, while logos, avatars, sprite references, and simple illustrations often work with fewer pixels and colors. The result is a useful starting point, but production game art may still need manual pixel-by-pixel cleanup.

Which images work best as input

The converter accepts browser-decodable JPG, JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, and BMP files up to 100 MB. PNG transparency is retained. An animated GIF or WebP is treated as a still frame, not exported as an animation. The PNG is enlarged with hard square edges, so the pixels never blur.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert an image or photo to pixel art?

Choose an image, set the pixel grid width, then select an adaptive or fixed palette. Adjust the color count, dithering, and grid lines while watching the preview, then download the result as a PNG.

What pixel grid width should I use?

Try 16 to 32 pixels for a very chunky icon or retro sprite, 32 to 64 for a balanced pixel-art look, and a wider grid when the source contains small details. The displayed output dimensions show the exact grid before enlargement.

How many colors should pixel art use?

Fewer colors create a cleaner, more graphic style, while more colors preserve shading and photographic detail. Start around 8 to 16 adaptive colors, then lower or raise the limit according to the preview. Fixed palettes use their own defined color count.

What does dithering do in pixel art?

Dithering places available palette colors in a fine pattern to suggest tones that are not in the palette. It often helps gradients, skin tones, and photos with few colors, but turning it off can give flat graphics and icons cleaner areas of color.

Can I add a visible grid to the pixel art?

Yes. Turn on Grid lines to show individual pixel boundaries in the live preview and include those lines in the enlarged PNG download.

Which image formats are supported, and will animation be preserved?

You can use JPG, JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, or BMP images up to 100 MB when the browser can decode them. The output is a PNG. Animated GIF and WebP files are handled as a still frame rather than an animated result.

Is this an AI pixel art generator?

No. This rule-based converter downsamples your existing image and quantizes its colors. The grid, palette, color count, and dithering settings directly determine the result; it does not invent a new subject from a text prompt.

Is my image uploaded to a server?

No. Decoding, resizing, palette quantization, preview, and PNG export all run locally in your browser. Your selected image does not need to be uploaded to an ImageNow server.