Turn any photo into pixel art
Upload a photo, pick the pixel size and number of colors, and get instant pixel art you can download as a PNG — free, right in your browser. Then recolor and share it in Pixel Paint.
Free image-to-pixel-art converter
A pixel art converter takes an ordinary photo and rebuilds it out of a grid of big, solid pixels. Under the hood it shrinks your image down to a small grid — say 48 pixels wide — and reduces it to a handful of colors, so smooth gradients become crisp blocks. That's the whole trick behind turning a photo into pixel art: fewer pixels, fewer colors, more charm.
This image to pixel art tool runs entirely on your device — nothing is uploaded — so it's fast and private. Drag the Pixels slider to control how blocky the result is, and the Colors slider to set the palette size. Fewer colors give a cleaner retro look; more colors keep detail.
How to convert an image to pixel art
- Upload your photo. Drag an image onto the box above, or tap to choose a JPG, PNG or WebP.
- Set the pixel size. Lower “Pixels” for a chunky retro sprite, higher for a detailed portrait or landscape.
- Reduce the colors. Pull the “Colors” slider down for a bold, poster-like palette, or up to keep subtle shading.
- Download the PNG. Save your pixel art with one tap — no watermark, no sign-up.
- Color it in Pixel Paint. Import the same photo in the app to color it pixel by pixel and save your progress.
Tips for better pixel art
- Start simple: portraits, logos and pets convert best. Busy backgrounds turn to mush at low pixel counts.
- Fewer colors, more style: 8–16 colors gives that classic cute pixel art vibe; 32+ keeps photographic detail.
- Match the grid: a 32–48 pixel width lines up nicely with a pixel art grid if you want to redraw it by hand.
- Crop first: tighten the crop on your subject before converting so the pixels aren't wasted on empty space.
Keep exploring
Pixel art converter — FAQ
How do I convert a photo into pixel art?
Upload an image to the converter above, then choose how many pixels wide the result should be and how many colors to keep. The preview updates instantly — when you like it, download the PNG. Everything runs in your browser, so your photo is never uploaded to a server.
Is the pixel art converter free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up and no watermark. For coloring, importing and saving projects on your phone, Pixel Paint offers the same photo-to-pixel-art feature in a relaxing coloring app.
What settings give the best pixel art?
Start around 48 pixels wide and 24 colors, then lower both for a cleaner, retro look or raise them for more detail. Portraits and logos look best with fewer colors; landscapes can take more. A smaller pixel width also makes the image easier to color by hand afterwards.