CrispKit Files stay on your device

Image to Pixel Art

Convert any picture to pixel art. Set the pixel size, let the tool pick the colours or use a retro palette (Game Boy, PICO-8, NES), add dithering, and check it with a grid. Save a sharp PNG at any scale, or a grid pattern with a colour list for beads, cross-stitch or building block by block.

  1. 1Choose an image
  2. 2Set pixels and colours
  3. 3Download

1Choose an image

or drop an image here, or paste one with Ctrl/Cmd+V

No image yet

    Your image never leaves your device. It is converted in your browser. We count visits and finished downloads (tool name only) with analytics that sets no cookies.

    2Set pixels and colours

    Pixels
    8 px
    Colours

    16
    3Download

    How to convert an image to pixel art

    1. Choose your image. Drop it on the box above, paste it, or press Choose image. Photos, drawings and logos all work.
    2. Set the pixel size. Move the slider: a bigger pixel size means fewer, chunkier pixels. The size of the result (for example 64 × 48 pixels) is shown under the preview.
    3. Pick the colours. "Auto" finds the colours that fit your image best; choose how many. Or use a fixed palette such as Game Boy or PICO-8 for a retro look.
    4. Add dithering if you like, then download a PNG at the size you want, or a pattern sheet.

    Settings explained

    • Pixel size: each art pixel is the average colour of a square of your image. A pixel size of 8 turns a 640 × 480 picture into 80 × 60 pixels.
    • Auto palette: groups the image's colours into the number you choose (k-means clustering). The same image and settings always give the same result.
    • Preset palettes: Game Boy uses the 4 greens of the bgb emulator's default palette; PICO-8 uses the console's 16 fixed colours; NES uses a common 55-colour list (real NES colours vary by TV and emulator). Hex values are from Lospec's palette list.
    • Dithering: mixes two palette colours in a dot pattern so that, from a distance, you see a shade in between. Floyd–Steinberg looks smooth and grainy; ordered (Bayer) gives the regular checker look of old games. With few colours, dithering keeps gradients and faces readable.
    • Transparent areas stay transparent, so a logo on a clear background keeps its clear background.

    Crisp, upscaled PNGs

    A 64 × 48 pixel picture is tiny on screen, and most apps blur small images when they enlarge them. Choose a PNG size such as ×10 and each art pixel is saved as a solid 10 × 10 square, with nearest-neighbour scaling, so the edges stay sharp wherever you post it. Pick ×1 to get one pixel per art pixel for a game sprite or an editor.

    Pattern for beads, cross-stitch or block building

    "Download pattern" saves a sheet with every pixel drawn as a cell, grid lines (a thicker line every 10 cells), row and column numbers every 10, and a list of the colours with how many cells of each. Use it to plan fuse beads, cross-stitch or a pixel build by hand. The colours are screen colours; match them to your bead or thread brand by eye.

    FAQ

    How do I turn a picture into pixel art?

    Choose the picture, move the pixel size slider until it looks right, pick a palette, and press Download pixel art. Bigger pixel sizes and fewer colours look more like classic pixel art.

    What pixel size should I use?

    For a sprite or icon, aim for 32 to 64 pixels across. For a recognisable portrait, 64 to 128 across works well. Watch the size shown under the preview while you move the slider.

    Why does my pixel art look blurry in other apps?

    Apps smooth small images when they enlarge them. Download at a bigger PNG size (×8 or more), so the file already has sharp, square pixels.

    Is this AI?

    No. It averages blocks of pixels and reduces the colours with plain maths. Nothing is invented or redrawn, and the same settings always give the same picture.

    Can I use a Minecraft palette?

    Not yet. Block colours change between game versions, and we only add a palette once we have a source we can cite.

    Does this tool upload my image?

    No. Your image is opened and converted by your browser on your own device and is never sent to a server. You can check: open your browser's developer tools, go to the Network tab, and use the tool. The page counts visits and finished downloads (tool name only) with analytics that sets no cookies, and no image data is ever sent (see privacy).

    More free tools