Turn a picture into pixel art.
Choose a pixel size from 1 to 32 px, keep original colors or apply a retro PICO-8, Game Boy, or NES palette, then download a crisp PNG.
Local processing. Canvas edits and previews happen on this device; the selected image is not sent to imgrove. Privacy details
How to use Image to Pixel Art
- Drop an image and pick the pixel size for the retro block effect.
- Choose a palette such as original colors, PICO-8, GameBoy, or NES.
- Download the pixel-art PNG when the preview has the right level of detail.
Best for
- Turning a picture into pixels for avatars or profile images.
- Game jam placeholders and sprite references.
- Checking how a photo reads with retro palette limits.
What you get
- A lossless PNG with hard-edged scaled pixels.
- Optional original, PICO-8, Game Boy, or NES-style palette mapping.
- Preview dimensions showing source pixels and display block size.
Before you download
- This is a pixelation filter, not hand-authored sprite cleanup.
- Very small pixel sizes keep detail but look less retro.
- Transparent input may be flattened by browser canvas behavior.
Common examples
This page covers the "turn picture into pixels" workflow: upload a normal photo, choose how large each pixel block should be, then export a crisp retro PNG.
- Profile picture pixel art. Use 8 px or 12 px blocks for a recognizable avatar that still feels intentionally retro.
- Game jam reference art. Use a small pixel size with PICO-8, Game Boy, or NES-style colors to rough out sprite ideas from a source photo.
- Social post pixel effect. Use larger blocks for a bold before-and-after effect that reads clearly in thumbnails.
Helpful next tools
- Pixelate Image - keep the original image dimensions while adding a privacy or blocky pixel blur.
- Pixel-Color Image - turn the image into averaged color tiles instead of scaled pixel art.
- Image to ASCII - try a text-art version of the same retro visual idea.
- Color Palette Extractor - pull HEX colors from the result for sprite or UI notes.
Questions about Image to Pixel Art
How do I turn a picture into pixels?
Drop the picture, choose a pixel size, optionally choose a retro palette, and download the PNG after the preview looks right.
What pixel size should I use?
Use 4 to 8 px for more recognizable detail, 12 to 24 px for a stronger retro block effect, and 32 px for very coarse thumbnails.
Can I choose a retro color palette?
Yes. The tool supports original colors plus PICO-8, Game Boy, and NES-style palettes.
Is this hand-drawn pixel art?
No. It is a browser pixelation and palette filter, useful for quick avatars, references, and retro effects rather than final hand-authored sprites.
Can transparent images be pixelated?
Transparent pixels are preserved where browser canvas export supports them, but always check the preview before using the result in production assets.