Turn an Image Into Pixel Art
Upload a picture and convert it into pixel art in seconds. Tune the resolution, color count and palette, preview the result side by side with the original, then refine every pixel in the editor.
Turn Pictures Into Pixel Art
Create pixel art from your pictures in seconds. Edit every pixel, animate it, and download your creation.
🔒 Your pictures never leave your device. Everything runs in your browser.
Sakura
Made with PixiMelon · Upload. Pixelate. Edit. Animate. Download.
Turn your picture into pixel art
Upload a picture and create pixel art in seconds.
Drag & drop your picture here
or
PNG · JPG · WEBP · SVG · PDF · AI — you can also paste an image (Ctrl/⌘ + V)
Create New Pixel Art
Pick a canvas size to start drawing.
Animate Pixel Art
Pick a canvas size to start animating.
Turn your video into pixel art
Upload a video and create a pixel art animation in seconds. Everything runs on your device.
Drag & drop your video here
MP4 · WebM · MOV — processed locally, never uploaded
Processing frame 1 / 1
How the converter works
- Upload. Drag & drop a picture, pick a file, or paste an image from the clipboard (Ctrl/⌘ + V). PNG, JPG, WEBP, SVG, PDF and AI files are accepted.
- Pick a resolution. Presets from 32 to 256 px, or any value from 16 to 2048 with the slider. Bigger numbers keep more detail; smaller numbers look more retro.
- Pick colors. From 2 to 64 colors, with presets at 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64.
- Refine. Edit any palette swatch, pick replacement colors straight from your picture, or reset to automatic colors.
- Send to the editor. One click loads the result into the full pixel editor for manual cleanup.
Every option, explained
- Pixel resolution — the approximate longest side of the pixel art. The preview shows the exact output size (for example 64 × 48).
- Colors — fewer colors flatten the image into bold shapes; more colors preserve gradients and detail.
- Palette — click a swatch to recolor it, use “Pick from picture” to sample the original, or “Auto” to recompute.
- Dithering — Floyd–Steinberg diffusion that simulates extra shades with dot patterns. Lovely for gradients, noisy for flat cartoon art. See the dithering guide.
- Sharp pixels — disables smoothing for hard edges and flat colors. Best for images that are already pixel art. It turns dithering off because the two conflict.
- Grayscale — collapses the palette to gray tones in one click.
- Transparent background — keeps real transparency and drops near-white backgrounds, handy for sprites and stickers.
- Brightness, contrast, saturation — hidden under “More options”; fix washed-out or dull photos before converting.
- Preview zoom — the Original and Pixel Art views zoom and pan together so you can compare detail.
Export formats
Name your project once — the name becomes the downloaded filename. Still images download as:
- PNG at native canvas size (1×) with transparency preserved.
- SVG as true vector rectangles (always 1 unit per pixel, infinitely scalable).
- PDF as vector rectangles on a page sized to your art.
Conversions are capped at 2048 px on the longest side so the browser stays responsive, and very large SVG exports ask for confirmation first.
What it is good for
- Turning photos into game sprites, avatars and profile pictures.
- Converting logos and illustrations into pixel-style icons and stickers.
- Drafting color palettes: convert, then steal the generated palette for hand-drawn work (see palettes).
- Preparing a base to finish by hand — automatic conversion plus ten minutes in the pixel editor beats either alone. The full workflow is covered in how to turn a picture into pixel art.
Honest limitations
- PDF and Illustrator files contribute only their first page, rasterized locally.
- Password-protected PDFs cannot be opened — remove the password or export PNG/SVG instead.
- Near-white removal in transparency mode can eat legitimately white details; toggle it and compare.
- Very noisy photos convert into speckles — lower the color count or enable Sharp pixels first.
Frequently asked questions
Which image formats can I convert?
PNG, JPG, WEBP and SVG images load directly. PDF and Illustrator (.ai/.eps) files are rasterized locally and their first page is converted. Password-protected PDFs are the one case that cannot be opened.
What is the maximum size?
The longest side is capped at 2048 px. For pixel art that is plenty — most sprites land between 32 and 256 px.
Why does dithering sometimes look worse?
Dithering adds dot texture to fake extra shades. It helps smooth gradients and hurts flat areas. Turn it off for cartoon art, or switch on Sharp pixels for hard edges.
Can I fix individual pixels after converting?
Yes — press “Edit Pixel Art” and the result opens in the full editor with layers, palette and undo. You can also send finished art to the animator.
How do I get a transparent background?
Enable “Transparent Background”. It keeps the alpha channel of PNGs and removes near-white backdrops, which is ideal for sprites and stickers.
How do I convert a flat logo or cartoon?
Use few colors (4–8), switch Sharp pixels on and dithering off: hard edges and flat fills suit graphic art best.
Why do the colors differ from my photo?
Quantization merges similar tones until only your color count remains. Recolor any swatch by hand or sample the original with “Pick from picture”.
What resolution suits sprites versus portraits?
32–64 px for sprites and icons, 96–128 px or more for portraits and scenes — detail first, simplification second.