Free, runs in your browser

Image to Pixel Art Converter

Turn any image or photo into pixel art. Pick the size and the number of colors, add an outline if you want one, and download a crisp PNG. Nothing gets uploaded.

Image to pixel art

How to turn a picture into pixel art

  1. 01

    Drop your image

    A photo, a drawing or a screenshot. Crop close to the subject first for the cleanest result.

  2. 02

    Pick size and colors

    Smaller sizes and fewer colors look more like classic pixel art. 64 pixels and 16 colors is a good start.

  3. 03

    Download the PNG

    Take it at its real size for a game, or at 8x to print it or use it as a building or stitching guide.

Converting a photo vs drawing it as pixel art

A converter shrinks the image and cuts down its colors, so every pixel still follows the photo. That works well for avatars, patterns and quick mockups. For a game sprite you usually want the subject redrawn with clean shapes and an outline, and that's what SpriteCook's AI does with the same photo.

Photo of Appa, a fluffy dog, sitting
The photo
Appa redrawn by SpriteCook as an animated pixel art game character
Redrawn and animated in SpriteCook
Turn a photo into a spriteAI pixel art generator

More free pixel art tools

AI pixel art fixer

Already have blurry pixel art? Snap it back to a clean pixel grid.

Pixel art background remover

Clear a flat background on whole pixels, with hard edges.

Pixel art outline generator

Add an outline in any color, thickness and corner style.

Free pixel art sprites

Animated characters, icons and props you can use in your game.

Frequently asked questions

Is the image to pixel art converter free?+
Yes. It runs in your browser with no signup, and your image never leaves your device.
What size should I pick?+
For a game sprite, 32 to 64 pixels wide is the usual range. For a portrait or a scene, 96 to 160 keeps more detail. Smaller sizes look more like classic pixel art but lose small features first.
How many colors should I use?+
Fewer colors look more like hand-made pixel art. 8 to 16 works well for sprites, 32 for photos you want to recognise. Off keeps every color the shrink produced.
Can I use it for Minecraft builds, cross-stitch or crochet patterns?+
Yes. Pick a small size and a few colors, then turn on Grid to count the blocks or stitches one by one. Download the PNG at 8x to print it or keep it open while you build.
Why does my result look blurry or noisy?+
Busy photos turn into busy pixel art. Crop close to the subject, use an image with a plain background, lower the color count, and turn on Clear background if the background is one color.
What is the difference between this converter and AI pixel art?+
The converter shrinks your image and reduces its colors, so the result follows the photo pixel by pixel. SpriteCook's AI redraws the subject as pixel art instead, with clean shapes and an outline, and can animate it for a game.