Step 1 - Crop to the subject
Pixelation throws away detail, so spend the grid on what matters. Crop tightly around the subject and remove background clutter. A square crop is easiest to plan around.
Step 2 - Choose the grid size
The pixel size decides how chunky the art is. Small (2-6px) keeps detail, large (16-32px) gives the classic retro look. For sprites, aim for grids of 16x16, 32x32 or 64x64.
Step 3 - Limit the palette
Set the colour count low - 8 to 24 colours. Lower counts merge similar tones and produce the clean, deliberate blocks that define pixel art. Raise it only if important areas lose their shape.
Step 4 - Export and keep it sharp
Download the PNG and, if you use it in a game or website, scale it with nearest-neighbour filtering so pixels stay crisp. Never resize pixel art with smooth interpolation, which blurs the grid.
- Crop to the subject
- Pick a grid that suits the size
- Use a small palette
- Export sharp, scale with point filtering
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheating to convert a photo?
No. Many artists start from a reference or a converter. Use the converted grid as a base, then clean up stray pixels and adjust colours by hand for a polished look.
What pixel size hides the most detail?
Larger pixel sizes hide more detail. Start at 8-16px for portraits and 16-32px for silhouettes, then adjust until the main shapes read clearly.
How do I remove blurriness?
Make sure the export uses nearest-neighbour rendering and a whole-number output scale. This tool always renders sharp; blur usually comes from later resizing.