About this tool
Pixelate a photo into retro art: the image is shrunk so each block of pixels becomes one, the colors are reduced to a limited palette, and the result is scaled back up with hard edges. Pick a palette taken from the image itself, or classic hardware palettes like the Game Boy's four greens, PICO-8's sixteen colors, or CGA.
Dithering trades smooth gradients for a grainy, authentic 8-bit texture; leave it off for clean flat areas. Output at the original size for sharing, or at the true pixel dimensions if you want a sprite to edit further, and pair it with the pixel art upscaler when you need it bigger again.
Everything happens inside your browser. Your file is never uploaded to a server: the conversion runs on your own device using WebAssembly, and the result is downloaded straight from memory. Close the tab and nothing is left behind.
How to use it
- Drop your PNG files into the box above, or click to browse. Nothing is uploaded.
- Adjust the options if you want; the defaults suit most files.
- Click the button and wait a moment.
- Download the results individually or all at once as a ZIP.
Frequently asked questions
What pixel size should I use?
8 for a portrait or a detailed photo, 16 or larger for a bold, chunky look. Smaller blocks keep more detail.
How do I make a sprite for a game?
Choose a small block size, a palette, and the true pixel size output, then clean it up in a pixel editor.
Is transparency preserved?
Yes. Transparent areas of a PNG stay transparent.
Is this really free?
Yes. The site is supported by ads, and there are no limits on how many files you convert.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. The converter runs entirely in your browser. Files stay on your device, which also makes it faster than upload-based converters for anything larger than a few megabytes.
Is there a file size limit?
The only limit is your device's memory. Images and audio of any normal size are fine; for video, files under about 500 MB work well on most laptops and phones.
Which browsers are supported?
Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari on desktop and mobile. Very old browsers without WebAssembly support will not work.