Hands-on workshopBeginner5 min

Turn a photo into pixel art

Resample real images or AI renders down to an editable pixel grid with the color count you choose.

You finish with

A pixel-sized, color-capped version of your image, ready to edit.

01What you will learn

Choose the grid before limiting the palette.
Compare the converted image with the original.
Refine the outline and transparency after conversion.

Start with: A PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF or BMP image with a recognizable subject.

02See the technique

What gets in the way

A detailed image reduced to a tiny grid can lose its subject, while too many similar colors leave a muddy result.

The useful change

Set a grid that preserves the main shape, reduce the palette until color regions read clearly, then edit the edges by hand.

03Follow the steps

1
Drop the image in
PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF and BMP all work. The height follows the original aspect ratio, so a landscape photo will not come out squashed.
Open the converter
2
Set the pixel width first, then the colors
Width decides the grid (everything is resampled to it); the color count decides how “pixel art” it reads. 32 colors is a good default, 8 is poster-like, “auto” keeps the image's own colors.
Fewer colors and smaller grids hide messy sources. Use them.
3
Compare side by side before committing
The preview shows source and result together. If the subject disappears, raise the width; if it looks muddy, lower the color count. Re-apply costs nothing — nothing uploads.
4
Edit what conversion cannot fix
Send it to the editor to reclaim clean outlines and transparency. Conversion gets you pixels; editing gets you an asset.
Edit in pixel editor

04Practice in Pikanim

Open a tool, follow the steps with your own asset, and come back when your result is ready.

Image to Pixel Art Pixel Art Editor

05Check your result

Compare your own work with these checkpoints. Check each one when your result is ready.

The main subject still reads at the chosen pixel size.I compared more than one color limit and chose a clear result.I sent the conversion to the editor and saved an editable project.

0 of 3 checked

Progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

06Continue learning

Next workshop

Clean edges, alpha and palettes

The editor habits that separate an asset from a drawing: hard edges, honest alpha, and a palette you control.

Your saved projects

Pick up the asset you made and keep building.

03Follow the steps

Drop the image in

PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF and BMP all work. The height follows the original aspect ratio, so a landscape photo will not come out squashed.

Open the converter

Set the pixel width first, then the colors

Width decides the grid (everything is resampled to it); the color count decides how “pixel art” it reads. 32 colors is a good default, 8 is poster-like, “auto” keeps the image's own colors.

Fewer colors and smaller grids hide messy sources. Use them.

Compare side by side before committing

The preview shows source and result together. If the subject disappears, raise the width; if it looks muddy, lower the color count. Re-apply costs nothing — nothing uploads.

Edit what conversion cannot fix

Send it to the editor to reclaim clean outlines and transparency. Conversion gets you pixels; editing gets you an asset.

Edit in pixel editor