8-bit pixel art converter
Turn a photo into chunky retro pixel art. Drag the slider for how blocky you want it, and pick a classic palette — like the four greens of an original Game Boy — for the full 8-bit look. It all happens in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
How it works
Two things create the classic 8-bit look, and this tool does both. First it pixelates: the image is shrunk down to a small grid and blown back up, so each little block becomes one chunky pixel. The bigger the pixel size, the blockier and more retro the result. Second, it can reduce the colours: old consoles and computers could only show a handful of colours at once, so mapping your photo onto a limited palette is what really sells the vintage feel.
The palettes
"Original colours" keeps your photo's own colours and just pixelates them. The Game Boy palette maps everything to the four shades of green that the 1989 handheld could display. 4-shade grey gives a monochrome, early-handheld look. CGA and NES-ish reduce the image to small retro colour sets reminiscent of early PCs and consoles. Try a few — different photos suit different palettes.
Tips for a good result
Photos with a clear subject and good contrast pixelate best; very busy images can turn to mush at large pixel sizes. Start around the middle of the slider and adjust to taste. The result downloads as a PNG, which keeps the hard pixel edges crisp — exactly what you want for pixel art. And as with every tool here, your photo never leaves your device.