Pixel art — the retro 8-bit and 16-bit art style of early video games — has never been more popular as an aesthetic choice for modern design, social media content, NFTs, and creative projects. Converting photos to pixel art or creating original pixel illustrations is increasingly accessible with online tools. At imgresizr.com, you can create pixel art images from photos or create original pixel compositions, for free.
Pixel Art Sizes
| Style | Pixel Dimensions | Display Size |
|---|---|---|
| 8-bit (classic) | 16×16 to 64×64 | Upscaled 10–20× |
| 16-bit (SNES era) | 64×64 to 128×128 | Upscaled 5–10× |
| Modern pixel art | 128×128 to 512×512 | At actual size |
How to Create Pixel Art at imgresizr.com
Upload your photo or start with a blank canvas in imgresizr.com. To create a pixelation effect from a photo, use the Filters tool to apply the Pixelate or 8-bit filter — this reduces the image to visible block pixels. Adjust the pixel block size for the desired resolution: small blocks give a high-resolution pixel art look, large blocks give the classic chunky 8-bit appearance. For original pixel art creation, use the Resize tool to set a very small canvas (32×32px or 64×64px) and use the drawing tools to place individual pixels. Then use the Enlarge tool to scale up without anti-smoothing — this preserves the crisp, blocky pixel edge characteristic of true pixel art. Export as PNG to preserve sharp pixel edges — JPEG compression blurs pixel boundaries.
Pixel Art Tips
- Limit your colour palette to 8–16 colours for an authentic retro feel — pixel art constraints are part of the aesthetic
- Always export as PNG — JPEG compression destroys the crisp pixel edges that define the style
- Upscale pixel art at integer multiples (2×, 4×, 8×) to avoid anti-aliasing blurring
- Profile pictures in pixel art style are distinctive and memorable on social media
- Pixel art NFTs (CryptoPunks et al.) established pixel art as a viable collectible art form — the market remains strong
Create pixel art images from photos or from scratch, free at imgresizr.com.