1. Upload or paste
Start from a product icon, sketch, photo, mockup, or game asset. The browser samples it into a square sprite grid.
Free photo to pixel art converter
Turn a photo into editable pixel art
Upload a photo, picture, or image as PNG, JPG, or WebP and turn it into a clean palette-indexed sprite. Pick a size, extract or lock a palette, preview the grid, then export or keep editing in Palettely Studio.
- Free 16x16 to 256x256 conversion
- Palette extract or remap
- PNG, SVG, JSON, CSS, Tailwind exports
Conversion controls
Free toolPhoto conversion and every export are free
Convert 16x16 through 256x256 in your browser, use every export format, and continue in Studio without spending credits.
- Free: 16x16 to 256x256 browser conversion, palette controls, and editable Studio handoff.
- Free exports: PNG, SVG, JSON, CSS variables, and Tailwind theme output.
- Credits are only used by the separate AI pixel art generator, not this photo converter.
Editable pixel preview
Upload to previewYour converted pixel art appears here with crisp nearest-neighbor rendering.
Export or keep editing
Download production files immediately, or send the editable grid to Studio for manual cleanup.
Studio keeps the palette and grid editable, so you can fix single pixels instead of rerunning a filter.
Workflow
How the converter works
The converter does more than blur a photo into square blocks. It builds a palette-indexed grid that can keep moving through the rest of Palettely.
2. Choose size and palette
Use 16x16 for icons, 32x32 and 64x64 for sprites, or 128x128 and 256x256 for richer reference art.
3. Export or edit
Download PNG/SVG/JSON/CSS/Tailwind, or open the grid in Studio to fix edges, simplify shapes, and save your work.
Editable output
Why use Palettely instead of a simple filter?
Most image-to-pixel tools stop at a flattened preview. Palettely keeps the output structured so designers and game makers can keep working.
Palette lock
Extract colors from the image or force a known palette such as Game Boy, PICO-8, NES, Tomodachi, Forest, Ember, or Mono.
Editable grid
Every pixel remains a palette index, which makes cleanup, recoloring, and remixing predictable in Studio.
Production exports
Export visual files and developer-friendly formats from the same source grid without rebuilding the sprite elsewhere.
FAQ
Image to pixel art FAQ
Is this photo to pixel art converter free?
Yes. All sizes from 16x16 through 256x256, palette controls, Studio handoff, and PNG, SVG, JSON, CSS, and Tailwind exports are free. Credits are only used by the separate AI generator.
Can I edit the converted pixel art?
Yes. Use the Edit in Studio button to open the converted grid in Palettely Studio with the palette preserved.
Which sizes should I use?
Use 16x16 for icons, 32x32 for compact sprites, 64x64 for character or prop detail, and 128x128 or 256x256 when you need richer source art.
Does it support custom palettes?
The converter can extract a compact palette from your image or remap the image to built-in Palettely palettes.