Simple Pixel Art

Simple Pixel Art is built on one idea: anyone should be able to make pixel art in seconds. No installation, no account, no learning curve. Open the site, pick a template, remix it — or convert any photo into pixel art with one click. If you want to go deeper, the advanced editor has layers, mirror drawing, selections, and a full palette manager.

The entire Simple Pixel Art platform runs in your browser. Your work saves automatically to local storage when signed out, and syncs to the cloud when you log in with Google.

Pixel art is a form of digital art where images are created and edited at the pixel level — the smallest unit of a digital image. Originating from early video games and computer graphics of the 1970s–80s, pixel art has grown into a beloved creative medium celebrated for its clarity, charm, and nostalgic aesthetic. Every pixel is placed intentionally, giving artists full control over the final result with minimal tools.

Three ways to start with Simple Pixel Art:

• Remix a template. Browse hundreds of pixel arts on the home page and click any one to open it in the editor and make it yours.
• Convert a photo. Use the Image to Pixel Art converter to turn any photo into pixel art with adjustable size and palette.
• Draw from scratch. Open the editor, pick a canvas size from 8×8 up to 64×64, and start painting pixels.

• Choose your canvas size. Beginners should start small — 16×16 or 32×32 pixels is ideal for learning. Larger canvases like 64×64 allow more detail.
• Pick a limited palette. Great pixel art often uses fewer than 16 colors. A constrained palette forces creative decisions and keeps the artwork cohesive.
• Sketch the silhouette first. Block out the shape of your subject before adding details. A strong silhouette makes pixel art readable at any size.
• Add shading with dithering. Pixel artists use dithering — alternating two colors in a checkerboard pattern — to create the illusion of gradients without extra colors.
• Use the mirror tool. For symmetric subjects like characters or icons, enable horizontal mirroring to draw both sides simultaneously.
• Iterate and zoom out. Zoom out regularly to see how your artwork looks at actual size. Details that seem important up close often disappear — simplify where needed.

• Game development — Pixel art is the foundation of countless indie games. Sprites, tilesets, UI elements, and backgrounds are all commonly created in pixel art style.
• NFTs and digital collectibles — Collections like CryptoPunks popularized pixel art as a format for digital ownership and collectibles.
• Avatars and profile pictures — Pixel art avatars are a popular choice for social media profiles, Discord servers, and online communities.
• Animation — Frame-by-frame pixel animation is used in games, web graphics, and social media content to create expressive, retro-style motion.
• Merchandise and print — Due to its clean geometry, pixel art scales perfectly onto clothing, stickers, posters, and enamel pins.
• Education — Pixel art is widely used in schools and coding bootcamps to teach design fundamentals, color theory, and creative thinking alongside programming.