01
Upload a picture
Choose a JPG, PNG, or WebP photo, logo, or drawing. The file is processed in your browser without an account or an upload to Meltbead.
Free online creative tool
Turn an image into pixel art.
Convert a photo, picture, or drawing into crisp pixel art on a real grid. Choose the size and number of colors, touch up individual pixels, and download your result in seconds.
Preview
Your pixel grid starts here
Upload a photo, try a sample, or start drawing on a blank grid. Then download clean pixel art or a gridded reference.
Ready to edit
Start with a pixel art template
Load a small design into the editor, then change its colors or draw over it.
From photo to grid
How to make pixel art from an image
A pixel art converter turns a detailed picture into a much smaller arrangement of colored squares. The grid width controls how much detail survives; the color limit controls how many shades remain. Begin with those two settings, then edit any cells that need a human touch.
02
Choose a pixel grid
Set the width from 16 to 128 pixels. The height follows your image, and each square in the preview becomes one editable pixel.
03
Refine the colors
Lower the color limit, compare dithering methods, then use the brush, eraser, and color picker to clean up individual cells.
04
Export your art
Save a clean PNG for digital use, a numbered grid PNG for a visual reference, or a PDF guide with coordinates and a color key.
Pixel art grid guide
Choose a grid that suits your picture
There is no single best grid size for pixel art. A small grid simplifies a photo into broad shapes; a larger one keeps more of the source image. Pick a size according to the detail you want to keep, then look at the preview before exporting.
16–22 pixels
Bold, simple shapes
Try this range for tiny icons, faces, and symbols with a deliberately chunky look. Start with a clear silhouette; fine details will disappear.
32–45 pixels
A balanced starting point
This gives characters, pets, and simple objects more room while keeping the individual pixels easy to see and edit.
64–128 pixels
More detail from a photo
Use a wider grid when a subject needs finer edges or shading. The result will look less blocky and can take longer to edit cell by cell.
The width setting is measured in pixels, not the size of the exported file. For uploaded pictures, Meltbead calculates the grid height from the image’s aspect ratio. If you need an exact square, start with a square image or create a blank grid.
Better conversion results
Make a photo readable at pixel size
A photo with one clear subject is easier to turn into recognizable pixel art than a busy scene. Choose an image where the subject fills most of the frame. Strong edges and good contrast help when the picture is reduced to only a few dozen cells across.
If the preview looks muddy, increase the grid width before increasing the color count. If it looks noisy, reduce the palette or switch dithering off. Make one change at a time and compare the result.
Color and texture
Use fewer colors with intention
A limited palette gives pixel art its graphic look, but too few colors can flatten shadows and merge nearby shapes. Start with 16 colors for a simple image, then try 32 or more if important features disappear.
Dithering places different colors near one another to suggest shades that are not in the palette. Floyd–Steinberg is a useful first try for photographs. For a logo or cartoon with clean flat fills, turn it off. The other methods let you compare different textures before you download.
Make and edit
A pixel art maker when you want to draw
Converting a picture is only one way to begin. Select New blank grid to make pixel art from scratch, or open a small template to practice. The brush fills one cell at a time, the eraser makes cells transparent, and the color picker reuses a color from your drawing.
The editor is useful for fixing a converted picture too. You can sharpen an outline, remove stray pixels, or adjust a small detail before saving. Changing conversion settings for an uploaded image rebuilds the picture, so finish those settings before doing detailed manual edits.
One grid, different uses
Clean pixels or a grid you can follow.
Choose the clean PNG for an avatar, icon, game asset, or other digital artwork. Each cell is exported as a crisp square, and transparent pixels remain transparent. The Show grid switch changes the preview; the clean PNG stays free of grid lines.
For a project you want to copy by hand, download the numbered grid PNG. It adds row and column references. The PDF guide splits larger designs into readable pages with coordinates and a color key, making it easier to follow on paper.
Making a fuse bead pattern?
This page keeps the colors from your image. It does not tell you which branded beads to buy. For Perler, Hama, Artkal, or MARD color matching, material counts, and pegboard planning, open the dedicated pattern maker.
Open bead pattern makerPixel art help
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn a picture into pixel art?
Upload a JPG, PNG, or WebP, choose your grid width and color limit, then download the converted PNG. A smaller grid makes larger, more obvious pixels.
Can I get a pixel art grid?
Yes. Turn on Show grid to inspect cell boundaries, then download a numbered grid PNG or a PDF guide with coordinates and a color key.
What does dithering do?
Dithering spreads color error across nearby pixels to suggest shades beyond the selected color limit. Try Floyd–Steinberg for photos or switch it off for solid shapes.
What grid size should I use?
Start at 32 pixels wide for a simple subject. Choose 16 for larger, more obvious blocks or 64 and above when the picture needs finer detail. The grid height follows your image’s proportions.
Can I make a 16 × 16 or 32 × 32 grid?
Yes. Pick 16 or 32 for the width. A square source image produces a square grid. For an exact square blank canvas, set the height to match the width under Draw from scratch.
Which dithering method should I choose?
Floyd–Steinberg is a good first try for photographs. Turn dithering off for logos and flat illustrations. Atkinson, Sierra, Stucki, and Burkes give different texture patterns to compare.
What images work best?
Choose a picture with one clear subject, strong contrast, and a simple background. Crop first if the subject occupies only a small part of the frame.
Can I download pixel art with a transparent background?
Yes. Transparent areas in a PNG source remain transparent. You can also try removing connected near-white edges, then inspect the preview to make sure pale parts of the subject remain.
Can I draw pixel art from scratch?
Yes. Choose a grid width and blank canvas height, select New blank grid, and draw with the brush and color picker.
Does this use Perler bead colors?
This converter uses colors from your image. For actual Perler, Hama, Artkal, or MARD color matching and bead counts, use the dedicated bead pattern maker.
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. Image processing and pixel editing happen in your browser. The image is not uploaded to Meltbead.
Is the pixel art converter free?
Yes. You can convert, edit, and download PNG or PDF files without signing up.