Pixel arts are a more contemporary kind of art that require completely different tools and skills. Popularized through the old-school video games of the 80s, pixel art is now one of the best and sought out kinds of modern art. With technology for image processing taking leaps ahead, anyone can enjoy and generate pixel art. All you need is a pixel art generator and a few images of your choice.
If you are simply a pixel art enthusiast, you can use a pixel art generator from photo tool for experiments. However, these applications are so well-versed with the art form that they can create image to pixel art good enough for other purposes too, such as marketing, content creation, etc. For instance, you can create a character and convert that image to pixel art for a new perspective.
Additionally, we provide here 3 best ways to help you enlarge pixel art images, including Vance AI Image Enlarger, Let’s enhance, and Gigapixel AI.
Best 10 Pixel Art Generators 2021
1. Pixel-me
Price: This AI pixel art generator is absolutely free to use.
Similar to art itself, pixel art too can be taken into any direction. In this case, the pixel art generator from Pixel-Me focuses on profile pictures. So, users can upload a picture of themselves, a selfie perhaps, and convert it to pixel form. Other than that, this online application is also available on Android and iOS as a mobile app.
- Click on the link to access the website. Scroll below and upload an image.
- For the next step, choose the pixel size that you want and start processing.
- After the image is ready, download it.
Pros:
Great UI design.
Multiple platforms.
Easy to use.
Cons:
Takes time to process.
Works best when the image contains only the face.
Mobile apps need improvement.
2. PixelArt
Price: This is a free to use pixel art maker from image application online.
If you are a user who is interested in not only generating pixel art but also into making it from scratch, then this pixel maker app should definitely be on your list. The application provides users with a comprehensive editor that has simple tools such as pencil, bucket, brush, eraser, etc. You can use these to make your own pixel art and save it as PNG, GIF, etc.
- Use the link above to access the tool and it will take you directly to the editor mode.
- You can use any of the tools to draw out a pixel art. You have tools such as brushes, background colors, and a lot more.
- After that, simply click on Save Drawing on the top right to save the image.
Pros:
Easy to use.
Free to use.
Saves work online too.
Cons:
Might be difficult for beginners.
No automatic process.
Saving as a GIF is tedious.
3. Pixel Art Maker
Price: The pixel art maker application is completely free to use.
This application is similar to the previous one since it also offers the user with an editor that they can use for creating pixel arts from scratch. This time the editor is a much simpler one, however, for it only has the basic editing tools such as pencil tool, fill color tool, etc. You can also drop images onto the editor.
- Access the tool using the link given.
- Once there, start using the tools or drop an image onto the editor. You can use the tools to create and edit pixels.
- Use the Save button on the left sidebar to save your work on your device.
Pros:
Quick to load and responsive UI.
Easy to use.
Free to use.
Cons:
No automatic process.
Takes time to create pixel art.
The tools of the editor are limited.
4. Minecraft Art
Price: This is a pixel art generator online application completely free to use.
Derived from the world-famous video game Minecraft, this pixel art generator app is perfect for those who want to create the kind of pixel art that resembles the video game’s aesthetic and style. Since Minecraft is also basically pixel, you can choose in-game textures to create your own pixel art. Before that, it makes a pixel form of your uploaded image anyway.
- Go to the website by using the link and click on Go to Editor. Upload an image. Proceed ahead or use the crop feature if your photo exceeds the resolution limitations.
- If you prefer the original pixel form, download it. Otherwise, you can use the tools given to further edit the image.
- Download the image by using the Save as PNG option on top.
Pros:
Popular application.
The Minecraft art style and aesthetic.
Free to use.
Cons:
Limitations on the upload image.
Only converts characters well.
Not enough editor tools.
5. Piskel
Price: Piskel is a pixel art generator online which is free to use.
A great advantage of having Piskel is that you can use it on multiple platforms without worry. This application is available online as well as on popular operating systems such as Linux, MacOS, and Windows. Therefore, you don’t always need a network to work with this app if you have it installed. It also offers an editor mode for editing pixel art.
- Use the link and get to the home page. Click on Create Sprite to access the editor mode.
- Use the editing tools given to create a pixel art.
- Use the Save option on the right to download the image on your device.
Pros:
Popular online tool.
Free to use.
Sprite creation.
Cons:
Editor tools are limited and basic.
Takes time.
Accounts are being deleted due to issues.
6. Pixelator
Price: This image to pixel art generator tool is free to use as long as it is not used commercially. For commercial use of your art, there are payments involved.
Pixelator is a multi-purpose application that can be used for generating pixel art works as well as for creating pixel art. The editor itself is a simple one, as it merely lists all of the features on the left hand side and all the user has to do is use the slider bars. This tool is downloadable from the website.
- Download the app from the bottom of the page and install it.
- Open the app and use the features for generating pixel art.
- Download the work.
Pros:
Generate and create pixel art.
Free to use.
Quick processing.
Cons:
Takes time to learn the application.
Only works well on face images.
Could use more features.
7. DinoPixel
Price: DinoPixel allows you to make pixel art for free with its editor.
DinoPixel is a cool online website that enables users to make pixel art through its editor mode, wherein you can use tools such as pencils, brushes, color fill, etc to make your own pixel art. When it comes to the editor, it has a feature called ‘mirror’ which can be really helpful for creating art. It creates two lines instead of one simultaneously. So, you could easily draw one side of a face while the other side is drawn automatically.
- Use the link to access the tool and start the editor.
- Draw and design your pixel art by using the tools provided on the left sidebar.
- Use the Download option on the right to save the image.
Pros:
It is easy to use.
Responsive and quick application.
The mirror feature is really useful.
Cons:
Not an automatic pixel art generator.
Could use more features.
Could have better UI design.
8. Pixel It
Price: This is a free to use pixel art generator online application.
This is an image to pixel art generator application which automatically converts your photos in the style of a pixel art. Also, with this tool you can choose different styles of pixel art works according to your preference. You can either simply convert the image to a grayscale themed pixel art or choose from the color palette a bunch of other color styles. You can also set the max height and width of the output as well as the block size.
- As you can see from the image, first you need to use the upload function to upload an image.
- After that, use the settings given to make changes as per your needs and hit the Download Image button.
- Download the image after it is done processing.
Pros:
Quick processing.
Free to use.
Good enough settings.
Cons:
Grayscale is a hit or miss.
Could use more colors.
Doesn’t work too well with drawn out images.
9. Aseprite
Price: This is a paid application but you can use the free trial to test it out.
Aseprite is an amazing pixel art generator application that contains a wide range of features specifically made for sprites and pixels. This is one of the few tools that you can use to animate your art as well. Aseprite is compatible with Windows, Ubuntu, and MacOS. You can color your pixels, animate them, work in multiple layers like Photoshop, and more with Aseprite.
- Use the link above and access the website. Click on the Trial Version if you want to use it for free right now.
2. Download and Install the tool. Launch the application and use the editor to create pixel art.
3. Save the file through the File or Open option.
Pros:
One of the best tools for pixel art.
Lightweight app.
Processes images quickly.
Cons:
Limited free use.
No automatic pixel art.
Not suitable for beginners or casual users.
10. Photoshop
Price: You can get a free trial of seven days from the official website of Adobe Photoshop.
As anyone would know, Photoshop is probably the most famous editing tool. One of the reasons being that it can basically do anything with visuals, including making pixel art. Photoshop, in a few simple steps, can enable users to make pixelated forms on top of images. Therefore, you can easily open an image in Photoshop and apply pixelation.
- Launch the application, open the image, and go to Filter to apply the Smart Filters on the image.
- Go to Filters and choose the Mosaic option from the Pixelate feature. Use it to apply pixelation to anywhere on the image you want.
- Save the work through the File tab on the top left bar.
Pros:
Detailed application.
Reliable features.
You can pixelate anywhere.
Cons:
Limited free use.
It takes some time to understand Photoshop.
Results can vary.
Related article: Top 10 AI Tools to Depixelate Image
How to enlarge pixel art with Best 3 ways?
1. Vance AI Image Enlarger
In cases where you already have a pixel art but want to enlarge it without losing quality, use Vance AI Image Enlarger, one of the image enhancers from Vance AI.
- Click on the link given and access the website. Click on Upload Image.
- Use the upload box to upload an image. After that, use the Start to Process option.
- Go to the Processed tab and use the Preview button on the right side of the image. Click on Download Image to save the image.
2. Let’s Enhance
Let’s enhance is another web-based tool to help you enlarge your pixel art images for different purposes. It also offers different AI solutions to automatically enhance the photo quality.
- Access the website. Note that you may only use this tool after signing in.
2. Upload your image
3. Choose the upscale type, size and other features that you want to apply to your image
3. Gigapixel AI
If you prefer the software solution, Gigapixel AI shall be your best choice with the best performance.
- Download the software to your devices
2. Upload your image into this software
3. Enlarge photo
FAQs
1. What is pixel art?
Pixel art is a form of art that has only become popular recently, thanks to the boost of video games and personal computers. Back when video games were just starting out, they looked exactly like the pixel art figures we see now. That’s what inspired the art form. Pixel art always contains figures and elements made out of pixels of 8-bit format.
2. How do I turn a picture into pixel art?
You can easily turn a picture into pixel art by using any of the online tools mentioned in this list that generate pixel art. Tools such as Pixel It and Pixel-Me are the way to go for automatic pixel art. These applications merely require you to upload an image. They will create pixel art out of the image and display the results to you.
3. How to create pixel art online?
Given the efficiency and great design of pixel art applications, you can now create pixel art online without thinking twice. Simply access any of pixel art creator websites such as DinoPixel and start using the tools provided to create pixel art online. After you are done, you can download your work as an image.
4. How to create pixel art in Photoshop?
While Photoshop is an amazing and comprehensive image editing tool, you can’t create pixel art from scratch with it. What you can do instead is to upload a drawing or painting you have already made and use Filters. The Filters option has the Pixelate feature that allows you to pixelate any part of your image. Use it to pixelate the image and make it a pixel art.
Conclusion
With the list concluded, you can see that this list contains all kinds of pixel art applications you’d want. There are two main ways of getting a pixel art: Either through automatic pixel art generation or through applications that provide you with an editor for you to make pixel art on your own. The type of tool you use depends on your personal preference. Other than that, you can use other tools such as Photoshop to simply mark the pixels over an already created art work or use Vance AI to enlarge a pixelated image. Read more at https://medium.com/@topten.ai
