Pixelate Image
Create pixelated/mosaic effects. Adjustable pixel size for retro or censoring effects.
Apply pixelation effects to images with adjustable pixel size. Perfect for creating retro 8-bit style images, privacy censoring, or artistic mosaic effects.
Pixelate Image converts any photo into a mosaic of solid-colored blocks. Upload an image, set the block size with a slider that runs from 2 to 50 pixels, and click Pixelate. The tool walks across the image in steps of your chosen size, samples the color at each step, and fills the whole block with that single color. The result appears side by side with the original so you can compare before downloading.
Block size determines the character of the output. Values from 2 to 6 produce a subtle posterized texture that keeps the image recognizable. The 8 to 16 range gives the classic retro game look, where faces and objects dissolve into chunky abstraction. At 30 and above, the image becomes a pure color grid useful for obscuring content entirely or generating abstract backgrounds. Because the slider value persists between visits, you can process a batch of photos with a consistent setting by uploading them one at a time.
The output downloads as a PNG with "pixelated-" prefixed to your original filename, at the same width and height as the source. All sampling and block filling happens on a canvas inside the page, so the photo is never sent to a server. Very large images take a moment longer since each block requires a pixel read, but typical phone photos process in a couple of seconds.
- 1
Select an image
Click the upload area and pick a JPG, PNG, or WebP file. It loads into the page and shows in the Original panel.
- 2
Choose a block size
Drag the slider between 2 and 50 pixels, then click Pixelate Image. The mosaic version renders next to the original for comparison.
- 3
Download the result
Click the download button to save a PNG at the source resolution, named with a pixelated- prefix on your original filename.
Retro game aesthetics
Turn a portrait or landscape photo into 8-bit style artwork for a game jam asset, Discord avatar, or chiptune album cover.
Quick whole-image censoring
Pixelate an entire screenshot at block size 30 or more so no text remains readable, before sharing it as a teaser.
Abstract backgrounds
Process a colorful photo at a large block size to produce a mosaic texture for slide decks or website hero sections.
Guessing games
Create a heavily pixelated version of a movie still or album cover for a 'guess the image' quiz round.
Does the image get uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read directly into the page and pixelated on an HTML canvas using local pixel sampling. The network is not involved at any point, so the tool also works offline once the page is loaded.
What block size should I use?
For a subtle texture use 2 to 6. For the classic retro look use 8 to 16. To make content unrecognizable use 30 to 50. The side-by-side preview lets you re-run the effect at different sizes until it looks right.
Does pixelating change the image dimensions?
No. The output keeps the exact width and height of the source. Only the detail changes: each block of pixels is replaced by one flat color sampled from that block's position.
Can I pixelate only part of the image?
This tool applies the effect to the whole image. For selective regions, the Photo Censor tool on this site lets you drag rectangles and pixelate, blur, or black out only those areas.
What format is the download?
Always PNG, regardless of the input format. PNG is lossless, so the flat color blocks stay perfectly crisp instead of picking up JPG compression noise around the edges.