guide

How to Make Pixel Art Online — Free (2026)

By Rui Barreira · Last updated: 18 June 2026

Create pixel art for free at Brevio's Pixel Art Maker — a 16×16 grid with a 16-color palette plus a custom color picker, right in your browser with no download required.

How to Make Pixel Art

  1. Choose a color from the palette or use the custom color picker for any shade.
  2. Click a grid square to paint it with the selected color.
  3. Click and drag across multiple squares to paint them in one stroke.
  4. Click Download PNG to save your artwork as a high-resolution PNG file.
  5. Click Clear to start over with a blank white canvas.

Tips for Great Pixel Art

Start with a rough outline using a dark color, then fill in large areas before adding details. Pixel art relies on deliberate color choices — limit yourself to 4–8 colors per piece for a cohesive look. Use contrasting colors for outlines against fills (e.g. dark blue border on a light blue object). Avoid pure black outlines in every case — matching the outline color to a darker shade of the fill creates a softer, more professional look.

What is Pixel Art?

Pixel art is a digital art form where images are created and edited at the pixel level, typically on small grids. It emerged from early video games of the 1970s–80s (Atari, NES, SNES) where hardware constraints limited resolution. Today, pixel art is a deliberate aesthetic choice — indie games like Celeste, Stardew Valley, and Undertale use it intentionally for its charm and nostalgia. Modern pixel art often uses larger canvases (64×64, 128×128), but the 16×16 grid is perfect for learning the fundamentals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is the canvas?
The canvas is 16×16 pixels. The downloaded PNG is exported at 20× scale (320×320 pixels) so it's crisp and clear.
Can I use my own colors?
Yes. Click the color picker (last button in the palette row) to choose any custom color.
Is the artwork saved automatically?
No. Download your artwork before leaving the page — unsaved work is lost on refresh.
Is this tool free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is the canvas?
The canvas is 16×16 pixels. The downloaded PNG is exported at 20× scale (320×320 pixels) so it is crisp and clear.
Can I use my own colors?
Yes. Click the color picker (last button in the palette row) to choose any custom color.
Is the artwork saved automatically?
No. Download your artwork before leaving the page — unsaved work is lost on refresh.
Is this tool free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up required.
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How to Make Pixel Art Online — Free (2026) | brevio