I built a browser-based image to pixel art converter (no upload, no account)

I've been working on a small browser tool and wanted to share how it came together.

The problem: turning an image into editable pixel art — for a game sprite, a craft pattern, or a quick mosaic — usually meant installing heavy software or uploading your image somewhere. I wanted a version that runs entirely in the browser.

What I built: PixelArtNow — a free, client-side tool with two focused workflows:

1. Image to Pixel Art — converts an image into an editable pixel grid. You get a 4–32 color auto palette you can replace, paint/erase/pick tools, a grid overlay, and PNG or printable-PDF exports.
2. Pixelate Image — applies a focused pixelation/mosaic to a whole image or a rectangular selection, with adjustable block size.

A few decisions worth noting

• No backend, no upload. All processing happens in the browser. No account, no cloud-save, no image leaves the device.
• Editable output, not just a filter. The grid editor is the point — it's a starting asset for a small raster, a palette study, or a printable reference.
• Honest limits. One image at a time, PNG/JPEG/WebP, up to 15 MiB / 8192 px / 40 MP. The PDF is a printable grid, not a vector or production spec.

Would be happy for feedback on the tool or the write-up.

Try it: PixelArtNow

You can also go straight to the Image to Pixel Art Converter or Pixelate Image Online.