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Complete Tutorial

Master the art of pixel art conversion with our step-by-step guide

📚 Tutorial Sections

đŸ‘ļ Beginner Guide 📈 Intermediate Tips đŸŽ¯ Advanced Techniques 🔧 Troubleshooting

đŸ‘ļ Beginner Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Image

Start with a simple, high-contrast image for your first conversion. Avoid very busy or noisy backgrounds.

Best image types for beginners:
  • Logos and simple graphics
  • Photos with clear subjects
  • High-contrast artwork
  • Images under 2MB for faster processing
💡 Pro Tip: Start with square images (1:1 ratio) as they're easier to work with and look great as pixel art.

Step 2: Upload Your Image

  1. Click the upload zone or drag your image file
  2. Wait for the image to load in the preview
  3. Check that the image looks correct
  4. The conversion will start automatically
ℹī¸ Note: Processing happens in your browser - your images never leave your device!

Step 3: Use Default Settings First

For your first conversion, use the default settings:

  • Pixel Size: 8px (good balance of detail and cost)
  • Scaling: Nearest Neighbor (sharp pixels)
  • Dithering: Off (simpler result)
✅ Success Tip: You can always adjust settings and re-process if needed!

Step 4: Download Your Pixel Art

Once you're happy with the result:

  1. Click "Download PNG" to save the image
  2. Or use "Copy to Clipboard" for quick sharing
  3. Check the statistics panel for cost estimation

📈 Intermediate Tips

đŸŽ¯ Optimizing Pixel Size

Pixel size dramatically affects both quality and cost. Here's how to choose:

1-4px: Ultra Detail

Best for small, detailed images. Very expensive in droplets.

8-16px: Balanced

Sweet spot for most images. Good detail, reasonable cost.

32px+: Stylized

Creates artistic, simplified pixel art. Very cost-effective.

🔧 Understanding Scaling Methods

Nearest Neighbor

Creates sharp, blocky pixels. Perfect for logos, text, and existing pixel art.

Bilinear

Smooths out details. Good for photographs and gradients.

Lanczos

Highest quality but slower. Best for detailed artwork and professional results.

✨ When to Use Dithering

Dithering adds controlled noise to create smoother color transitions:

✅ Use Dithering For:
  • Photographs with gradients
  • Sunset/sky images
  • Skin tones and faces
  • Smooth color transitions
❌ Avoid Dithering For:
  • Sharp logos and text
  • Simple graphics
  • High-contrast images
  • When you want clean pixels

đŸŽ¯ Advanced Techniques

🤖 Mastering AI Optimization

The AI Optimization feature analyzes your image and suggests optimal settings:

  1. Upload your image first
  2. Click "🤖 AI Optimize Settings"
  3. Review the AI's recommendations
  4. Apply settings or modify as needed
  5. Compare results with different settings
đŸŽ¯ Advanced Tip: Use AI optimization as a starting point, then fine-tune based on your artistic vision!

🔄 Batch Processing Workflow

Process multiple images efficiently:

  1. Switch to "Batch Process" mode
  2. Test settings on one representative image
  3. Upload all images at once
  4. Apply the tested settings to all
  5. Download as ZIP file
💡 Batch Tip: Group similar images together for consistent results across your collection.

💰 Cost Optimization Strategies

Strategy 1: Pixel Size Optimization

Start large (32px) and work down until you find the minimum acceptable quality.

Strategy 2: Preprocessing

Simplify your image beforehand - reduce colors and smooth gradients in an image editor.

Strategy 3: Smart Cropping

Focus on the most important part of your image to reduce overall pixel count.

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues & Solutions

❌ Image Won't Upload

  • Check file size (must be under 50MB)
  • Ensure file format is supported (PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG)
  • Try refreshing the page and uploading again
  • Check your internet connection

âŗ Processing is Very Slow

  • Increase pixel size for faster processing
  • Switch to "Nearest Neighbor" scaling
  • Disable dithering temporarily
  • Close other browser tabs to free up memory
  • Try a smaller image or crop the original

🎨 Colors Look Wrong

  • This is normal - Wplace has only 64 colors available
  • Try enabling dithering for smoother gradients
  • Adjust your original image's contrast/brightness
  • Consider the lighting in your original photo

💾 Download Not Working

  • Check your browser's download settings
  • Try "Copy to Clipboard" instead
  • Disable popup blockers temporarily
  • Try a different browser

🆘 Still Need Help?

If you're still having issues, here are your options:

📚 Check FAQ 🐛 Report Bug 📧 Email Support

🎉 You're Ready to Create!

Now that you've mastered the techniques, start creating amazing pixel art!

🚀 Start Converting Now