How to export transparent pixel art PNGs

Keep the background clear and the pixels sharp, at the size you need.

Start with a PNG or WebP that already has a transparent background. This converter preserves transparent and semitransparent areas while reducing the image to a pixel grid. It does not automatically remove a background from a photo.

1. Check the source transparency

The checkerboard in the preview is a viewing aid. It helps you distinguish transparent space from white artwork and never appears in your downloaded PNG. If the source already contains a baked-in checkerboard or solid background, the converter treats that as ordinary image pixels.

Select the transparent sprout example or choose your own file. With Original selected, check that the areas you expect to be transparent show the preview checkerboard.

2. Choose Fit or Crop

Fit preserves the complete source image and centers it in the square grid. A rectangular source gains transparent padding on the shorter dimension. Crop fills the square with the chosen source region and may cut off artwork or a shadow; preview the full result before exporting.

For the sprout example, use 64 × 64, Fit and From image with an 8-color limit. Color reduction changes visible RGB colors, while opacity is preserved during conversion. Partially transparent edges remain partially transparent.

3. Pick the actual download dimensions

Try these settings

Try these settings

Both previews are enlarged on this page to make the pixels visible. The first download contains the native 64 × 64 asset. The second repeats every pixel into an 8 × 8 block, producing 512 × 512 pixels without smoothing. They contain the same composition and colors.

4. Download and place the PNG

Choose Download PNG when the current result is ready. The preview grid and checkerboard are excluded. Place the PNG over a colored surface to check the transparent background and soft shadow.

When resizing in another app, choose nearest-neighbor or an equivalent pixel-preserving setting. Fractional scaling or interpolation can blur the edges even when the original PNG is crisp. Keep a 1× export when you need exact asset dimensions, and use integer enlargements for presentation.

If the background is still visible

Check the original file first. A JPEG cannot supply an alpha channel, and a solid background in a PNG is still a solid background. Remove that background in an image editor before conversion if you need it transparent. Fit adds padding around the source; it does not erase anything inside it.