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Discord Avatar Pixel Art

Turn any photo into a Discord-ready pixel-art avatar (PFP): clean edges, strong contrast, and a square export that stays readable at small sizes.

For: Discord users, communities, streamers, and creators

Scenario: You want a consistent retro pixel-art PFP across Discord + social profiles.

In this guide

What makes a good Discord pixel avatar

Discord avatars are displayed very small in many UI places. The goal is readability: a clear silhouette, simple background, and consistent colors.

  • Use 1:1 square crop and center the face/logo
  • Prefer a flat background (avoid busy photos)
  • Keep pixel size slightly larger so details don’t turn into noise

Export checklist (Discord-friendly)

Use this checklist to avoid blur and unreadable results after Discord resizes your image.

  • Export PNG (sharpest) and keep it square
  • Aim for 256×256 or 512×512 output (Discord will downscale cleanly)
  • If it looks soft: use Nearest + increase pixel size

Recommended Settings

  • Square crop (1:1) first; make the face/logo occupy most of the frame.
  • Pixel size 10–14 is usually more readable for Discord than tiny pixel sizes.
  • For photos: Floyd-Steinberg keeps shading; for icons/logos: Nearest keeps edges crisp.

3-step tutorial

  1. Crop for readability

    Use a square crop and keep the face/logo large and centered.

  2. Pick a Discord-friendly style

    Start with pixel size 12; choose PICO-8 for vibrant colors or grayscale for minimal style.

  3. Export & upload

    Download a square PNG and upload it as your Discord avatar.

Example

Discord avatar pixel art example
Example: a simple pixel-art avatar style (demo illustration).

FAQ

Is my photo uploaded to a server?

No. The conversion runs in your browser.

What export size works best for Discord?

Use a square PNG like 256×256 or 512×512. Discord will downscale it cleanly.

Why does my avatar look messy after pixelation?

Increase pixel size (e.g., 12–14) and reduce colors (maxColors 16–32) to improve readability.