Pixel Art for Indie Game UI
Turn UI mockups, icons, or simple shapes into pixel-art UI assets. Focus on readability, consistent pixel grid, and scaling.
For: Indie game developers, UI/UX designers
Scenario: You want pixel UI assets for a retro game or UI prototype.
In this guide
Pixel UI is about readability
UI assets usually contain straight lines and shapes. You want crisp edges and consistent spacing, not photo-like dithering.
- Use Nearest for crisp edges
- Keep pixel size consistent across your UI kit
- Limit colors so text/icons stay readable
Scaling tips (avoid “half pixels”)
Most pixel games scale UI by 2x/3x/4x. If your asset is not aligned to the pixel grid, it will shimmer or blur.
- Export at a clean base size and scale by integers
- Avoid thin 1px strokes if you plan to downscale
- Test in-game at the final resolution
Recommended Settings
- Use Nearest for crisp UI edges (best for buttons/panels/icons).
- Use pixel size 4–8 and keep it consistent across all UI components.
- Prefer fewer colors (maxColors 8–24) for clean UI readability.
3-step tutorial
Start with clean shapes
High contrast icons/buttons convert better than complex photos.
Lock pixel grid & colors
Use one pixel size + a small color set across your UI kit.
Export & test scaling
Download PNG and test at final in-game scale (2x/3x/4x).
Example
FAQ
Why do UI lines look uneven?
Use Nearest and keep pixel size consistent (try 4–6). Also avoid scaling by non-integers.
What palette should I use?
Use grayscale for clarity, or pick a fixed retro palette (PICO-8/NES) for a themed UI.
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