Image Pixelate Tool

The Guide to Pixel Art & Censor Effects

The Adiminium Pixelate Tool is a creative utility that downsamples your image resolution to create a blocky, 8-bit aesthetic. Whether you are trying to hide a face in a news report or trying to turn a modern photo into retro video-game artwork, this tool handles the math for you.

Two Main Use Cases

1. Censorship / Redaction: When blurring isn't enough, pixelation is the standard for hiding identity. It is often used to obscure faces, brand logos, or offensive gestures in media. Because it destroys fine detail, it makes identification impossible.
2. Retro / Pixel Art: The "8-bit" or "16-bit" look is a popular design trend. By running a high-res photo through pixelation and then reducing the color palette (in another tool), you can create convincing retro game backgrounds.

How It Works

The tool works by dividing the image into a grid of squares (defined by "Block Size"). For each square, it calculates the average color of all the pixels inside it, and then fills the entire square with that single solid color. This effectively lowers the "spatial frequency" of the image.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Upload: Load your image into the browser.
2. Set Block Size:
   • Small (2-5px): Adds a subtle texture, looks like a low-quality digital download.
   • Medium (10-20px): The classic "Minecraft" look. Objects are recognizable but abstract.
   • Large (50px+): Abstract art. Unrecognizable blocks of color.
3. Download: The tool rescales the image back to its original dimensions (so your 1000px image is still 1000px wide, just blocky) and saves it.

Frequently Asked Questions