How to Convert an Image to Pixel Art with ASCII, Dither, Halftone & LEGO Effects
"Pixel art" covers a wide range of looks — from 8-bit game sprites to newsprint halftone to ASCII terminal art. In Ditther, you can convert any image to any of these styles in the browser, without setup. This video tutorial walks through four distinct approaches and explains when each one gives the strongest result.
Four ways to convert an image to pixel art
Each approach treats "pixel art" differently. Dither breaks the image into noise patterns. ASCII maps tones to characters. Halftone uses repeating dot geometry. LEGO builds the image from coloured blocks. The right choice depends on what you want the final image to feel like.
Effect
Dither / Bayer
Replaces smooth tones with ordered pixel noise. The closest thing to classic Game Boy and retro console style. Works well on portraits and anything with strong tonal contrast.
Effect
ASCII
Converts the image to text characters arranged by brightness. Dense, readable, and very legible when the subject has clear tonal structure. Characters animate in Ditther.
Effect
Halftone
Maps tones to repeating dot patterns like a print screen. Less "lo-fi game" and more "vintage magazine" — good for subjects where you want the image to feel printed.
Effect
LEGO
Builds a block-by-block approximation of the image in LEGO stud colours. Works best on high-contrast, colourful subjects. The most graphic and toy-like of the four approaches.
Choosing the right approach
If you want the image to feel digital, gritty, or retro game-like — Dither is the place to start. The ordered pattern breakup is immediately recognisable and pairs well with duotone and scanline effects.
If you want the image to feel typographic or terminal-style — ASCII converts the whole subject to characters. It works especially well on portraits, where you can still clearly read the face through the character grid.
If you want the image to feel printed, editorial, or screen-printed — Halftone is the right frame. The dot geometry brings a magazine or poster-print quality that the other effects don't have.
If you want the image to feel toy-like, geometric, or maximally colourful — LEGO gives you the most graphic result. It works best on bold subjects with clear colour separation.
Combine with Duotone
Pairing Duotone with any of these pixel effects collapses the image into two dominant tones before the effect renders. This is particularly effective with Dither and Halftone, where the two-colour palette makes the pixel structure much cleaner and more graphic.
After the conversion
Each effect is a starting point, not a final output. In Ditther, you can combine any of these with text layers, shape overlays, gradient backgrounds, and composition — building a finished poster, cover, or social graphic rather than just an effect pass.
The Pixel Art effect is a separate approach that works differently from the four above — it simplifies the image into larger block shapes, making it look more like a low-resolution console screenshot. Worth exploring if none of the four above give you the right feel.
Upload any image and switch between effects in real time. No account needed to start.
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