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Free image to Arcade sprite tool

MakeCode Arcade Image Converter

Turn your own pictures into pixel art for MakeCode Arcade. Choose a size, inspect the 15-color preview, and copy an image literal or a complete sprite creation statement.

  • Free, no account
  • Images stay on your device
  • 15 colors + transparency

Choose or drop an image

PNG, JPEG or WebP. Up to 10 MB, 4096 px per side and 16 million source pixels.

Output: 1-256 pixels per side. These are this tool's processing limits, not MakeCode platform limits. Changing settings clears the previous result.

Default Arcade palette (dot = transparent, f = opaque black)

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How to use the MakeCode Arcade image converter

  1. Choose a PNG, JPEG or WebP image you own or have permission to use. Small icons and clear silhouettes work best.
  2. Try a 16 x 16 or 32 x 32 sprite, fit to the 160 x 120 game screen, keep the original size, or scale by a factor. Adjust transparency and convert.
  3. Copy the generated code into your project's JavaScript tab. The default output creates a Player sprite; use image-only output to replace an existing image expression.

From an image to a MakeCode Arcade sprite

This converter samples pixels with nearest-neighbor resizing and matches each opaque pixel to the nearest visible default palette color using squared RGB distance. The preview and exported code use the same pixel indices. No dithering or custom palette is applied.

MakeCode Arcade image converter FAQ

Why does my sprite have fewer colors?

Arcade images use 15 visible colors and a transparent entry. Photographs lose shading during conversion. A custom palette in your project will change how the exported indices look; use the default project palette to match this preview.

Is black the same as transparency?

No. A dot represents transparent index zero, while f is opaque black. With transparency enabled, alpha values at or below the cutoff disappear. With it disabled, pixels and padding are blended onto your chosen background before color matching. White JPEG backgrounds are not automatically removed.

Are images uploaded or saved?

Conversion runs locally in your browser without an account. Images are not uploaded or saved by this tool. Refreshing clears your work, so keep the original and save your generated code.

Official MakeCode Arcade image and palette documentation

Unofficial tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft. MakeCode Arcade is a Microsoft product.