Pixelate Images in Your Browser Pixelate images with adjustable block size for retro effects or privacy masking.

What Is Image Pixelate?

Image pixelation replaces groups of pixels with a single averaged color, creating a blocky, mosaic-like effect. By dividing the image into square blocks and filling each block with the average color of its pixels, the tool produces the classic pixelated look.

Why Use Image Pixelate?

• Adjustable block size from subtle to extreme pixelation
• Privacy protection by pixelating faces and sensitive information
• Retro pixel-art aesthetic for design projects
• Fast client-side processing using Canvas API

Common Use Cases

Privacy Masking

Pixelate faces, license plates, or personal information in photos.

Retro Effects

Create pixel-art-style images with large block sizes.

Thumbnail Previews

Generate pixelated preview thumbnails for content.

Design Assets

Create pixelated backgrounds and textures for web design.

Technical Guide

Pixelation divides the image into blocks of size NxN pixels. For each block, the algorithm calculates the average RGB values then fills the entire block with that color using fillRect. Block size maps from 2px (subtle) to 50px (extreme).

Tips & Best Practices

• 1
  Block size 2-5 creates subtle pixelation, 10-20 for moderate, 30+ for heavy
• 2
  Larger images need larger block sizes to achieve the same visual effect
• 3
  Pixelation is irreversible — original detail cannot be recovered
• 4
  For privacy, use block sizes large enough to make details unrecognizable

Related Tools

Image Blur

Apply box blur to soften images with adjustable radius control.

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Image Posterize

Reduce the number of color levels per channel for a flat, poster-like effect.

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Image Dither

Apply Floyd-Steinberg dithering for retro limited-color effects.

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Image Mosaic

Create tile mosaic effects with customizable tile size and gap.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q Is pixelation reversible?

No, pixelation permanently removes detail. Always keep your original file.

Q What block size should I use for censoring?

Use block sizes of 15+ to make details truly unrecognizable.

Q How is pixelation different from blur?

Pixelation creates distinct blocks; blur creates smooth gradients.

Q Does pixelation reduce file size?

Significantly — fewer unique colors means better compression.

About This Tool

Image Pixelate is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.