The short definition
Pixel art is digital art where the individual pixels are large enough to see and are placed by hand. Unlike a small photo, where detail is simply lost, pixel art uses the grid as the medium - shapes, shading and anti-aliasing are all controlled at the pixel level.
Where it came from
8-bit and 16-bit consoles had tiny amounts of memory and few colours, so artists worked in strict grids and limited palettes. When hardware improved, some artists kept the style because it reads clearly at small sizes and has a distinctive, nostalgic feel.
Why limited palettes matter
The hallmark of good pixel art is a small, consistent palette. Fewer colours force clean shapes and strong silhouettes, and they make a set of sprites look like they belong together. A palette of 8-32 colours covers most styles.
Pixel art vs low-resolution photos
A downscaled photo is not pixel art - it is a blurry photo. Pixel art has hard edges, deliberate colours and clean shapes. Converting a photo is a good starting point, but the result only reads as pixel art once the grid is coarse enough and the palette limited enough.
- Visible square blocks, no blur
- A small, deliberate palette
- Shapes that read at a glance
- Consistent grid across a set