TOOL OVERVIEW
We at Ethicoin have launched a free online tool that allows anyone to convert standard digital images into retro-style pixel art, entirely within a web browser — no downloads, installations, or technical knowledge required.
Our new Ethicoin NFT Art Generator is designed to make pixel art creation accessible to everyone, whether for fun, social media, or as a stepping stone into the NFT space. With a minimalist red-and-black interface inspired by early computer terminals, the tool brings together nostalgia and modern web technology.
Simple, Streamlined Workflow
Users begin by uploading images in formats like JPG or PNG. A live preview appears as soon as an image is selected, providing immediate visual feedback.
At the heart of the tool is the “How Pixelated?” slider, which lets users control the resolution of the final artwork. Internally, this slider adjusts the size of a temporary image used during processing — lower values produce a highly pixelated effect, while higher values retain more detail. The selected pixelation level is clearly displayed for reference.
When users click “Generate Pixel Art,” JavaScript code executes directly in the browser using HTML5 Canvas. The uploaded image is first scaled down to the slider-defined resolution, then enlarged to a standard size of 1080x1920 pixels. To preserve the crisp, blocky aesthetic of pixel art, we disable the browser’s default image smoothing during upscaling.
The result is a vertical-format PNG image — ideal for story content, digital art displays, or NFT-style visuals — which appears below the editor, ready for download via the “Download Your NFT” button. Filenames are automatically generated based on the original image and pixelation setting.
Sharing to Unlock More
To encourage sharing and broader reach, we’ve integrated a “share gate” mechanism. After generating three images, the generator temporarily locks. To continue, users are prompted to share the page via WhatsApp. This is tracked using localStorage — no personal data is collected. Once three shares are registered, the generator unlocks again, and the count resets.
Not Just for NFTs — But NFT-Ready
Although we call it an "NFT Art Generator," the tool does not mint NFTs directly. Instead, it outputs pixelated images in a style and format popular with NFT creators and collectors. Those wishing to mint their artwork as NFTs can do so using third-party platforms.
This project reflects our ongoing mission at Ethicoin: to create tools that empower digital creativity while remaining lightweight, user-friendly, and decentralised in spirit. The generator runs entirely on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — no data is sent to our servers.
We're excited to see what users create with it.
