Free Pixel Art Enhancer
Professional pixel art enhancement using the HQX algorithm. Designed specifically for game sprites, retro graphics, and low-resolution artwork — not AI-powered enhancement. Get crisp 2x, 3x, and 4x scaling while preserving the original art style.
Your Art Stays Private
All image enhancement happens directly in your browser using WebAssembly. Your sprites and artwork never leave your device, perfect for unreleased game assets.
How It Works
Upload Your Art
Select your pixel art, game sprites, or low-resolution graphics
Choose Enhancement
Select 2x, 3x, or 4x scaling based on your needs
Download Enhanced Version
Get your enhanced art with crisp edges and no blur
Pixel-Perfect Features
HQX Algorithm
Industry-standard algorithm designed specifically for sprite and artwork preservation
Multiple Scales
Choose 2x, 3x, or 4x scaling to match your project requirements
No Blur
Maintains sharp pixel edges without interpolation artifacts
Real-Time Preview
See results instantly with side-by-side comparison
Game Ready
Perfect for enhancing sprites for HD game remasters
Retina Display
Create high-resolution versions for modern displays
Who Uses Pixel Art Enhancement?
Game Developers
- •Enhance retro game sprites for HD remasters
- •Create multiple resolution assets from single sprites
- •Prepare pixel art for high-DPI displays
Digital Artists
- •Scale artwork for print and merchandise
- •Create wallpapers from small retro art pieces
- •Preserve art style while increasing resolution
HQX vs AI Enhancement
Not an AI Tool
This tool uses the classic HQX algorithm, not artificial intelligence. It's designed specifically for pixel art and retro graphics, preserving the original artistic style without adding AI-generated details.
HQX Algorithm (This Tool)
- ✓Perfect for sprites and retro graphics
- ✓Preserves original artistic style
- ✓Deterministic, consistent results
- ✓Works offline in browser
- ✗Not suitable for photos
AI Enhancement Tools
- ✓Excellent for photographs
- ✓Adds details and textures
- ✓Handles complex images
- ✗May alter pixel art style
- ✗Requires server processing
HQX vs Traditional Scaling
Method | Edge Preservation | Color Accuracy | Best For |
---|---|---|---|
HQX (Our Tool) | Excellent | Perfect | Pixel art, sprites |
Nearest Neighbor | Perfect | Perfect | Simple scaling |
Bilinear | Poor | Good | Photos |
Bicubic | Poor | Good | Natural images |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HQX algorithm?
HQX (HQ2x, HQ3x, HQ4x) is a specialized enhancement algorithm specifically designed to enlarge low-resolution artwork while preserving sharp edges and the original artistic intent. It's widely used in game emulators and remasters.
What type of images work best?
HQX is specifically designed for pixel art with clear, sharp edges. Best results: game sprites, 8-bit/16-bit art, icons, and graphics with distinct pixel boundaries. Not ideal for: photographs, anti-aliased images, or images with smooth gradients.
Can I use this for game sprites?
Absolutely! This tool is perfect for game sprites. It preserves the pixel-perfect nature of your art while scaling it up for HD displays. Many indie developers use HQX scaling for creating HD versions of retro-style games.
Will it work with anti-aliased images?
HQX works best with crisp artwork that has clear edges. Images with anti-aliasing or gradients may not scale as cleanly. For best results, use it with traditional retro graphics that have distinct pixel boundaries.
How is this different from AI enhancement?
Unlike AI enhancement tools that use machine learning to add detail, HQX is a deterministic algorithm designed specifically for retro artwork. It preserves the original artistic style without adding artificial details or changing the artistic intent.
Technical Specifications
Algorithm Details
- • HQ2x - 2x enhancement (doubles dimensions)
- • HQ3x - 3x enhancement (triples dimensions)
- • HQ4x - 4x enhancement (quadruples dimensions)
- • Edge detection and preservation
- • Color interpolation
- • Pattern recognition
- • Anti-aliasing for diagonals
Technical Limitations
- • Input formats: PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF
- • Output format: PNG only
- • File size limit: 5MB
- • Optimal for images ≤ 500×500px
- • Single image processing only
- • Transparency preserved (PNG)
- • Browser-based processing
- • No server upload required
Continue your image optimization workflow with these related tools
Apply retro color palettes to your upscaled pixel art
Optimize your upscaled images for web use
Convert to modern formats like WebP or AVIF