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.

Game Development

Pixel Art

Retro Graphics

Enhance Your Image

Drag and drop an image here or click to browse

Best for pixel art and low-resolution images

Max 10MB • Up to 2048×2048 pixels • Optimal: ≤1000×1000px

Choose Image

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

ℹ️

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.

What are the file size and resolution limits?

Maximum file size is 10MB and maximum resolution is 2048×2048 pixels. For optimal performance, we recommend images under 1000×1000 pixels. Larger images will take longer to process and may use significant memory.

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.