PNG is the best format for pixel art, sprites and screenshots stored as BMP because it keeps every pixel exactly and compresses flat colours very well. Convert with BMP to PNG, and avoid JPG, which smears hard pixel edges.
This guide covers converting, checking and scaling these images.
On this page
Key takeaways
- PNG keeps hard pixel edges exactly; JPG blurs them.
- Old game and app assets are often BMP; PNG is the modern equivalent.
- Scale pixel art by whole numbers with nearest-neighbour resampling.
- Screenshots shrink dramatically as PNG.
Steps shown in the video
- Click Choose BMP Files and select your BMP images
- Each file is listed with a preview and its size
- Click Convert to PNG
- Download your PNGs (several come as one ZIP)
Why not JPG?
JPG compresses in 8 × 8 blocks and smooths sharp transitions, leaving faint noise around single-pixel lines and text. In pixel art every pixel is deliberate, so that noise is visible. PNG stores pixels exactly.
Converting a set of sprites
- 1
Collect the .bmp files and add them to the BMP to PNG tool.
- 2
Convert and download the ZIP; file names are kept.
- 3
Spot-check a few sprites at 400 percent zoom to confirm the edges.
Scaling pixel art without blur
Enlarge pixel art by whole numbers (2×, 3×, 4×) using nearest-neighbour resampling in an editor, so each pixel becomes a clean block. Ordinary smooth resizing blurs it.
Learn more
Why PNG is smaller with no loss is explained in BMP to PNG lossless compression. For photos, use BMP to JPG.
Game mods and old engines
Some older games and engines load textures only as BMP. If you are modding such a game, keep the BMP versions for the game itself and use PNG copies for editing, sharing and archiving. When you are done, export back to BMP in an image editor for the game to read.
Screenshots for documentation
PNG is the standard for software documentation and support articles because text stays crisp. After converting, crop away irrelevant parts with Crop Image and, if the images are for a website, consider a WebP copy via PNG to WebP for faster loading.
Palettes and colour counts
Classic pixel art often uses a small palette, sometimes 16 or 256 colours. PNG stores such images compactly and keeps every colour exactly. If you later need an even smaller file, a PNG optimiser can convert the image to an indexed palette without changing any visible colour.
Pixel art and BMP: FAQ
What is the best format for pixel art?
PNG, because it is lossless and compresses flat colours well.
Why does my pixel art look blurry as JPG?
JPG compression smooths hard edges. Use PNG.
How do I enlarge pixel art?
Scale by whole numbers with nearest-neighbour resampling.
Can I convert many sprites at once?
Yes. Add them together and download a ZIP.
How do I make the magenta background transparent?
Remove that colour in an image editor after converting to PNG.
Can I convert PNG back to BMP?
Yes, with an image editor's export function, if a program requires BMP.
Are screenshots better as PNG or WebP?
PNG for documents and editing; WebP for faster websites.
Will PNG change my sprite colours?
No. PNG is lossless and keeps every colour exactly.
Can I convert a whole folder of sprites?
Yes. Add them all and download a ZIP with the same file names.
What resolution should I use for pixel art exports?
Keep the original pixel size as the master. For sharing or display, scale by whole numbers, such as 4× or 8×, with nearest-neighbour resampling so each pixel stays a crisp square.
Every pixel, exactly
PNG is the natural home for pixel art and screenshots. Convert BMPs once and keep them crisp for good.
