Free Illustration Tutorial: How to create a pixel-style portrait

Master the Process of Designing Pixel Art Avatars Using Photoshop

If you've ever wanted to turn a photograph into pixel art, this step-by-step tutorial is the perfect place to start. Pixel art portraits are not only a fun creative exercise but also a great way to design unique avatars for social media, video games, or digital art projects.

In this guide, Jude Buffum, an experienced pixel artist, walks you through the process of creating a perfectly symmetrical pixel art portrait using Photoshop. You’ll learn essential techniques for preparing your image, creating symmetrical designs, selecting color palettes, and using classic pixel drawing tools.

Step-by-Step Highlights:
✔ Straighten your photograph using guides and the transform tool
✔ Mirror and merge layers to ensure perfect symmetry
✔ Master selections with the polygon lasso tool and marquee tool
✔ Reduce color complexity with the posterize tool
✔ Add crisp outlines and block colors for that classic retro video game look
✔ Scale your design properly using nearest neighbor interpolation to keep sharp edges

By the end of the tutorial, you’ll have a polished, pixel-perfect portrait ready to use as a custom avatar. Whether you're an illustrator, gamer, or digital design enthusiast, this technique brings a nostalgic touch to your work.

Ready to bring your pixel art to life? Join Jude Buffum's full course on Domestika and dive deeper into the world of pixel art illustration.