How to Pixelate an Image in Canva

Today we are going to have some fun as you learn how to pixelate an image in Canva. Creating content has never been easier with Canva. One of the many tools available is the option to pixelate an image. Use this technique for sneak peaks of product launches or just fun social media content creation.

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You are also welcome to create your own designs with one of the many awesome Canva Graphics that Design Bundles has to offer.

Step 1 - Import the Design you Want to Pixelate

On the Canva homepage, click on the Create a Design button in the top right corner. At the bottom of the menu, click on Import File.

Scroll down until you see Images and then click on the uploaded design. In the new window, click on Use in a design.

Your design will open in a new project window where you will be able to edit it.

Step 2 - Pixelate the Image in Canva

At the top toolbar, click on Edit Image to open the settings on the left-hand side. Scroll down until you see the Pixelate app. If you have never used the app before, you will be asked if you want to make use of it.

Next, make sure that the design is selected and click on one of the filter options. We clicked on Pixel to give the traditional look found in the old pixel games. When you click on one of the filters, you will see the settings icon pop up. These are the controls that adjust how big or small the pixels are.

Click on this to open the settings and adjust the pixelation of the image. Increasing the number of horizontal and vertical pixels will define the pixels further and make them smaller.

A great product launch strategy is to engage your audience with a tease reveal, week by week, of what will soon be released. You would decrease the pixels so the design is barely recognizable.

As you slowly reveal your product, you would adjust the pixels to keep followers guessing. Click Apply at the bottom left corner to commit to the changes. If you compare the image from above to the one below, you can see that there is quite a difference.

A pixelated image is also a very creative way of making a design that resembles stitch craft. Create retro looks, designs for gaming stickers, t-shirts or party decorations. Pixelation is another option for obscuring a portion of an image without affecting the entire design.

Step 3 - Pixelate Part of a Design in Canva

You can easily pixelate part of a design by using the crop function. To do this we need to duplicate the original design. Right click the design and select Duplicate.

Click + drag the duplicate over the original and center it by using the horizontal and vertical guidelines.

Make sure to select the image first, and then apply the pixelation effect that you want. Next, click + drag in the left side handle on the image and repeat on the right side.

The duplicate image that has been pixelated will be cropped and the original image will be revealed.

There are so many amazing content ideas where pixelation can be used in your creative design process. We hope that this Canva tutorial has been fun to follow and will inspire your future creative ideas and projects.

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