Dot matrix: an image rebuilt from indigo dots on off-white
Dot matrix uses Shapes mode, which divides the image into cells and draws one shape per cell, sized by how dark that part of the picture is. Here the Shape is Dots on a Cell size of 10 with a Gap of 10, in a single deep indigo on warm off-white. Because every dot is a clean circle and not a cluster of pixels, the result looks like a large-format halftone or an LED board, and it holds up well on posters and hero art.
Make it yours
Change the grid resolution
Cell size sets how many dots you get. Go down to 5 for a fine screen that keeps facial detail, or up to 20 for a bold graphic made from far fewer, much bigger dots, which suits abstract backgrounds.
Let the dots touch
A Gap of 10 leaves a sliver of paper between the largest dots. Set it to 0 and dark areas merge into near-solid ink, or raise it to 35 for a lighter, airier image with more paper showing.
FAQ
What is the difference between Dot matrix and the Newsprint preset?
Newsprint is a dither: it works at pixel level with the Halftone screen algorithm, a 1-bit palette and grain, so it looks like a scanned newspaper. Dot matrix draws true circles on a coarser grid in Shapes mode, which gives cleaner edges at large sizes. Pick Newsprint for texture and Dot matrix for a graphic, poster-like result.
How it works
Upload an image
Add a PNG, JPG or WebP up to 20 MB and keep the original ratio or crop to 1:1, 4:5, 3:2, 16:9 or 9:16.
Choose a mode
ASCII with 8 character sets including Braille, Blocks, Binary, Matrix and your own characters; Dither with 14 algorithms; or Shapes with pixels, dots, lines and diamonds.
Style and use it
Set a palette such as 1-bit, Game Boy, Terminal or CGA, add scanlines, bloom or grain, then sign in with a free UX Pilot account to use it on the canvas or export it.