Convert images into Excel art

Creating Excel art from images involves converting a picture into a grid of colored cells that visually represent the original image. This technique uses Excel cells filled with background colors to mimic the pixels of the image, turning the spreadsheet into a mosaic-like artwork.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to convert images into Excel art:

Step 1: Choose Your Image

• Select a simple image with clear shapes and limited colors for best results.

• High-resolution images may need to be resized or simplified.

Step 2: Resize and Simplify the Image

• Use an image editor (Photoshop, GIMP, or online tools) to reduce the image size to something manageable (e.g., 50×50 or 100×100 pixels).

• Optionally reduce the number of colors to simplify coloring in Excel.

Step 3: Convert Image Pixels to Color Codes

You need a way to extract the color of each pixel. You can use online tools or scripts to export the pixel color values in a grid format.

Options:

• Online pixel art converters: Some websites convert images to Excel art or pixel art grids automatically.

• Python Script: If you know Python, you can use PIL (Pillow) to extract pixel colors and output an Excel file using openpyxl.

Step 4: Prepare Excel Sheet

• Open a blank Excel workbook.

• Adjust the column widths and row heights so that each cell is square (e.g., column width 2.5 and row height 15).

• This creates a grid of square cells that resemble pixels.

Step 5: Fill Cells with Colors

• Manually or programmatically fill each cell with the corresponding pixel color.

• Manual: Use “Fill Color” in Excel and select the right color for each cell.

• Automated: Use VBA macros or Python automation to fill cells with pixel colors.

Example: Using VBA Macro to Fill Excel Cells Based on Image Colors

If you want an automated method within Excel, here’s a simplified approach using VBA:

1. Convert your image into a CSV file of hex color codes or RGB values representing each pixel.

2. Import that CSV into Excel.

3. Use a VBA macro to loop through the cells and apply the background color.

vba
CopyEdit
Sub FillCellsWithColors()
    Dim r As Long, c As Long
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    Set ws = ActiveSheet

    For r = 1 To 50 ' Adjust for your pixel rows
        For c = 1 To 50 ' Adjust for your pixel columns
            Dim colorCode As String
            colorCode = ws.Cells(r, c).Value
            If Left(colorCode, 1) = "#" Then
                ws.Cells(r, c).Interior.Color = RGB( _
                    CInt("&H" & Mid(colorCode, 2, 2)), _
                    CInt("&H" & Mid(colorCode, 4, 2)), _
                    CInt("&H" & Mid(colorCode, 6, 2)) _
                )
            End If
        Next c
    Next r
End Sub

Step 6: Fine-tune the Art

• Adjust brightness or contrast if colors don’t show well.

• You can add borders to cells for a pixel grid effect.

Tools & Resources to Automate the Process

• Pixel art to Excel converters online: Search for “image to Excel pixel art converter”

• Python libraries: Pillow for image processing and openpyxl for Excel manipulation.

• Excel VBA Macros: Custom scripts to color cells based on pixel colors.

By following these steps, you can transform any image into an Excel mosaic, creating impressive visual art entirely inside a spreadsheet. Would you like me to help with a Python script or a detailed VBA macro for this?