PixelPass

What happens to your picture

1. It is laid on a grid: at pixel size 2, each new pixel covers 2 × 2 of the original.
2. Each cell splits into a light and a dark half, and the larger half gives the pixel its colour, so edges stay sharp. A small half that stands out, like a lit window, wins instead.
3. Contrast and saturation get a small lift, then the palette is picked from the picture, or you choose a fixed one.
4. Smooth gradients get an ordered dither; edges get one solid colour.
5. Stray single pixels blend into their surroundings, unless they stand out like a star.

Is it real pixel art?

In format, yes. Every pixel sits on the grid in one of a few palette colours, so it scales up crisp at any whole multiple.

In craft, no. An algorithm placed the pixels, so busy areas keep some speckle an artist would clean up. Treat it as a strong starting point.