The three ways to make a custom emoji

You can create a custom emoji in three ways: design one from scratch using drawing software, convert an existing image into emoji format, or use an online emoji maker that handles the technical work for you. The route you choose depends on whether you want full creative control, how much time you have, and where you plan to use the emoji.

Custom emoji work best on platforms that support them — Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams, and some messaging apps let you upload emoji to your workspace or server. Standard emoji apps and text messages on phones typically cannot display custom emoji unless you use a workaround like converting it to a sticker or GIF.

Key Takeaways

  • Online emoji makers like Emoji Kitchen, Bitmoji, and Noto Emoji Builder let you create custom emoji without design software, though they limit your creative choices.
  • Drawing software like Photoshop, GIMP, or Procreate gives you full control but requires you to export the finished image as a 128×128 pixel PNG file.
  • Slack, Discord, and Teams all have built-in emoji upload features that let you add custom emoji to your workspace or server once you have the image file.
  • Custom emoji work best at small sizes — they display at 16×16 or 32×32 pixels on most platforms, so simple designs with bold outlines read better than detailed ones.

Using an online emoji maker for quick results

Online emoji makers are the fastest route if you do not have design software. Emoji Kitchen (by Google) lets you combine two existing emoji to create a new one — you pick a base emoji and a second emoji, and the tool blends them together. The result downloads as a PNG image you can upload to Slack, Discord, or Teams. The downside is that you are limited to combinations of existing emoji, so your options are constrained.

Bitmoji creates a cartoon avatar of you based on your photo and preferences, then generates emoji versions of that avatar in different poses and expressions. You sign up, customize your avatar's appearance, and the app generates a full set of emoji you can use across platforms. Bitmoji integrates directly with Slack and some messaging apps, so you can insert them without downloading files.

Noto Emoji Builder (by Google) is a web tool where you draw simple shapes and combine them to create an emoji design. It is more flexible than Emoji Kitchen but still simpler than full design software. You draw on a grid, choose colors, and download the result as a PNG.

Designing from scratch with image software

If you want complete creative control, use drawing software to design your emoji. Photoshop and GIMP (free) both work well — create a new document that is 128×128 pixels, design your emoji on that canvas, and save it as a PNG file with a transparent background. Procreate on iPad works the same way and is often faster for hand-drawn designs.

The key technical requirement is the file size: emoji display at 16×16, 32×32, or 64×64 pixels depending on the platform, so design at 128×128 pixels and let the platform scale it down. This gives you room to add detail without it becoming blurry. Use a transparent background (PNG format) so the emoji blends with whatever color background it sits on.

Keep the design simple — emoji are tiny, so fine lines and small text disappear when scaled down. Bold outlines, solid colors, and recognizable shapes work better than gradients or photorealistic details. Test your design at actual emoji size (zoom out to 25% or smaller in your software) to see how it looks at the size people will actually see it.

Converting an existing image into emoji format

If you have a photo or illustration you want to turn into an emoji, you can resize and convert it. Open the image in Photoshop, GIMP, or any image editor, resize it to 128×128 pixels, crop it to a square, and save it as a PNG. Some online tools like Ezgif and Pixlr let you do this without installing software — upload your image, resize it, and download the result.

This method works best with images that are already simple and bold — a cartoon character, a logo, or a solid-color illustration. Photographs and complex images often look muddy or unrecognizable when shrunk to emoji size. If you are converting a photo, consider converting it to black and white or posterizing it (reducing the number of colors) first to make it read better at small sizes.

Uploading custom emoji to Slack, Discord, or Teams

Once you have your emoji file (a PNG image, usually 128×128 pixels), uploading it is straightforward on most platforms. In Slack, go to your workspace settings, find "Customize Slack," click "Emoji," and select "Upload an Emoji." Choose your PNG file, give it a name (no spaces — use colons or underscores instead), and click "Save." The emoji appears in your workspace's emoji picker and is available to all members.

In Discord, right-click your server name, select "Server Settings," go to "Emoji," and click "Upload Emoji." Choose your file and name it. Discord charges for custom emoji if your server is not boosted, but boosted servers get a certain number of free custom emoji slots.

In Microsoft Teams, open your team, click the three dots next to the team name, select "Manage team," go to "Apps," find "Emoji," and upload your image. Teams custom emoji are available only within that team, not across your organization.

Making emoji that work across platforms

If you want your custom emoji to work outside of Slack, Discord, or Teams, convert it to a sticker or GIF instead. Most messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage) support sticker packs but not custom emoji. You can use tools like Sticker.ly or Zedge to upload your design as a sticker, or convert it to an animated GIF using Ezgif or Photoshop.

For standard emoji that work everywhere, you would need to submit your design to the Unicode Consortium, which maintains the official emoji standard. This is a lengthy process and is not practical for personal use — it is how new emoji get added to phones and operating systems globally. For everyday use, stick with platform-specific custom emoji or stickers.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is designing emoji too large or with too much detail. Remember that your emoji will display at 16×32 pixels in most contexts — fine lines, small text, and subtle shading will disappear. Zoom out frequently while designing to see how it actually looks at real size.

Another mistake is using a background color instead of transparency. If you save your emoji with a white or colored background, it will have a colored box around it instead of blending seamlessly. Always use PNG format with a transparent background.

Finally, do not assume custom emoji will work everywhere. They are specific to the platform you upload them to — a custom emoji in your Slack workspace will not appear in Discord or Teams. If you need the emoji in multiple places, you will need to upload it separately to each platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should my emoji be?

Design at 128×128 pixels and save as a PNG file. Most platforms scale it down to 16×32 pixels for display, so the larger design size gives you room for detail without it becoming blurry. Keep the design simple because fine details disappear at small sizes.

Can I use a photo as a custom emoji?

Yes, but it usually does not work well. Photos and complex images look muddy when shrunk to emoji size. Simple illustrations, logos, and cartoon characters work much better. If you want to use a photo, consider converting it to black and white or reducing the number of colors first.

What file format do I need?

PNG format with a transparent background works on all platforms that support custom emoji. JPG will not work because it does not support transparency. Make sure the background is transparent, not white or colored, so the emoji blends with whatever it sits on.

Can I make animated custom emoji?

Slack and Discord support animated emoji if you upload an APNG or GIF file instead of a static PNG. Photoshop and GIMP can both create animated GIFs. Most other platforms only support static emoji, so check your platform's documentation before spending time on animation.

How do I name my custom emoji?

Most platforms require emoji names to be lowercase with no spaces — use underscores or colons instead (like "happy_face" or "coffee:cup"). Keep names short and descriptive so people can find them in the emoji picker. Avoid special characters other than underscores and colons.