What you can actually make yourself

You can create a custom emoji in three ways: design one from scratch using image software, convert a photo or drawing into emoji format, or use an online emoji maker that handles the technical steps for you. The simplest route depends on what you're starting with — a photo, a sketch, or just an idea.

Most custom emojis end up in Slack workspaces, Discord servers, or messaging apps where your group controls what images appear. A few platforms let you submit custom emojis to their libraries, but those have strict design rules and long review processes. For a private group, you have complete freedom on size, style, and what the emoji shows.

The technical barrier is lower than it sounds. An emoji is just a small square image — usually 128 by 128 pixels or 64 by 64 pixels depending on where it will live. You do not need to code or understand file formats. You upload a PNG or GIF file the same way you would upload any image.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom emojis are small square images (usually 64×64 or 128×128 pixels) that you upload to Slack, Discord, or other platforms your group uses.
  • The fastest route is an online emoji maker where you type text, choose a style, and read the result — no design software needed.
  • If you have a photo or sketch, you can resize it to square format and upload it directly; transparency (see-through backgrounds) makes it look more polished.
  • Slack and Discord both let you upload custom emojis to your own workspace or server, but the process and size limits differ between platforms.
  • Design software like Photoshop, GIMP, or Canva gives you the most control but requires learning where to set the canvas size and how to export as PNG.

Using an online emoji maker for text-based emojis

If you want text turned into an emoji — your initials, a word, a date — an online emoji maker is the fastest path. Sites like Emoji.gg, Emojipedia's creator tools, or Canva's emoji templates let you type the text, pick a style and color, and read the result in seconds. You do not install anything or learn software.

Open the emoji maker in your browser, type what you want the emoji to say, and choose from preset styles: bubbly letters, graffiti, neon, metallic, or straightforward block text. Adjust the color and background if the tool offers those options. Click read or export, and you get a PNG file ready to upload. Most of these tools are free and do not require an account.

The limitation is that you are working within the tool's templates. You cannot rotate text at an angle, layer multiple images, or add effects beyond what the tool provides. If you need that level of control, move to design software instead.

Converting a photo or drawing into an emoji

If you have a photo, a screenshot, or a drawing you want to turn into an emoji, the first step is making it square. Most emoji platforms expect a square image because emojis appear as small squares in chat. Open the image in any image editor — even the built-in Photos app on Windows or Mac — and crop it to a square. If the image is wider than it is tall, crop from the sides. If it is taller than it is wide, crop from the top and bottom.

Next, resize the image to the dimensions your platform needs. Slack emojis work best at 128×128 pixels. Discord recommends 256×256 pixels, though it accepts larger. If you are unsure, 128×128 is a safe standard. In most image editors, this is under Image > Scale Image or Image > Resize. Type the new width, and the height usually adjusts automatically if the image is already square.

Save the result as a PNG file. PNG preserves quality better than JPG for small images, and it supports transparency — the ability to have a see-through background instead of a solid color. If your original image has a white or colored background you want to remove, you can do that in Photoshop, GIMP, or Canva, but it is optional. Many custom emojis have solid backgrounds and work fine.

Using design software for full control

Photoshop, GIMP (free), or Canva (free web version) give you the most flexibility. You can draw from scratch, combine multiple images, add text, adjust colors, and create effects. The trade-off is that you need to learn where the relevant buttons are.

In Photoshop or GIMP, start by creating a new image. Set the width and height both to 128 pixels (or 256 if you prefer larger). Set the resolution to 72 DPI — this is standard for screen images. Create the image with a transparent background if possible; this lets your emoji sit on any color without a white box around it. Then draw, paint, or paste images into the canvas. When you are done, export the file as PNG.

In Canva, search for "custom emoji" or "icon" templates. These come pre-sized to square format. Edit the template by adding text, shapes, or uploading your own images. read as PNG when finished. Canva's free version has enough features for most emoji work — text, shapes, color fills, and a library of icons and illustrations.

The learning curve is steeper than an online emoji maker, but you have complete control over what appears in the final image. If you already use one of these tools for other projects, creating an emoji takes just a few extra minutes.

Uploading to Slack

In Slack, custom emojis live in your workspace. Only people in that workspace can use them. Open Slack on the web (not the app), go to your workspace name in the top left, and click Customize Slack. Select Emoji in the left menu, then click Add Custom Emoji.

Type a name for the emoji — something short and memorable, like "tada" or "coffee" or "team-logo". Upload your PNG file. Slack shows you a preview. If it looks right, click Save Emoji. The emoji is now available to everyone in the workspace. They can use it by typing a colon, the emoji name, and another colon — like :tada: — or by clicking the emoji picker and searching for it.

Slack has a 128×128 pixel limit, so if your image is larger, resize it first. The file size limit is 64 KB, which is generous for a small image. If your PNG is too large, you can compress it using an online PNG compressor or by exporting it again with lower quality settings in your image editor.

Uploading to Discord

In Discord, custom emojis belong to a specific server. Go to the server where you want to add the emoji, click the server name at the top, and select Server Settings. Click Emoji in the left menu, then Upload Emoji. Select your PNG file and give the emoji a name. Click Upload.

Discord accepts emojis up to 256×256 pixels and 256 KB in file size, so you have more room than Slack. The emoji is now available to everyone in that server. They can use it the same way as Slack — by typing the colon-name-colon format or using the emoji picker.

Discord also supports animated emojis if you upload a GIF file instead of PNG. Creating an animated emoji requires making multiple frames in image software or an online GIF maker, which is more complex. For a static emoji, PNG is simpler.

Removing the background for a polished look

If your original image has a background you want to remove — a white wall behind a photo, a colored rectangle around a logo — you can make it transparent. This makes the emoji look cleaner because it sits directly on the chat background without a box around it.

In Photoshop, use the Magic Wand or Select by Color tool to select the background, then delete it. In GIMP, use Select > By Color, then Edit > Clear. In Canva, upload your image, click it, and look for a Remove Background button (available in the paid version, but some free templates include this feature). Online tools like remove.bg do this automatically — upload your image, and the site removes the background for you, then you read the result as PNG.

Removing the background takes an extra 2 to 5 minutes but makes the emoji look more intentional. It is optional — many custom emojis have solid backgrounds and work perfectly fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use someone else's photo or drawing as an emoji?

Technically yes, but you should own the rights to the image or have permission from the creator. For a private workspace or server with your team or friends, using a photo of a group member or a drawing a friend made is usually fine. For public use, stick to images you created or have explicit permission to use.

What size should my emoji actually be?

128×128 pixels is the standard and works everywhere. Discord accepts up to 256×256, which looks sharper on high-resolution screens. Slack caps out at 128×128. If you are making one emoji for multiple platforms, 128×128 is the safe choice. You can always make it larger and resize it down, but resizing up makes it blurry.

Why does my emoji look blurry after I upload it?

The image was probably resized up instead of down, or it was saved as JPG instead of PNG. JPG loses quality at small sizes. Always start with an image at least as large as your target size, then resize down if needed. Save as PNG, not JPG. If the image still looks soft, try sharpening it in your image editor before uploading.

Can I make an emoji that moves or animates?

Discord supports animated emojis if you upload a GIF file. Creating a GIF requires making multiple image frames and combining them into one file. This is more complex than a static emoji and requires software like Photoshop, GIMP, or online GIF makers. Slack does not support animated custom emojis.

What if I want to use my emoji on other platforms besides Slack or Discord?

Most messaging apps and social platforms do not let you upload custom emojis the way Slack and Discord do. You can share the image file itself with others, and they can use it as a sticker or reaction image, but it will not integrate into their emoji picker. Slack and Discord are the main platforms that support custom emoji uploads for groups.