You can make emojis on your computer using design software, but the method depends on what you want to do with them

Making emojis means creating small graphics, usually square and 64 to 128 pixels wide, that work like the ones built into your phone or messaging app. If you want emojis only for yourself — to use in documents, Discord servers, or Slack workspaces — you can draw them in any design tool and export them as PNG files. If you want to distribute them widely or use them across devices, you will need to understand Unicode, font files, and platform submission, which is more involved. Most people start with the first route: drawing in software you already have or can learn quickly.

Key Takeaways

  • Personal emojis for Slack, Discord, or documents need only a design tool and a PNG export — no coding or font knowledge required.
  • Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, and free tools like Krita or Pixlr all work; choose based on whether you draw by hand or design on screen.
  • Emoji size matters: 64×64 or 128×128 pixels works for most platforms, and you should test on the actual platform before finalizing.
  • If you want emojis on iPhone or Android system-wide, you will need to build a font file or submit to the Unicode Consortium, a process that takes months or years.
  • Animated emojis (GIFs or WebP) work in some apps like Discord but not others; check your platform's documentation before spending time on animation.

Design tools that work for emoji creation

Photoshop and Illustrator are the industry standard. Photoshop is faster for pixel-based emoji (raster graphics) if you work with a tablet or mouse; Illustrator is better if you want clean, scalable vector shapes that you can resize without losing quality. Both cost money through Adobe's subscription. If you already subscribe for other design work, you have what you need.

Procreate is the fastest choice if you draw by hand on an iPad. It costs $12.99 once, has excellent brush tools, and exports directly to PNG. The downside: you are working on iPad only, so if you need to revise on desktop later, you will need to export and re-import.

Krita and Pixlr are free. Krita is a full desktop process for Windows, Mac, and Linux; it handles both raster and vector work and feels closest to Photoshop. Pixlr is browser-based, simpler to learn, and good for quick emoji if you do not want to install software. Neither has the polish of paid tools, but both are genuinely usable.

Figma is free for one project and works in your browser. It is vector-only (no pixel painting), but emoji are usually vector anyway. Figma is collaborative, so if you are working with others, it is the easiest choice. The learning curve is gentler than Illustrator.

Steps to create and export a straightforward emoji

Start in whatever tool you chose. Create a new document at 128×128 pixels (or 64×64 if you want smaller). This size is standard and works on most platforms. Set the background to transparent so your emoji sits on any color without a white box around it.

Draw or design your emoji. Keep it straightforward: emoji work best with bold shapes and clear outlines. If you are new to design, start with a circle or square base and add details on top. Avoid thin lines — they disappear when the emoji shrinks on screen. Test your design at actual size by zooming out to 100% and looking at it from arm's length.

When you are done, export as PNG. In Photoshop, go to File > Export As and choose PNG. In Illustrator, File > Export. In Krita, File > Export As. In Figma, right-click the frame and select Export. Make sure transparency is on (not a white background). Name the file something clear: smile_emoji.png or thumbsup.png.

Where to use your custom emojis

Slack lets you upload custom emoji to your workspace. Go to Customize Slack > Emoji, click Add Custom Emoji, and upload your PNG. The emoji will appear in the emoji picker for everyone in that workspace. Size limit is 128×128 pixels.

Discord works the same way. In your server settings, go to Emoji and upload. Discord accepts PNG, GIF, and WebP. Animated emoji (GIF or WebP) work here, so if you want to add motion, Discord is a good place to test it.

Documents and presentations need a different approach. In Google Docs, Slides, or Word, you cannot insert emoji the way you insert images. Instead, insert your PNG as a regular image, resize it to match your text, and position it inline. This works but is clunky for large documents.

Websites can display custom emoji as image files. Upload the PNG to your server and reference it in HTML with an <img> tag. This is how many websites add personality to their design.

Making animated emoji (GIF or WebP)

Animated emoji are GIFs or WebP files that loop. Discord, Slack, and some messaging apps support them. To make one, you create multiple frames (like a flip book) and export them as an animated file.

In Photoshop, create layers for each frame of animation, then go to File > Export As and choose GIF. Photoshop will ask you to set the timing for each frame. In Krita, use the Animation Dockable (Windows > Dockables > Animation) to create frames, then export as GIF or WebP. Figma does not animate natively, so you would need to export frames and combine them in another tool.

Keep animated emoji straightforward: 2 to 4 frames is usually enough. More frames make the file larger and the animation harder to follow at small size. Test on your target platform (Discord, Slack) before finalizing, because animation timing looks different depending on how the platform plays it back.

System-wide emoji: fonts and Unicode

If you want your emoji to appear on iPhone, Android, or Windows as a system emoji (not just in one app), you need to build a font file or submit to the Unicode Consortium. This is a much longer process.

Building a font requires software like FontLab or Glyphs, knowledge of font file formats, and testing across devices. You would design each emoji, assign it a Unicode code point (a number that identifies it), and compile them into a .otf or .ttf file. This is technical work and usually takes weeks.

Submitting to Unicode is even longer. The Unicode Consortium reviews new emoji proposals once or twice a year. Your proposal must include design mockups, use cases, and evidence that the emoji fills a real need. Approval takes months to years. This is how official emoji like 🫠 or 🫡 get added to phones.

For most people, custom emoji in Slack or Discord is enough. System-wide emoji is worth pursuing only if you are building a brand, a game, or a cultural movement that needs its own symbol set.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Making emoji too small or too detailed is the most common mistake. At 64×64 pixels, fine lines and small text disappear. Design at actual size and zoom out to check. If you cannot read text or see details from arm's length, simplify.

Using too many colors is the second mistake. Emoji work best with 3 to 5 colors maximum. More colors make them muddy and hard to recognize at small size. Stick to bold, contrasting colors.

Forgetting to test on the actual platform is the third. Slack renders emoji differently than Discord, which renders differently than your browser. Upload a test version and look at it in context before you finalize. Colors shift, sizes change, and animation timing varies.

Not exporting with transparency is a fourth. Always export as PNG with a transparent background, not white or any other color. This lets your emoji sit on any background in the app without a colored box around it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emoji I find online and edit them?

Technically yes, but you should not do it without permission. Most emoji are copyrighted by Apple, Google, Twitter, or other companies. Editing and reposting them violates copyright. If you want to use an existing emoji as inspiration, redraw it from scratch instead of editing the original.

What size should my emoji be?

128×128 pixels is the standard and works everywhere. Some platforms accept 64×64 (smaller, faster to load) or 256×256 (larger, for high-resolution displays). Start with 128×128 and scale down if needed. Never scale up — it will look blurry.

Can I make emoji on my phone?

Yes, but it is slower than desktop. Procreate on iPad is the best option if you draw by hand. For other tools, Pixlr works in your phone browser, though the small screen makes detail work hard. Desktop is faster and easier for most people.

Do I need to know coding to make emoji?

No, not for personal emoji in Slack or Discord. You only need design software. Coding becomes necessary if you want to build a font file or embed emoji in a website, but that is a separate step after you have designed them.

How do I make my emoji look like the official ones?

Official emoji have a specific style: rounded shapes, bold outlines, and a slight 3D effect. Study the emoji from Apple, Google, or Microsoft to see the pattern. Then practice drawing in that style. It takes time, but the more you draw, the closer you will get.