Make your token.
Pick how your token looks: just your letters, a character you build here, or a picture of your own. Whatever you choose is saved as a small PNG, never larger than 256 × 256, that you can drop into any virtual tabletop, or use as your token in CartoSmith.
Your token will show your letters (set below). Nothing is drawn or sent. Your other tabs keep their work.
Use my own image
Drop a picture here, or
PNG, JPEG, WebP or GIF, up to 20 MB. It is resized on your device. A file you saved from here brings back its editable parts.
No picture chosen yet.
Letters on your token
How to make a D&D token
Pick a starting point
Choose Letters only, Build a sprite, or Use my own image. Building a sprite is the usual choice for a character, and letters alone are quick for monsters and NPCs.
Shape it
Press Surprise me for a random character, then change parts and colours, or paint pixels yourself with the paint tools until it looks like your character.
Check the map size
Look at the Zoomed out preview. That is roughly how big your token will appear on a map, so make sure it still reads.
Save and use it
Choose Save to my device, then drop the PNG into your virtual tabletop, or use it as your token in CartoSmith.
What you get
- Free to use, with no account.
- It runs in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.
- A PNG up to 256 × 256 pixels, with a transparent background.
- Import your own picture and trace it into pixel art.
- The saved PNG remembers its parts, so you can reopen it and keep editing.
Tips for readable tokens
- Strong silhouette. A distinctive outline, such as a hood, horns or a hat, is recognisable even when small.
- Contrast with the ring. Avoid colours close to your tabletop's token ring or the map beneath, so the figure does not blend in.
- One to three letters. Short initials stay legible at map size. Longer text turns to mush.
- Check at map size. Judge the Zoomed out preview, not just the large canvas.
- Keep faces simple. At this size, a couple of well-placed pixels for eyes beat fine detail.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a token be for Roll20, Foundry VTT and Owlbear Rodeo?
A square PNG of 256 pixels suits all of them. Each of these tools scales tokens to its grid, so one size works everywhere. Requirements can change, so check your virtual tabletop's documentation for its current guidance.
Can I use the tokens I make commercially?
CartoSmith claims no rights over the tokens you create. They are yours to use in your games and projects.
Does it upload my picture?
No. Your picture is resized and traced into pixel art on your own device, and nothing is sent to a server.
Can I edit a token later?
Yes. The PNG you save carries its editable parts. Choose Use my own image and drop that PNG back in, and you can keep editing it.
Is the background transparent?
Yes. Saved tokens have a transparent background, so your virtual tabletop can show its own ring or frame around them.
What is the difference between a token and a miniature?
A miniature is a physical figure on the table. A token is its digital stand-in: a small image that represents a character or monster on a virtual map.
Does it work on a phone?
It is designed to work on phones and tablets as well as computers, with touch-friendly controls.
Is it really free?
Yes. It is free to use, with no account and no sign-up.
Running a game online? CartoSmith is a battle map app for DMs
Use your tokens on a battle map you run yourself, with fog, lighting and encounters.