How to make a Slack custom emoji

A quick, free guide. No install — everything runs in your browser with emoji studio: text emoji, photo emoji with automatic background removal, animated GIFs, and giant “mega” emoji.

1. Make a text emoji

1. Open emoji studio and click Text.
2. Type your word, pick a font, and set a color or gradient.
3. Optionally add a text effect (typewriter, marquee, wave) or a per-layer animation.
4. Click Export and download as PNG (still) or GIF (animated).

2. Make an emoji from a photo (with background removal)

1. Click Image and choose a photo — or just paste one with ⌘/Ctrl+V.
2. Turn on Remove background to cut out the subject automatically (runs locally, nothing is uploaded).
3. Optionally “sticker-ify” it with a white edge, then crop and adjust.
4. Export under 128KB — done.

3. Make an animated GIF emoji

Slack supports animated GIF custom emoji. In emoji studio, pick an animation preset — bounce, spin, shake, rainbow, jelly — or a text effect, then export as GIF (animated). You can combine multiple animations and tune the speed.

4. Make a giant “mega” emoji

Split one image into an N×N grid of numbered emoji. Arrange them in Slack to form a huge picture. emoji studio also generates the paste-string (:name_1::name_2:…) for you, and even supports splitting animated GIFs in sync.

5. Slack emoji limits to know

• Size: 128×128 px recommended.
• File size: 128KB or smaller (emoji studio auto-optimizes).
• Animation: animated GIF only (APNG won’t animate in Slack).

6. Upload to Slack

1. In Slack, open the emoji picker → Add Emoji (or Customize workspace → Emoji).
2. Upload the PNG/GIF you exported and give it a name.
3. Use it with :your_name:.

FAQ

What size should a Slack emoji be?
128×128 px, 128KB or less. emoji studio exports at 64/128/160px and auto-fits under 128KB.

Can I make an animated Slack emoji?
Yes — Slack supports animated GIFs. Add an animation and export as GIF.

Is it free?
Yes, and it runs entirely in your browser. Optional AI generation uses your own key (BYOK).