Creating Custom Discord and Slack Emojis with BG Remover

Creating Custom Discord and Slack Emojis with BG Remover

About Raj Kumar

Hey! I'm Raj Kumar, a digital creator from Mumbai who somehow became the unofficial "emoji guy" for about a dozen Discord servers and three Slack workspaces. Over the past 18 months, I've created 500+ custom emojis—everything from inside jokes to branded company reactions. If you've ever wanted your community to have unique emojis that actually represent your vibe (instead of generic yellow faces), this guide will show you exactly how. Questions? Hit me up: contact@snapaiart.online

I still remember the moment that started my emoji obsession. July 2024, I'm in a Discord server with my college friends, and someone drops a meme photo of our buddy Arjun making the most ridiculous face. Someone commented: "This needs to be an emoji." Ten minutes later, I'd background-removed it, sized it properly, and uploaded it. The server went crazy. Within a week, that emoji had been used 200+ times. That's when I realized—custom emojis aren't just fun, they're community glue. They create inside jokes, express emotions standard emojis can't, and make digital spaces feel personal.

Table of Contents

Why Custom Emojis Matter for Communities

Standard emojis are fine, but they're generic. Everyone has access to 😂 and 👍. Custom emojis make your community unique. Here's what I've seen them do:

Build Inside Jokes and Culture

In one gaming Discord I manage, we have a `:panicmode:` emoji (someone's wide-eyed terrified face) that gets used whenever someone makes a huge mistake. It's become part of our language. New members see it, ask about it, and get pulled into the community story.

Express Brand Personality

For company Slacks, custom emojis can reinforce brand identity. A startup I worked with has their mascot (a cartoon llama) in 15 different emotions—`:llama-excited:`, `:llama-thinking:`, `:llama-celebrating:`. It makes internal communication feel more playful and on-brand.

Create Better Reactions

Standard emoji reactions are limited. Custom ones let you create specific responses: `:approved:` for managers, `:needs-revision:` for feedback, `:mind-blown:` for impressive work. Makes communication clearer and more fun.

Boost Engagement

Communities with active custom emoji usage just feel more alive. I've seen Discord servers double their message activity after introducing a popular emoji pack. People genuinely enjoy using custom reactions.

Technical Requirements for Discord and Slack

Before creating anything, know the specs. I learned these the hard way after uploading a bunch of emojis that looked terrible.

Discord Requirements

  • File size: Max 256KB (this is the main limiter)
  • Dimensions: Recommended 128x128 pixels (displays at 32x32 in chat)
  • Format: PNG, JPG, or GIF (animated emojis for Nitro users)
  • Quantity: 50 static emojis per server (free), 250 with boosts
  • File naming: No spaces, use underscores or hyphens

Slack Requirements

  • File size: Max 128KB (even stricter than Discord)
  • Dimensions: Must be square, recommended 128x128 pixels
  • Format: PNG, JPG, or GIF
  • Quantity: Free plans allow custom emojis (generous limits)
  • Background: Transparent backgrounds work best

Key Difference

Slack's 128KB limit is tighter than Discord's 256KB. I always design for Slack specs—if it works there, it'll work everywhere.

Best Background Removal Tools for Emojis

1. Remove.bg

My go-to for quick emoji creation. Upload photo, get transparent background instantly. Free tier allows 50 images per month—perfect for personal projects. Paid plan (₹750/month) for bulk work.

2. Canva Background Remover

Built into Canva Pro (₹1,000/month). Great because I can remove background AND resize/adjust in the same tool. I use this for 60% of my emoji work now.

3. Adobe Photoshop

For detailed work where AI doesn't nail it (complex hair, fine details). Select Subject + Refine Edge gives perfect cutouts. Worth learning if you're serious about emoji creation.

4. Pixlr

Free online alternative when I'm not at my computer. Background remover works well for simple subjects. Good backup option.

5. PhotoScissors

Specifically designed for cutouts. Desktop app with batch processing. I used this for a 50-emoji pack—saved hours.

My Complete Emoji Creation Workflow

Step 1: Source or Create Base Image

Options:

  • Photos: Screenshots, personal photos, meme images
  • AI-generated: Use Midjourney/DALL-E to create custom characters or objects
  • Illustrations: Simple drawings or icons work great
  • Stock images: For professional/branded emojis

Whatever you choose, make sure it's:

  • Clear and well-lit (blurry sources = blurry emojis)
  • High resolution (at least 500x500 pixels to start)
  • Simple subject (complex scenes don't work at 32x32 display size)

Step 2: Remove Background

  1. Upload image to Remove.bg or open in Canva
  2. One-click background removal
  3. Check edges—zoom in to see if there are rough spots
  4. If edges are messy, touch up manually in Photoshop or use the "Refine" tool in Canva

Step 3: Resize and Optimize

This is where most people mess up. Here's my exact process:

  1. Resize to 128x128 pixels (Image Size in Photoshop or Canva)
  2. Add small padding around subject (don't let it touch edges—looks cramped)
  3. Preview at actual display size (32x32) to ensure it's readable
  4. Adjust contrast if needed—emojis often need slightly boosted contrast to pop

Step 4: Export with Correct Settings

For Slack (strictest requirements):

  • Format: PNG with transparency
  • Size: 128x128 pixels
  • File size: Under 128KB

If file is too large (happens with complex images):

  • Reduce from PNG-24 to PNG-8 in Photoshop
  • Use TinyPNG compression
  • Simplify the image (remove unnecessary details)

Step 5: Upload and Test

  1. Upload to Discord/Slack with descriptive name (`:arjun-panic:` not `:emoji1:`)
  2. Test in chat at actual size
  3. Check on both dark and light themes (some emojis disappear on certain backgrounds)
  4. If it's not readable, go back and adjust

Types of Custom Emojis That Work Best

1. Reaction Faces

People making specific expressions: shocked, confused, excited, disapproving. These get used constantly. My most popular emoji is `:deepthinking:` (guy with hand on chin, looking thoughtful)—used 500+ times in one server.

2. Inside Jokes

Moments captured from your community. That time someone spilled coffee during a meeting? Emoji. Someone's pet doing something ridiculous? Emoji. These build shared history.

3. Brand Mascots

For companies, create your mascot or logo in different emotions/situations. Makes brand communication feel human.

4. Activity Indicators

`:afk:`, `:streaming:`, `:in-meeting:`, `:working:`, `:coffee-break:`. Helps teams know availability without typing.

5. Celebration and Recognition

`:awesome-job:`, `:ship-it:`, `:bug-fixed:`, `:milestone:`. Positive reinforcement emojis boost morale.

6. Category Icons

For organizing channels: `:announcement:`, `:question:`, `:important:`, `:casual:`. Visual organization helps navigation.

Design Tips for Readable Emojis

Keep It Simple

Remember—emojis display at 32x32 pixels in chat. Fine details vanish. Bold, simple shapes work best. I learned this after creating a super detailed emoji that looked like a blob in actual use.

High Contrast

Emojis need to pop against both dark and light backgrounds. Add subtle outlines or shadows if needed. I often add a 1-2 pixel stroke around subjects to ensure visibility.

Clear Focal Point

One clear subject per emoji. Multiple elements get lost. Compare: a single laughing face (clear) vs. three people talking (muddy mess).

Test at Actual Size

ALWAYS preview at 32x32 pixels before uploading. What looks good at 128x128 might be unreadable when scaled down. I keep a 32x32 canvas open in Photoshop for constant checking.

Padding Matters

Leave 10-15% margin around your subject. Emojis that touch canvas edges look cramped and unprofessional.

Consider Color Blindness

Don't rely solely on color to convey meaning. Use shapes and contrast too. About 8% of men have some form of color blindness.

Mistakes That Made Me Look Ridiculous

Mistake 1: Too Much Detail

Created a beautiful emoji of someone holding a phone showing a meme. At 32x32 pixels, the phone disappeared, the meme was illegible, and it just looked like a blob. Now I follow the "one clear thing" rule.

Mistake 2: Forgot File Size Limits

Made 20 emojis for a Slack workspace. All were 200KB+ files. None uploaded. Had to recompress everything. Now I always check file size before batch uploading.

Mistake 3: White Subject, No Outline

Created emoji of someone in white shirt. Looked great on dark theme, completely disappeared on light theme. Now I add subtle outlines to all light-colored subjects.

Mistake 4: Inappropriate Inside Joke

Made an emoji of a friend's embarrassing moment for our Discord. Thought it was funny. Friend didn't. Learned to get consent before immortalizing people as emojis, especially for potentially embarrassing things.

Mistake 5: Bad Naming Convention

Named emojis `:img1:`, `:img2:`, `:img3:`. Nobody knew which was which. People stopped using them. Now I use descriptive names that make sense when typed: `:celebrate-dance:`, `:question-mark-person:`, `:facepalm-hard:`.

Creating Emoji Packs Efficiently

When you need to create 20+ emojis, efficiency matters:

Batch Background Removal

Use Remove.bg's batch upload (paid plan) or PhotoScissors desktop app. Process 50 images in one go instead of individually.

Action/Script Recording

In Photoshop, record an Action for your resize and export process. Then run it on an entire folder. Saves hours on large emoji packs.

Template System

I keep a 128x128 Photoshop template with proper padding guides. Drag new subjects in, export, done. Consistency across entire pack.

Naming System

Develop a naming convention before starting: `category-descriptor-emotion`. Example: `:team-celebration-happy:`, `:team-celebration-excited:`. Makes sets organized and findable.

Case Study: Company Slack Emoji Set

In September 2024, a Mumbai tech startup (80 employees) hired me to create a custom Slack emoji set to boost internal culture.

Requirements:

  • 30 custom emojis featuring their llama mascot
  • Various emotions and work situations
  • Professional but playful tone
  • All under 128KB for Slack compatibility
  • Budget: ₹15,000
  • Timeline: 5 days

My Process:

  1. Client meeting to understand company culture and identify needed reactions
  2. Created list of 30 scenarios (celebrating, debugging, coffee break, thinking, etc.)
  3. Generated base llama character in consistent style using Midjourney
  4. Modified expressions and poses for each scenario in Photoshop
  5. Used Canva Background Remover to create transparent versions
  6. Resized all to 128x128, optimized file sizes
  7. Created usage guide with emoji names and when to use them
  8. Uploaded all emojis to their Slack workspace

Results:

  • Within 2 weeks, emojis were used 2,000+ times across workspace
  • Employee feedback: "Made Slack feel more fun and personal"
  • CEO used `:llama-approve:` so much it became the company's informal stamp of approval
  • Client ordered 20 more emojis for specific teams/departments

The project taught me that well-designed emojis aren't just decoration—they actually improve team communication and culture.

Final Thoughts

Creating custom Discord and Slack emojis is one of the most fun design projects you can do. The barrier to entry is low (just need background removal and basic image editing), but the impact on community engagement is surprisingly high.

Start small. Create 3-5 emojis for your community and see how people respond. Pay attention to which ones get used repeatedly—that tells you what resonates. Then expand from there.

The technical stuff (file sizes, dimensions, optimization) seems intimidating at first, but once you do it a few times, it becomes automatic. And watching your custom creations get used hundreds of times? Genuinely satisfying.

Whether you're building a gaming community, managing a company workspace, or just want your friend group's Discord to feel more personal—custom emojis are worth the small effort. They're digital inside jokes, cultural artifacts, and communication tools all rolled into tiny transparent PNGs.

Need help creating an emoji pack or struggling with technical requirements? Shoot me an email at contact@snapaiart.online. I'm always happy to help communities create their unique visual language.

References & Resources