Pixiv Video Downloader


Download your bookmarked Pixiv illustrations and manga in full-resolution PNG or WebP, keeping every pixel intact.

Original Quality vs. Compressed: Understanding Pixiv's Image Delivery

Pixiv serves images in multiple resolutions depending on how you access them. When you view an illustration in your browser, Pixiv typically loads a compressed JPEG version (often downscaled to 1200px on the long edge) for faster display. However, the platform also stores the original uploads—often at much higher resolutions, sometimes exceeding 4000px—in formats like PNG or JPEG. Not every image has a public original link; artists can disable "Download Original" in their settings. Our downloader attempts to retrieve the highest available quality by analyzing the page source and image URLs. For illustrations where the artist permits original downloads, you can save files in full resolution. For those where only the compressed version is publicly accessible, you still get the best quality that Pixiv exposes to anonymous users.

File Formats and Transparency

Pixiv supports JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. If an artist uploads a PNG with transparency (common for character illustrations and stickers), the original PNG is preserved. When only the compressed JPEG is available, transparency is lost. WebP is used primarily for animated illustrations (Ugoira) and some uploads; our tool saves those in the original WebP container. For static images, the format matched to the original upload is retained. You can expect the following resolution tiers:

  • Original: up to the artist's upload dimensions (e.g., 4096×4096).
  • Large (1200px): standard compressed view used on artwork pages.
  • Medium (600px): thumbnail used in lists.
  • Small (280px): micro thumbnail for search.

The downloader always targets the Original tier first, falling back to Large if restricted.

Preserving Your Pixiv Bookmarks and Following Feeds Offline

Pixiv’s "Bookmarks" and "Following" features are central to curating your collection. While the platform offers no official way to bulk-download bookmarked works or the latest uploads from artists you follow, our downloader can work with public user pages. By iterating over a user’s bookmark list or a creator’s artwork grid, you can save high-resolution copies of every image you’ve marked or followed. This is especially useful for:

  • Creating an offline reference library for inspiration.
  • Archiving works that might be deleted or made private later.
  • Organizing your saved images by series or character without being limited by Pixiv’s folder system.

Note that private bookmarks and R-18 content may require the user to be logged in and have age verification set. The downloader supports pasting URLs from user profiles, bookmark pages, and series/collections. Because Pixiv imposes rate limits on page scraping, it’s wise to download in batches rather than an entire large account at once.

Navigating R-18, AI-Generated, and Regionally Blocked Content

Pixiv has specific rules for adult (R-18) and AI-generated works. R-18 illustrations require age confirmation (a cookie or login) to be viewed. Our downloader can access these images only if you provide a direct image URL that is already accessible in your browser. If the artist has set the work to require login for full resolution, you may need to use the browser extension mode (where cookies are passed) to fetch the original. Otherwise, only the public compressed version is available.

AI-generated works are tagged with a dedicated attribute and often include a watermark or disclaimer. The downloader does not filter these; it simply saves the image as-is. If you prefer to avoid AI-generated art, you can exclude them manually by not including their pages in your download list.

Regionally blocked content (e.g., works restricted in certain countries due to licensing) may still be downloaded if you have direct access to the image URL. The tool does not bypass geo-blocking—it only downloads what is already reachable from your connection.

Pixiv Sketch: Additional Content Type

Pixiv Sketch is a branch focusing on live streaming and quick sketches. While the primary platform hosts static illustrations, Sketch produces streaming-optimized images and sometimes GIF animations. These works are saved in the same formats (JPEG/PNG/GIF) but often at lower resolutions due to the casual nature of the content. If you download a Pixiv Sketch artwork, you get the static frame or the animated GIF as served on the page. No special handling is required.

By understanding these nuances, you can make informed decisions about which images to save and at what quality. Our Pixiv downloader gives you the control to preserve the exact files you want, respecting the platform’s access restrictions while maximizing resolution.

Looking for something else? If you also need to save from other sites, try our Flickr Downloader, Instagram Downloader or Newgrounds Video Downloader.


Why use this Pixiv downloader

  • Original Quality Downloads. Download illustrations, manga, and novels in original PNG, JPEG, GIF, or WebP, preserving artist metadata and resolution.
  • Bulk Bookmark & Following. Batch download from bookmarks and following feeds, with filters for popularity, upload date, and tags like R-18 and AI-generated.
  • AI-Generated Tag Handling. Automatically detect and tag AI-generated works, applying separate directories and metadata to keep content organized.
  • Series & Manga Ordering. Download full manga or novel series with correct page ordering, using Pixiv's internal sequencing for seamless reading.
  • Smart Filename Presets. Save files with customizable naming including artist name, work ID, and title, maintaining folder structure by creator or collection.

Supported Pixiv formats

FormatQualityNotes
JPGUp to originalJPEG image, lossy compression
PNGUp to originalLossless image, supports transparency
GIFUp to originalAnimated or static image, supports animation
WebPUp to originalModern format, good compression

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What image formats and resolutions can I download from Pixiv?
    Pixiv images are available in JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. Original uploaded files retain their native resolution; we download the exact file the artist uploaded, up to the platform's maximum (often 6000x6000+). No transcoding is applied unless the artist uploads a restricted format.
  • Can I download AI-generated illustrations separately from other works?
    Yes. Pixiv tags AI-generated works with a specific flag. Our downloader lets you filter or exclude AI-generated content by checking the "Exclude AI-generated" option when downloading from search results or user galleries. This respects Pixiv's labeling system.
  • How do I download R-18 illustrations from Pixiv?
    R-18 content requires a Pixiv account with age verification. You must log into OrbitDownloader using your Pixiv credentials (cookies) to access and download these works. Our tool respects the platform's age gate; we cannot bypass it without authentication.
  • Does the Pixiv downloader work on mobile browsers?
    Yes. Our service is web-based and works on any device with a modern browser — desktop, tablet, or phone. Simply paste the Pixiv URL into the downloader on mobile. However, if you need to download from the Pixiv mobile app, you may need to copy the link from the app's share function.
  • Is downloading illustrations from Pixiv legal according to their terms?
    Pixiv's TOS allow downloading for personal use, but redistribution or commercial use requires the artist's permission. OrbitDownloader only facilitates personal downloads; you are responsible for respecting each artist's rights and any usage restrictions they specify on their profile or work description.
  • Can I download all bookmarked illustrations from my Pixiv at once?
    Yes. You can paste the URL of your bookmarks page (https://www.pixiv.net/users/.../bookmarks) into the downloader to fetch all works in the list. Alternatively, input a user's gallery URL to download their entire public portfolio. The tool processes each work sequentially, letting you grab the full set without manual clicking.
  • Can I download Pixiv novels as text files?
    Yes. For Pixiv novels (text works), our downloader extracts the full text content and saves it as a plain text (.txt) file. Images within the novel are also saved separately in their original format, typically JPEG or PNG.
  • Why does my Pixiv link show an error 'No downloadable content'?
    This usually happens if the link points to a deleted work, a private work you aren't authorized to view, or a page that requires login (e.g., R-18). Ensure you are logged into Pixiv in the same browser before accessing the link, and check that the work is publicly accessible. Also verify the URL is a direct work page (e.g., /artworks/12345678).

How It Works

  • 1
    Click artwork to open. On Pixiv, click on an illustration, manga, or novel from your following feed, bookmarks, or a popular works list to open its detailed page.
  • 2
    Copy page URL. Copy the URL from your browser's address bar on desktop, or on mobile, tap the share icon and choose 'Copy Link'.
  • 3
    Paste URL into downloader. Open OrbitDownloader and paste the copied URL into the input field. The tool will analyze the page and list available formats.
  • 4
    Choose format and quality. Select your desired image format from JPG, PNG, GIF, or WebP. For best quality, opt for the original resolution if provided.
  • 5
    Download artwork file. Click the download button to save the artwork. The file will be downloaded in your chosen format at the selected quality.

Troubleshooting

  • R-18 illustrations on Pixiv require user authentication and age verification to access full resolution originals, causing downloaders to get placeholder images or lower-quality thumbnails.
    Log into Pixiv in the downloader's embedded browser or provide session cookies with R-18 content enabled, then ensure the 'Display R-18/R-18G works' setting is toggled on in account preferences.
  • Pixiv tags AI-generated works variably, making it difficult to filter them out or specifically download them without checking metadata.
    Use the 'AI' or 'AI-generated' tag as a filter in the downloader's search options; for bulk downloads, parse the 'aiType' field in the API response.
  • Bookmarks and following feeds are only accessible when authenticated, and the pagination uses a 'next' cursor that many downloaders fail to handle correctly.
    Ensure the downloader supports Pixiv's cursor-based pagination and passes the appropriate 'PHPSESSID' cookie; for bookmarks, specify the 'tag' parameter to narrow results.
  • Manga and novel works consist of multiple pages bound into one series, but standard image downloaders often grab only the cover or first page.
    Configure the downloader to detect the 'pageCount' and 'pages' fields in the API response, then sequentially download each page's 'urls' array.
  • Without a login, many Pixiv images are served at reduced resolution (e.g., large_600x600) instead of the original source.
    Authenticate via login to access the 'original' URL from the API; the file extension may vary (jpg, png, webp) depending on what the artist uploaded.

Please respect creators' rights. Only download illustrations, manga, or novels that you own or have explicit permission to use, as per Pixiv's terms of service.