FEN to Image
Free tool · No account needed
Next step
Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Paste a FEN and the position is drawn as a board you can download. Pick a size up to 1600 pixels, choose the square colors, turn the board round or drop the coordinates, then take it as a PNG for a post or as an SVG that stays sharp at any size. The board is drawn from vector pieces in the page, so the file has no external images in it and nothing is uploaded to make one.
How to turn a FEN into an image
- 1.
Paste the FEN into the box. Only the first field, the piece placement, is used for the picture.
- 2.
Choose a size, a board color and which side is at the bottom.
- 3.
Download the PNG, or take the SVG if the diagram will be printed or resized.
- 4.
Need to change the position first? Open it in the board editor, drag the pieces and come back.
What this tool does
PNG or vector SVG
PNG for anywhere that wants a picture; SVG for print, slides and anything that will be resized later.
Sizes up to 1600 pixels
Small enough for a forum post, large enough for a printed page or a lesson handout.
Five board colors
Classic brown, tournament green, blue, walnut and slate, with coordinates you can switch off.
Any position, not just legal ones
A study fragment with no kings, or a puzzle with pieces on half the board, renders the same way. Only the placement field is needed.
Frequently asked questions
What is a FEN?
FEN (Forsyth-Edwards Notation) is a single line of text that describes one chess position: where the pieces stand, whose turn it is, the castling rights, the en passant square, and the two move counters. It is how a single position travels between programs, the way PGN carries a whole game.
Is the image uploaded or watermarked?
Neither. The board is drawn in your browser and the file is written on your device. There is no watermark and no attribution requirement.
How do I get a FEN from a photo of a board?
Photograph the position and let the ScanChess board reader work it out. It returns the FEN, which you can paste straight in here to make a clean diagram.
Should I download the PNG or the SVG?
PNG if it is going into a post, a chat or a document that wants a picture. SVG if it will be printed, projected, or scaled up later, because a vector stays sharp at any size.
Can I use these diagrams in a book or a course?
Yes. The pieces are drawn from our own vector set and the images carry no restrictions, so they can go into lessons, articles and printed material.
Have a screenshot or photo of this position? Scan it and the board sets itself up.
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The position is on a real board in front of you
Photograph it and ScanChess reads the position into a FEN. Recognizing one board costs a single credit.