Frequently asked questions
Everything about creating and exporting chess board images with ChessVG. Still stuck? The about page has more on what the tool does.
Is ChessVG free?
Yes. ChessVG is completely free, with no account required and no watermark forced onto your images. It is built by the team behind ChessSolve.
Do I need to install anything?
No. ChessVG runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to a server and it works on desktop, tablet and phone. If you want a dedicated app for solving and training, you can download the ChessSolve app.
What image formats can I export?
High-resolution PNG at any square resolution, and vector SVG. You can also export one-click sizes for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, X and YouTube.
Can I make a chess diagram from a FEN?
Yes. Paste any FEN string and the position loads instantly. You can also drag pieces to build a position by hand, including illegal or artificial setups for teaching diagrams.
Where do the puzzles come from?
From the free, open Lichess puzzle database, loaded live when you press Random or Daily puzzle. You can practice the same kind of positions in the ChessSolve puzzle trainer.
Can I use the images commercially?
The tool places no restriction on your exports. If you plan to redistribute the piece artwork itself, review the open-source Lichess piece-set licenses.
What resolution can I export a chess board image at?
PNG export is available at any square resolution, so you can go well beyond 4K for print or scale down for a small avatar. SVG has no fixed resolution at all — it is a true vector and stays sharp at any size.
What is the difference between PNG and SVG export?
PNG is a pixel image, ideal for social media, thumbnails, and video where you want a fixed size. SVG is a vector format that scales infinitely without blur, which is best for blog diagrams, books, and print.
Can I export a chess board with a transparent background?
Yes. Choose the transparent background option before exporting a PNG or SVG, and the board will have no backdrop so you can overlay it on a video, stream, or your own design.
Can I customize the board and piece colors?
Fully. Pick from a dozen curated themes and 14 piece sets, or set your own square, frame, and background colors, plus frame width, corner radius, padding, shadow, and coordinates.
Can I save and reuse my own board styles?
Yes. Save your favorite combinations as templates in your browser and re-apply them to any position in one click, so your diagrams stay consistent and on brand.
Does ChessVG work on mobile and tablet?
Yes. ChessVG runs entirely in the browser and works on desktop, tablet, and phone. Nothing is installed and nothing is uploaded to a server.
Do you store my positions or images?
No. Everything happens locally in your browser. Positions, templates, and exports never leave your device, except when you load a Lichess puzzle, which fetches that one puzzle from Lichess.
Can I set up an illegal or artificial position?
Yes. You can drag pieces to build any position by hand, including illegal or artificial setups, because ChessVG is an image tool rather than a chess engine. This is useful for teaching diagrams.
What social media sizes are supported?
One-click presets output the right dimensions for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, X, and YouTube, with your chosen background applied to fill the frame.
Is ChessVG affiliated with Chess.com or Lichess?
No. ChessVG is an independent tool built by the team behind ChessSolve. Chess piece artwork and puzzles come from the open-source Lichess project, but ChessVG is not affiliated with Chess.com or Lichess.
Ready to try it?
Open the editor to build your first board image, or browse the use cases for ideas.
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