Turn a photo into a tile mosaic
Square tiles in grout, round tiles or studded bricks, with a count of each colour to build it.
Drop an image here, or .
Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Mosaic Tile Maker: how to use it
- Drop in a photo.
- Set the tiles across, the tile style and, for a buildable mosaic, the number of colours.
- Adjust the grout, then download the mosaic and the colour count under it.
Tips
- 40 to 80 tiles across keep a face or pet recognisable; under 30 is very abstract.
- Set Colours to between 8 and 30 to get a list of how many tiles of each colour to buy.
Mosaic Tile Maker: what it does and when to use it
The Mosaic Tile Maker rebuilds a photo from tiles: square ceramic-style tiles set in grout, round tiles, or studded plastic building bricks seen from above. Each tile takes the average colour of its part of the photo, so from a distance the picture comes back, and close up it is a mosaic.
Set how many tiles go across, the tile style, the grout width and colour, and a hand-laid look that shifts tiles and tints slightly for a less perfect, more real finish. Limit the colours to between 8 and 30 and the tool lists how many tiles of each colour the design uses, with hex codes, so you can buy tiles, beads or bricks and build it for real; it also gives the finished size with 1 cm tiles or 8 mm bricks.
Large, simple subjects such as pets, landmarks and logos work best. It runs in your browser. For a stitched version, try the Cross Stitch Pattern Maker; for irregular glass pieces, the Stained Glass Effect.
Mosaic Tile Maker: frequently asked questions
Can I build the mosaic for real?
Yes. Set Colours to 8 to 30 and the tool lists how many tiles of each colour you need, with hex codes, and the finished size with 1 cm tiles or 8 mm bricks. Match each hex code to the nearest tile, bead or brick colour you can buy. Related guide: Cross-stitch and paint by numbers from your own photo.
How many tiles should I use?
40 to 80 across keeps a face or pet recognisable. Fewer tiles look bolder and more abstract and are quicker to build. Related tool: Stained Glass Effect.
Which photos make good mosaics?
A large, simple subject with strong colours and a plain background: a pet, a flower, a landmark or a logo. Busy scenes and small faces lose their detail at tile size.