Make a paint by numbers template from a photo
A numbered outline page with a colour key, ready to print and paint.
Drop an image here, or .
Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Paint by Numbers Maker: how to use it
- Drop in a photo.
- Choose the number of colours and the detail level.
- Download the numbered outline page, then switch Download to get the finished colour preview.
Tips
- Twelve to eighteen colours suit most photos; children do better with eight or fewer and Simple detail.
- Print with "fit to page" and keep the colour key for mixing paints.
Paint by Numbers Maker: what it does and when to use it
Paint by Numbers Maker turns your own photo into a paint by numbers kit: a printable page of outlined areas, each with a number, and a colour key telling you which paint goes where. It is a lovely way to paint a pet, a wedding photo, a holiday view or a child's drawing, and a calm, rewarding project for beginners.
The photo is reduced to the number of colours you choose with k-means clustering, small speckles are cleaned away, and any area too small to paint is merged into its neighbour. Each area is outlined, and its number is placed at the point deepest inside it so it is readable. The colour key underneath gives each number its colour and hex code, for mixing or matching paints, and the finished colour preview shows what the painting will look like.
Twelve to eighteen colours suit most photos; Simple makes larger areas for children and first-timers, Detailed suits patient adults. Print on A4 or US Letter with "fit to page", or trace it onto canvas with a light box. Photos with a clear subject and good light give the best kits. It runs on your device; for outlines with no numbers, use Photo to Coloring Page.
Paint by Numbers Maker: frequently asked questions
How do I make a custom paint by numbers from my own photo?
Drop the photo in, choose the number of colours and the detail, and download the numbered outline page. The colour key under the drawing shows which colour each number is. Switch Download to Finished colour preview to see the result. Related guide: DPI, PPI and print size, explained properly.
How many colours should a paint by numbers have?
Twelve to eighteen suit most photos. Eight or fewer make a simple kit for children; twenty-four and up look more like the photo but take much longer to paint. Related tool: Photo to Coloring Page.
How do I match the paints?
Each number has a hex colour code in the key. Mix acrylics to match the swatches by eye, or take the codes to a paint shop's colour matcher. You do not need every colour exactly; close is fine. Related tool: Cross Stitch Pattern Maker.
Can I print it bigger than A4?
Yes: Detailed gives the most pixels. For A3 or a canvas, print at a copy shop with "fit to page", or enlarge the page first with the Image Upscaler so the lines stay crisp.