Paint by numbers from photo: create your own numbered template
This tool turns any photo into a template for paint by numbers from a photo: choose the image, set the number of colours and the level of detail, and you get outlines, numbers and a colour list to print. A colour preview shows how the finished picture will look. The photo is not uploaded.
Source: Wikipedia – Paint by number. Updated: .
How it is calculated
How the photo becomes a painting template
- Choose an image, drop it in or paste it with Ctrl + V.
- Set the number of colours and the level of detail: fewer colours and coarser areas are easier to paint, more colours show more detail.
- Check in the colour preview that the subject is still recognisable.
- Save the template as a PNG, print it on A4 or larger and paint the areas with the colours from the list.
How the template is made
The photo is reduced to a grid. From the photo’s colours the tool calculates a palette with the number of colours you want and assigns the most similar one to each cell. Then isolated cells are smoothed and areas smaller than the detail level are merged into the neighbouring colour – so only areas remain that can hold a number and a brush stroke. Numbers sit in the middle of each area; number 1 is the most frequent colour.
Painting tips
- The codes in the colour list show the shade on screen. Mix your paints by eye with acrylic or opaque paint.
- Paint the large areas first and the small details last.
- For larger templates, have the PNG file enlarged at a print shop or poster printer.
The photo stays on your device; nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make paint by numbers from a photo?
Choose the photo, set the number of colours and the level of detail, and save the template as PNG. Outlines, numbers and a colour list are included.
How many colours make sense?
For beginners 6 to 12 colours work well. With 18 to 24 colours photos get more detailed, but painting takes much longer.
What does the level of detail do?
It sets the smallest allowed area. “Coarse” merges small areas more strongly for a calmer picture, “Fine” keeps more detail.
How do I print the template?
Save it as PNG and print on A4. For larger sizes, have the file enlarged at poster printing; the lines stay sharp.
Which photo works best?
Pictures with clear shapes and contrast, such as portraits, animals or landscapes. Very dark or noisy photos give restless areas.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser; the image never leaves your device.
Sources and legal basis
- Wikipedia – Paint by number
- Wikipedia – K-means clustering (colour palette from the photo)
- Wikipedia – Pole of inaccessibility (placing the number at the center of the area)
- ITU-T T.81 / ISO/IEC 10918-1 – JPEG
- W3C – Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Specification
- Google for Developers – An image format for the Web (WebP)
- AOMedia – AV1 Image File Format (AVIF)
- MDN – Image file type and format guide
- MDN – HTMLCanvasElement.toBlob()
- Open-source licenses of the libraries used (MIT, LGPL-3.0)
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