Making a painting from your favorite picture should be simple.

A creative starting point for anyone

Paint by numbers is a relaxing way to make art without drawing every shape or choosing every shade from scratch. We built this tool to help you turn a picture that matters to you into a personal painting project.

You can begin with a pet photo, a landscape, a flower, a favorite still life or one of the sample pictures. The goal is to help you spend less time preparing the numbered pattern and more time enjoying the painting process.

How the generator works

1. Choose a picture. Upload a JPG, PNG or WebP image up to 12 MB, or start with a sample on the homepage.
2. Find the right balance. Try fewer colors for bigger shapes or more colors for finer shading. Choose More Detail or Easier to Paint, and adjust your crop or rotation as needed.
3. Check the result. Compare the numbered outline with the color preview. If small areas are too crowded, simplify the photo or settings and make another version.
4. Download and paint. Save a PDF or PNG, print your outline, keep the color guide nearby and use your own paints and brushes.

There's no complicated art software to learn. You can try the free generator directly from the homepage.

What you can download

The printable PDF contains two pages: a numbered line drawing and a colored reference with matching color numbers. Choose A4 or US Letter to suit your paper. You can also save the numbered or colored preview as a PNG.

These are digital files, not physical paint kits. We don't ship canvas, paints, brushes or prints. If you'd like to turn a download into a finished work, the DIY paint by numbers guide explains printing, canvas transfer and choosing paints.

Choose a design you will enjoy painting

A clear main subject and a simple background often make the easiest first project. Flowers and landscapes with broad shapes can work well with fewer colors; portraits and pets may need more detail to keep features recognizable.

Try a different setting if you don't like the first preview. There's no perfect number of colors for every photo, and a design that looks more photographic isn't always easier to paint. Our photo preparation tips cover different subjects, cropping and common conversion problems.

What to know before you print

Every generated pattern is a simplified version of the original picture. Very narrow regions may not have enough space for a readable number, subtle colors may merge, and tiny facial features or fur can become harder to recognize.

Color swatches and HEX codes are guides to appearance, not guaranteed matches for physical paint brands or mixing recipes. Check the downloaded outline at its actual print size before beginning, and test your chosen paints on the intended surface.

Save your PDF or PNG if you want to keep it. You can't reopen a past design on this website, and refreshing the page means choosing your picture and making the pattern again.

Free to use, with your pictures kept on your device

Your picture is turned into a numbered design in your browser, without sending it to us for conversion. No account or payment is needed to make and download a pattern.

The services that deliver and protect this website may receive basic information about your visit. Our privacy policy explains what that means and what happens when you email us.

Questions or ideas are welcome

We want our instructions and printable designs to be useful for your painting projects. If a download doesn't work, you notice an accessibility problem, or you'd like to suggest an improvement, tell us what happened.

Email support@paintbynumbersgenerator.app or visit our contact page for tips on describing the problem. You can also start a new painting template whenever you're ready.