Quick answer: The best photo for a custom paint by numbers kit is sharp, brightly and evenly lit, taken from close enough that the subject fills most of the frame, and contains no more than two or three faces. It needs to be at least 1000 pixels on each side — any photo from a phone taken in the last decade qualifies. Avoid dark or backlit shots, busy backgrounds, small faces in a big scene, and anything blurry. Choose 36 colors rather than 24 for portraits and pets, and a larger canvas if there is more than one face.
A custom kit turns a photograph into a numbered canvas you paint yourself, and it is the most personal gift in the shop. It is also the one where the photo you choose decides almost everything about the result. A good photo gives you a painting that looks like the person or the place. A poor one gives you a canvas of brown blobs. This guide shows you how to tell the difference before you order.
What you will find in this guide
How a custom kit is made
Your photo is converted into a numbered outline, and the colors in it are reduced to a fixed palette — 24 or 36 paints, depending on the option you choose. Every area of similar color becomes a numbered section. The outline is printed on canvas, the matching paints are mixed and numbered, and the kit ships with brushes.
That conversion is the whole story of why the photo matters. Areas of clear, distinct color become clean sections. Areas of subtle shading, shadow and blur become a jumble of tiny sections, or vanish into one flat shape. Everything below follows from that.
The five rules for a photo that paints well
- Sharp. Zoom into the photo on your phone. If the eyes, the edges, the details are crisp, it will paint well. If anything is soft or blurred, choose another photo.
- Bright and evenly lit. Daylight, ideally outdoors in open shade or on a bright overcast day. Direct sun makes hard black shadows; indoor lamplight makes everything orange and murky. Both convert badly.
- Close. The subject should fill most of the frame. A face that is a small part of a wide scene becomes a few dozen sections with no detail. Crop before uploading if you need to.
- Simple background. A plain wall, sky, grass or water gives the painting room to breathe. A busy background eats colors from the palette that should have gone to the subject.
- Clear contrast. The subject should stand out from the background: a dark dog on a light lawn, a person in a bright top against a plain wall. Low contrast — a black cat on a dark sofa — turns into one shape.
The technical minimum is 1000 pixels on each side, and the upload checks this for you. In practice any recent phone photo is far above it; the rules above are what separate a good result from a great one.
Portraits and groups
Faces are the hardest subject and the most rewarding when they work. The rules that matter most:
- One or two faces paint beautifully. Three is fine on a larger canvas. Beyond that, each face becomes too small to have real features. For a big family, a larger canvas and 36 colors are the minimum, and even then, choose the photo where the faces are biggest.
- Face the camera, or nearly. Three-quarter views work; full profiles lose an eye.
- Even light on the face. Half a face in shadow becomes half a face in dark brown. Open shade outdoors is ideal.
- No sunglasses, no hats casting shadows. Eyes are what make a portrait look like the person.
- Natural expressions paint better than wide grins, which turn into a lot of small tooth sections.
Pets
Pets are the most popular custom subject and, chosen well, among the best. The photo should be at the animal's eye level, not looking down from above; it should be close enough that the head fills a third of the frame or more; and the eyes must be sharp and catch some light. Fur does not need to be in focus down to the strand — it will become broad sections anyway — but the eyes and nose must be.
Dark pets on dark backgrounds are the classic mistake. Photograph a black dog on grass, sand or a pale blanket, and a white cat against something with a little color.
Houses, landscapes and places
A childhood home, a wedding venue, a holiday view. These convert very well because buildings and landscapes are made of large, distinct areas. Photograph the house from the front in good daylight, with the sun behind you, and without cars parked in front. For landscapes, include something in the foreground to give the picture depth, and choose a sky with some cloud rather than flat blue — it gives the painter more to do and looks richer finished.
Photos to avoid
- Blurry, low-light, or heavily filtered images. Filters exaggerate exactly the tones that convert worst.
- Backlit shots with a bright window or sky behind the subject. The subject becomes a silhouette.
- Screenshots and images saved from social media, which have been compressed and lost detail.
- Old prints photographed on a table — unless you scan them or photograph them square-on in daylight with no glare.
- Large groups or crowd photos where no single face is big enough to paint.
- Very busy scenes where the subject competes with the background for the palette.
Size, colors and frame: which to choose
24 or 36 colors? 24 gives a bolder, more graphic result and suits landscapes, buildings and simple portraits. 36 gives smoother skin tones, more realistic fur and gentler shading. For any portrait or pet, choose 36.
Which size? 16 × 20 inches suits one face, one pet, or a simple scene. 20 × 24 suits two faces or a detailed scene. 24 × 32 is for groups and for anyone who wants the sections comfortably large. Larger canvases have larger sections and larger numbers, which also matters if your eyes or hands prefer easier work.
With or without frame? The with-frame option delivers the canvas ready to hang on stretcher bars. Without a frame, you can choose your own later — our framing guide shows the options.
Ordering and timing
Upload the photo on the custom kit product page using the upload button, wait for the confirmation that the upload is complete, choose your size, colors and frame, and add it to the cart. If the upload gives you trouble, you can place the order and email the photo to support with your order number.
A custom kit needs production time before it ships, so it is the one product in the shop to order early — especially for a birthday or for the holidays. Current delivery estimates are shown at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
What photo resolution do I need for a custom paint by numbers?
At least 1000 pixels on each side, which the upload checks automatically. Any photo from a modern phone is well above this. Sharpness and lighting matter far more than pixel count.
How many people can be in the photo?
One or two faces give the best result. Three works on a larger canvas with 36 colors. Beyond that, faces become too small to have real features.
Can I use an old photograph?
Yes, if you scan it or photograph it flat in daylight without glare. Faded or very small prints may not convert well; if in doubt, send it to us before ordering.
Should I choose 24 or 36 colors?
36 for portraits, pets and anything with skin or fur. 24 for buildings, landscapes and bold, graphic subjects.
Will it look exactly like the photo?
It will look like a painting of the photo — simplified into clear areas of color, which is the charm of the medium. The closer the photo follows the rules above, the closer the likeness.
Can I see the converted design before it is printed?
If you are unsure about a photo, email it to us before ordering and we will tell you honestly whether it will work, and suggest a crop if it helps.
Choose the photo, and we do the rest
Spend ten minutes picking the right picture and the kit does everything else. Upload it on the custom kit page, and while you wait for it to arrive, read our beginner tips so the first evening goes smoothly. Looking for a gift instead? Our gift guide has ideas for every person on your list.
