Your Personalised Painting by Numbers kit

Creating a personalised paint-by-numbers kit starts with selecting the right photo. To achieve the best results, follow these recommendations to ensure your final masterpiece looks as vibrant and detailed as your original image:

1. High Resolution

• High resolution means your image contains a lot of detail, making it clear and sharp. Choosing an in-focus image ensures clean outlines and an accurate reproduction in your paint-by-numbers kit.
• Low-resolution photos will appear blurry or pixelated, reducing the quality of your kit. Avoid images that appear blurred when zooming in.

2. Good Lighting

• Good lighting highlights the details and colours in your image, which are essential for accurate colour matching and detail replication. Opt for a well-lit photo with balanced, even lighting to ensure all parts of the image are visible and well-defined.
• An underexposed photo will appear too dark and can create shadowy areas which may lack detail.
• An overexposed photo will appear too bright (e.g., photos taken against the sun) washing out colours and important details.

3. Distance and Subject Focus

• The subject of your photo should be the focal point of your image, with enough clarity and prominence to translate well onto a canvas. Ensure the main subject (person, pet, or object) is centred, well-framed, and not too far away.
• Photos taken too far away may lose detail, and important features may appear small and indistinct. For group photos, ensure the subjects aren't too small or overlapping.

4. Composition

• A balanced and visually appealing composition enhances the overall impact of your artwork. Choose a photo with a simple, clean background or a natural setting that complements the subject without overpowering it.
• Busy or cluttered backgrounds can distract from the main subject and may result in overly complex details.

Bonus Tips:

• Cropping: Upload your photo exactly as you'd like it to be printed. If it's a screenshot, be sure to crop out any borders. If you want a portrait photo printed in landscape orientation, crop it accordingly or clearly indicate your intention.
• Avoid Filters: Photos with heavy filters or edits will likely alter the colours and affect the accuracy of the paint-by-numbers translation.
• Multiple Images in One: Avoid combining multiple images into one photo. While it may seem like a fun idea, it can reduce the level of detail and may make the subjects too small or unclear. For the best result, keep it to a single image.

We hope these tips help you choose the perfect photo for your personalised paint-by-numbers kit! If you’ve got any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out. Happy creating and happy shopping - your masterpiece awaits!

No Reference Sheet, No Problem!

At Painting By Numbers, we've opted for a digital reference instead of printed sheets - an easy, effective option that not only supports sustainable practices but also allows you to zoom in and view every detail effortlessly.

For our personalised kit, we recommend a quick and simple solution: take a photo! A photo reference is easily accessible, allowing you to refer to it anywhere, anytime, without needing to carry extra sheets, making it a practical, clutter-free option for viewing intricate details as you paint.

If you've started painting your canvas and/or you are unable to photograph it as a reference, we can provide a downloadable digital copy of your design upon request.

Why We Don’t Provide Printed Reference Sheets

Printed reference sheets may seem convenient, but they come with limitations. Typically, they are smaller than the canvas itself, making details hard to read without zooming in. Producing them for each kit also consumes resources and generates unnecessary paper waste, which runs counter to our commitment to sustainability.