Custom Paint by Numbers From Your Photo

A custom paint by numbers kit starts with a photo you already love. Send us the picture, a pet, a person, a place, a moment, and we turn it into a numbered canvas you paint yourself. It is the same kit format as our stock designs: one pre-stretched canvas, a matched set of numbered acrylic paints, brushes, and a printed reference image. The only difference is the picture on the canvas is yours.

This page explains how the from-photo process works, what arrives in the box, and how to choose the right level of detail. When you are ready to start, the upload form lives on the custom paint by numbers kit page, which holds a 5.0-star rating across more than 570 reviews.

How custom paint by numbers from a photo works

Three steps take you from a photo on your phone to a finished painting on your wall.

1. Upload your photo

Open the custom kit page and add your picture straight to the upload form. A sharp, well-lit photo where the subject fills most of the frame converts best. Phone photos are fine; you do not need a professional camera.

2. We build your numbered canvas

We convert your photo into a paint-by-numbers design, print it on a pre-stretched 40cm x 50cm (16" x 20") canvas, and match a numbered acrylic paint set to its colours. The design maps every part of your photo to a numbered zone, so the whole image arrives ready to paint.

3. You paint it

Match each numbered pot to the matching area on the canvas. Most painters work the large background shapes first and save the fine detail for last. There is no time limit and no skill test, just numbered zones and a finished piece you made yourself.

What is in a custom kit

• A pre-stretched canvas, 40cm x 50cm (16" x 20"), printed with your design and its numbered zones
• Numbered acrylic paint pots, pre-matched to the colours in your photo (24, 36, or 48 depending on the tier you choose)
• A set of brushes, including a fine brush for small areas
• A printed reference image of the finished design to paint alongside
• A framed or rolled option: pick a ready-to-hang framed canvas, or a rolled canvas you frame yourself

Every custom kit uses the same single canvas size, 40cm x 50cm (16" x 20"). You choose the colour tier and the framing, not the dimensions.

Choosing your detail level: 24, 36, or 48 colours

The colour tier decides how much detail the finished painting can hold.

• 24 colours is best for bold, simple subjects: a single pet against a plain background, a graphic landscape, a portrait in soft even light. It is the fastest of the three to finish.
• 36 colours is the balanced middle and the most popular choice. It carries enough range for most photos, including two subjects or a busier background.
• 48 colours is best for portraits, pets with detailed fur, and photo-realistic scenes where skin tones and shadows need to blend smoothly. It is the longest project of the three.

If you are not sure, 36 colours suits most photos. Portraits and pets usually reward the jump to 48.

What people turn into custom kits

The kit is the same whatever the subject. Only the photo changes.

• Pets. A dog, cat, horse, or any animal you want to keep on the wall. The custom pet portrait paint by numbers page has photo tips specific to animals.
• Weddings and anniversaries. The first dance, the venue, or a couple's portrait, often given as a gift. The custom wedding paint by numbers page covers which wedding photos work best.
• Also popular: family portraits, a new baby, a remembrance piece for someone you have lost, a housewarming painting of a first home, and travel photos from a trip worth keeping.

Reviews from people who painted their own photo

The custom kit holds a 5.0-star rating across more than 570 reviews. You can read all of them on the custom kit page.

Custom paint by numbers FAQ

What kind of photo works best?

A photo in sharp focus, with good light, where the subject fills most of the frame. Higher resolution helps. Avoid heavy filters and very dark images. The clearer your photo, the cleaner the numbered design we can build from it, so it is worth picking the best version you have.

How many colours should I choose?

Choose 24 for bold, simple subjects, 36 for most photos, and 48 for portraits, pets, and fine detail. When in doubt, 36 is the safe middle.

Can you do more than one person or pet in a photo?

Yes. Group photos and multi-pet pictures work well. A higher colour tier, 36 or 48, gives the detail needed to keep separate faces and fur distinct.

Will the finished painting look exactly like my photo?

A paint-by-numbers design simplifies your photo into numbered colour zones, so the finished piece is a hand-painted interpretation rather than a photographic copy. A higher colour tier holds more detail and stays closer to the original, which is why portraits and pets usually do best at 48 colours.

What size is the canvas?

One size: 40cm x 50cm (16" x 20"), pre-stretched. You choose framed or rolled.

Is a custom kit good for a beginner?

Yes. The numbered system is the same as our stock kits, so a personal photo does not make the painting harder. A beginner should lean toward 24 or 36 colours for a first custom project.

Can I give a custom kit as a gift?

Yes, gifting is one of the most common reasons people order. Because a custom kit is made to order from your photo, allow extra time before a date you are working toward.

Ready to paint your photo?

Upload your picture, pick your colour tier, and start painting. Start your custom paint by numbers kit.