Tips & Inspiration

The best photo for color by numbers is sharp, well lit, high in contrast and has one clear subject that fills the frame. Tick those boxes and your Custom Photo – Color by Numbers canvas will be easy to recognise and a joy to fill in. In this guide you run your own photo through eight concrete checkpoints, so you know it will work before you even upload it.

Quick facts

• Sharpness: a crisp photo, not blurry or shaky.
• Light: even daylight, no harsh shadows or blown-out highlights.
• Contrast: the subject stands out clearly against the background.
• Clear subject: one main subject that sits large in the frame.
• Not too many small faces: a few people up close beats a big group far away.
• Resolution: a high-quality original, not a screenshot or shrunken image.
• Background: calm or fitting, so your subject steals the show.
• Composition: fill the frame and mind the aspect ratio of your size.

Why your photo matters so much

With color by numbers we turn your photo into a pre-printed canvas of numbered areas. Every little area gets a number that matches a numbered marker. The clearer the photo you start with, the more logical those areas become and the better the finished piece looks. A dull or dark photo produces areas that blur into one another, and colouring that in feels far less rewarding. The conversion makes a good photo shine, but it cannot rescue a weak one, so a quick check pays off. Want to know the exact prices and sizes first? Read our guide on the prices and sizes of the custom photo canvas.

The 8 checkpoints for a suitable photo

1. Sharpness

Sharpness is the single most important factor. View your photo on a large screen and look closely: can you clearly see the eyes, the texture of a coat of fur or the details of a face? Then you are in good shape. A shaky or slightly blurry photo often looks fine on your phone, but turns unmistakably soft on a large canvas. We cannot conjure sharpness that is not there, so when in doubt pick the crispest photo you have.

2. Good light

Daylight is your best friend. A photo taken by a window or outside in the shade usually has soft, even lighting. Avoid harsh midday sun with deep cast shadows, and avoid blown-out patches where all the detail has burned away. Dark evening shots with a hard flash rarely work either: the colours are off and the shadows are too heavy.

3. Enough contrast

Contrast decides whether your subject lifts away from the background. A light dog on a light sofa or a dark cat in a dark room gives too little difference to base the areas on. Look for a photo where the subject has a different brightness or colour from whatever sits behind it. That not only makes colouring easier, it also gives a livelier painting.

4. One clear subject

The finest results have one hero: your child, your pet, a loved one, a wedding couple or a favourite place. Make sure that subject sits large in the frame and is not crowded out by other elements. Torn between a close-up and a shot from a distance? Choose the close-up — it almost always translates better onto a canvas.

5. Not too many small faces

Faces need room to stay recognisable. A portrait of one, two or three people close to the camera works beautifully. A large group photo where everyone appears small loses exactly the features that make it personal. Still want a group? Then choose a larger size so more areas are available for detail. If you are after the very finest facial detail, a Custom Photo cross-stitch kit can be a lovely alternative.

6. Enough resolution

Use the original, not a forwarded or downloaded version. Photos shrunk by chat apps or social media lose sharpness and detail. Screenshots are best avoided for the same reason. A modern smartphone photo pulled straight from your camera roll is more than enough. Unsure? Larger files are always safer than small ones.

7. A calm or fitting background

A busy background full of objects distracts and makes the colouring feel cluttered. A plain wall, some greenery or a soft, blurred backdrop lets your subject glow instead. Too much going on in your photo? Often it helps simply to crop in tighter on the subject itself.

8. Thoughtful composition

Think ahead about how your subject fits the frame. Your canvas has a fixed ratio — for example 40×50 or 50×70 cm — so a landscape photo suits a landscape size and an upright portrait suits an upright size. Fill the frame as much as you can and keep important details away from the very edge. A little space around the subject gives a calm, professional look.

Which photos work less well?

• Blurry or shaky snaps that only look sharp at small size.
• Screenshots or heavily compressed downloads from social media.
• Dark evening or flash photos with heavy shadows.
• Group photos from a distance with lots of small faces.
• Photos with heavy filters or extreme colour editing.

Recognise your favourite photo here? No problem — see if you have another shot from the same moment, or pick a ready-made set as an alternative.

Which size suits your photo?

As a rule of thumb: the more detail your photo holds, the larger the canvas you choose. A single portrait already looks great at 30×40 or 40×50 cm, while a photo with several people or a lot of background benefits from 50×70 or 60×80 cm. More canvas means more areas and therefore smoother transitions. The personalised version costs €50.95 – €84.95 depending on the size, includes the matching markers and ships with free worldwide shipping. You will find the full price table per size in our guide on prices and sizes.

How does ordering with your own photo work?

1. On the product page, choose the size that suits your photo.
2. Upload your photo straight away at checkout — run it through the eight points above first.
3. We convert your photo into a pre-printed canvas of numbered areas and include the matching numbered markers.
4. You calmly fill in the areas, number by number — no paint, no mess, right at the kitchen table.

Curious how long the colouring takes? Read how long color by numbers takes. For the photo criteria behind a stitched portrait, our guide on which photo works for a cross-stitch kit is a useful companion read.

No suitable photo? Choose a ready-made set

No photo that ticks the checkpoints, but still keen to relax and colour? The collection sets are a lovely alternative. A Color by Numbers Set gives you two canvases that share the same colour palette, so one marker set makes two matching paintings. Popular themes include Mediterranean Summer, Mountain Landscapes and Animal Love. You choose from 24, 36 or 48 colours — more colours means more detail and smoother transitions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a photo from my phone?

Yes, a modern smartphone photo is perfectly fine as long as it is sharp and well lit. Pull the photo straight from your camera roll and avoid a screenshot or a version shrunk through chat, because those lose detail.

Does an old or black-and-white photo work too?

Absolutely. For the result, contrast matters more than colour, so a good old photo or a black-and-white portrait can turn out beautifully. Just make sure it is sharp enough; heavily faded or damaged photos may lack some detail.

Can I have a group photo converted?

You can, but keep the faces in mind. If many people appear small, facial features get lost. Choose a larger size such as 50×70 or 60×80 cm, or use a photo where the people stand closer to the camera.

What if my photo is not sharp enough?

The conversion cannot add sharpness that is not there. In that case pick another shot from the same moment or a crisper photo of your subject. When in doubt, run through the eight checkpoints once more.

How much does a custom photo canvas cost?

The personalised version costs €50.95 to €84.95, depending on the size. The numbered markers are included, and shipping is free, worldwide and with no minimum spend.