Use this paint by number generator to build a custom paint by number project from a photo, complete with a paint-by-number template and palette. Balance detail, region smoothness, color count, and minimum region size before export.
Private image processing Your reference stays in this browser
The Paint by Number Generator turns a reference into a printable numbered outline and matching palette. Region style lets you preserve finer contour changes or favor cleaner, more connected shapes, while color count, edge smoothing, and minimum region size refine the result. Everything stays in your browser.
Images with distinct subjects, controlled lighting, and separated color areas produce easier templates.
Preserve smaller contour changes or favor cleaner, more connected shapes before tuning the palette.
Adjust colors, smoothing, and minimum region size, then check labels and boundaries at the intended print size.
A paint by number generator converts a photograph into a simplified painting plan. It groups related colors, forms paintable shapes, assigns each palette color a number, and places matching labels inside the outline. This tool offers two ways to shape those regions: Preserve details keeps more small contour changes, while Cleaner regions favors simpler, more connected areas. The result is a custom template based on your source rather than a pre-drawn kit.
Color count controls palette variety, while Region style controls how much local shape detail is retained. Six or eight colors with Cleaner regions create a simpler starting point; Preserve details with a higher color target keeps more markings and tonal changes for larger or more detailed paintings. The selected color count is a target, so the finished palette may use fewer colors when nearby tones combine into the same useful region. Start with Balanced, inspect the subject, and change one control at a time.
Prepare a well-lit, tightly framed image, choose a Region style, and review the paintable-region count and numbered outline at the paper size you intend to use. If the template feels busy, try Cleaner regions, stronger smoothing, or a larger minimum region size; if an important feature disappears, return to Preserve details. Download the numbered template as a free PNG, or use Pro for the three-page PDF kit and separate color reference. Processing stays in your browser, and you remain responsible for permission to reproduce the source image.
Preserve details uses K-means-style color quantization in the perceptual OKLab color space. It evaluates color at the pixel level, helping retain smaller contour and tonal changes.
Cleaner regions uses SLICO-style superpixel segmentation before palette reduction. It considers both color and position to favor more connected, easier-to-paint shapes. Both methods apply edge-aware smoothing and small-region cleanup, and all processing stays in your browser.
Color count sets the palette target; Region style determines whether the template favors fine contours or cleaner paint shapes.
| Option | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 colors | Simple | Broad shapes and strong value grouping for beginners and bold subjects. |
| 12 colors | Balanced | A practical starting point for many portraits, pets, and landscapes. |
| 16–24 colors | Detailed | More tonal separation with a higher painting and color-matching workload. |
| Region style | Shape detail | Preserve details retains finer changes; Cleaner regions favors simpler, more connected areas. |
Region style, color target, smoothing, and minimum region size work together. Use these combinations as starting points, then judge the numbered preview at its intended print size.
Cleaner regions · 6–8 colors · Heavy smoothing · Large regions
Produces broad value groups and fewer small shapes for a shorter, more forgiving painting session.
Either Region style · 12 colors · Medium smoothing · Medium regions
Lets you compare cleaner shapes against extra facial, fur, or marking detail before export.
Preserve details · 18–24 colors · Light smoothing · Small regions
Retains more contour and tonal variation, but needs a larger surface and more careful paint matching.
It reduces a photo to a limited palette, builds connected paint regions, numbers the outline, and pairs every number with a color swatch. The Region style control lets you favor finer contours or cleaner, easier-to-paint shapes.
Preserve details uses K-means-style color quantization in the perceptual OKLab color space to retain finer local changes. Cleaner regions uses SLICO-style superpixel segmentation before palette reduction to favor more connected paint shapes. Both methods include edge-aware smoothing and small-region cleanup, and run locally in your browser.
Choose a target from 6 to 24 colors. The finished palette may use fewer when nearby colors combine into the same useful paint region. Lower targets are simpler; higher targets preserve more tonal variation but can increase small regions and paint matching.
Use a sharp, well-lit subject with clear separation, controlled background texture, and distinct color masses. Start with Preserve details for clear small features; try Cleaner regions when texture produces too many fussy shapes.
Yes. The numbered swatches include screen color references such as Hex and RGB values. Physical paints, printers, and displays differ, so treat those values as matching guidance rather than exact mixing formulas.
No. Color grouping, region generation, and preview happen in your browser. You should still use a photograph that you created or have permission to reproduce.
Yes. Pro export creates a three-page PDF with the numbered outline, simplified color reference plus palette key, and original source reference. Check label size and small regions at the intended print dimensions first.
Connect Paint by Number Generator with other tools in your creative workflow:
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Use this crochet grid maker and crochet chart maker to design from scratch or convert a photo into a graph. Paint stitches, reduce yarn colors, count colors, and export a numbered chart.
Need high-resolution 4K or transparent exports? Pro starts at $8/month with a 14-day free trial.
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