Before You Order Custom Paint by Numbers: A Buyer’s Guide
Before You Order Custom Paint by Numbers: 7 Things to Know About Your Photo, Size & Detail
A few choices before you upload can make a big difference in the painting experience.
Custom paint by numbers begins with your photograph—but the best result is not just about uploading any image. Photo clarity, subject size, canvas size, color count, and framing all affect how the project feels and how much detail can be represented.
Custom kits starting at $34.99 · Canvas, matching paints & brushes included · No painting experience needed
1. Start With the Clearest Version of the Photo You Have
You do not need a professional portrait. A good phone photo can work very well. What matters most is that the subject is visible, reasonably sharp, and not hidden in deep shadows or blur.
When deciding between two photographs, choose the one where you can see the important details without having to zoom in heavily.
2. How Much of the Frame Does Your Subject Fill?
A close-up portrait generally gives the design more usable facial detail than a photograph where the person is standing far away. The same applies to pets.
For a family photo with several people, a wider composition is unavoidable. In that case, consider compensating with a larger canvas and more colors.
3. Canvas Size Is Also a Detail Decision
Customers often think about canvas size only in terms of where the final painting will hang. But size also determines how much physical space is available for small numbered sections.
A single pet or close-up portrait may work comfortably on a smaller canvas. A wedding group, family portrait, detailed house, or busy landscape often benefits from more room.
Ask yourself two questions:
Where do I want to display it?
How much detail is in the photograph?
4. 24, 36 or 48 Colors Changes the Painting Experience
24 colors gives you a simpler palette and fewer paint changes.
36 colors introduces more variation and additional shades.
48 colors provides the broadest palette for subtle transitions, skin tones, fur, shadows, and more complex photographs.
More colors are not always necessary. But when likeness and subtle shading matter, the additional palette can help preserve more visual variation.
5. Decide Whether You Want Framed or Unframed Before You Begin
An unframed canvas gives you flexibility to stretch or frame it yourself later. A pre-framed option arrives stretched so you can focus on the painting itself.
Neither is inherently better—it depends on whether you want a lower-cost flexible option or the convenience of painting on an already stretched canvas.
6. You Do Not Need to Buy a Separate Art Supply List
Your standard custom kit includes the main supplies required to paint the image:
Custom numbered canvas
Matching acrylic paints
Three paintbrushes
Full-color reference image
The paints are selected around the design, so there is no need to visit an art store and try to match the colors yourself.
7. The Best Photo Is Usually the One You Actually Care About
Technical quality matters, but emotional value matters too. A perfectly composed photograph means less if you do not care about the subject.
The images people most often want to spend hours painting are usually the ones that already have a story behind them: a pet, a wedding, a family member, a vacation, a home, a favorite vehicle, or someone they miss.
That is what turns the project from simply filling numbered spaces into something more personal.
A Quick Pre-Order Checklist
Before uploading, ask yourself:
✓ Is my main subject clearly visible?
✓ Is the photograph bright enough to see important detail?
✓ Are faces or pets large enough in the frame?
✓ Would a larger canvas help with this composition?
✓ Do I want a simpler project or the maximum available color detail?
✓ Do I want the canvas framed or unframed?
If those choices are clear, you are ready to build your kit.
What Happens After You Upload?
1. Choose your photograph. Upload it from your phone, tablet, or computer.
2. Select your kit. Pick canvas size, color count, and framing option.
3. Your image becomes a numbered design. Matching paints are prepared around the artwork.
4. Paint at your own pace. Match each number with the corresponding color and gradually reveal the image.
5. Display what you created. The finished piece becomes something you can hang, gift, or keep.
Ready to Choose Your Photo?
Custom Paint by Numbers Kits Starting at $34.99
Choose your size, detail level, and framing option—then upload the photograph you want to paint.