How to make a custom diamond painting from a photo
Updated October 31, 2026
A diamond painting chart works like a cross stitch chart: one square per drill, one symbol per color. Drills are small, so even modest canvases hold a lot of detail, and photos convert well.
Try it with your own photo. Free, in your browser.
Open the diamond painting generatorCanvas size
Square drills are 2.5 mm, so 4 drills make 1 cm. A 100-drill-wide picture is 25 cm across, before any border.
| Drills wide | Picture width | Drills (square) |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 20 cm (7.9 in) | 6,400 |
| 100 | 25 cm (9.8 in) | 10,000 |
| 120 | 30 cm (11.8 in) | 14,400 |
| 160 | 40 cm (15.7 in) | 25,600 |
Square or round drills
Square drills sit edge to edge and give a full, mosaic-like surface that shows photos well. Round drills are quicker to place and sparkle more, but leave small gaps. The same chart works for both.
Ordering drills
- Order by DMC drill number from the color key.
- Counts in the PDF already include about 10% spare, because drills bounce and get lost.
- Most photo canvases use 25 to 40 colors. Fewer colors cost less and are easier to sort.
Making the canvas
You can print the chart and work over it with a sticky film, or send the PDF to a shop that prints custom diamond painting canvases. Check the shop's drill size matches 2.5 mm before ordering.
Make yours now
Turn a photo into a diamond art chart with DMC drill numbers. Drill counts include about 10% spare, so you know exactly what to order.
Open the diamond painting generator