Turn Any Photo Into a
Cross-Stitch Pattern
Upload any photo — portrait, pet, landscape, logo — and get a counted cross-stitch pattern with DMC thread colors, backstitch outlines, and a printable PDF. Free, no account required.
- 📷Any photo: portraits, pets, landscapes, artwork, pixel art, logos
- 🎨454 DMC thread colors matched with CIEDE2000 — more accurate than RGB matching
- ✏️Automatic backstitch lines detect edges in your photo for realistic outlines
- 📄PDF with symbol chart, DMC legend, and thread quantities — ready to print and stitch
Thousands of photos converted to cross-stitch patterns
Photo to Cross-Stitch in 4 Steps
Upload Your Photo
JPEG, PNG, or WEBP — any photo works. Best results: high-contrast images with a clear subject. Crop tightly to your subject before uploading. Use the brightness and contrast sliders to adjust dark or washed-out photos before generating.
Set Grid Size and Colors
Grid width = number of stitches wide. On 14-count Aida: 70 stitches = 5 inches. Set color count to 15–25 DMC colors for most photos. The preview updates instantly as you change settings.
Preview and Adjust
Check the pattern preview. If colors look muddy, boost contrast. If there are too many stray single stitches, increase confetti reduction. Use the color swap tool to replace any DMC color with one you already own.
Download and Stitch
Free: watermarked pattern preview. Pro ($4.99/mo): clean HD PNG + PDF with DMC color legend, symbol chart, thread quantities per color, and 50×50-stitch section pages for large patterns.
Why ArtPatt for Photo to Cross-Stitch
Photo conversion is a precision task — these features make the difference between a pattern you'll actually stitch and one you'll give up on.
CIEDE2000 Color Matching
ArtPatt uses the international standard for perceptual color accuracy — not simple RGB distance. CIEDE2000 correctly handles dark values (where RGB lumps many distinct shades together), skin tones (where the tan-to-olive-to-brown range maps poorly in RGB), and subtle mid-tone variations. The DMC thread selections are noticeably more accurate, especially for portraits, pet fur, and landscape photography.
Automatic Backstitch Detection
Backstitch lines are optional cross-stitch outlines that define edges, faces, and key shapes. ArtPatt automatically detects edges in your photo and suggests backstitch lines for the main structural elements. Enable the Backstitch option to overlay these lines on the pattern. The result looks professional — the backstitch outlines give the portrait or subject definition that pure X stitches can't achieve alone.
Confetti Reduction
Photos produce noisy patterns with hundreds of isolated single-stitch color changes scattered throughout. Each one requires a separate thread and is difficult to stitch. Confetti reduction merges isolated stitches with surrounding colors while preserving all the important detail. Set to Medium for most photos, Heavy for very complex images. Check the confetti percentage in the pattern stats — under 5% is ideal.
Brightness and Contrast Adjustment
Most photos need adjustment before generating. Dark photos: increase brightness (+15-25) and contrast (+20-30) to reveal detail that would otherwise all map to one dark color. Flat, washed-out photos: increase contrast to sharpen the color separation. The live preview shows the effect on the pattern immediately — no guessing required.
Color Swap Tool
Don't like a specific DMC thread choice? Swap any color in the pattern with the color swap tool. Browse the full 454-color DMC palette, search by name or number, and see the CIEDE2000 distance to the original — the smaller the number, the closer the match. Swap colors you don't own for ones you have, or simplify the palette by merging very similar colors.
Printable PDF with Symbol Chart
The PDF export includes a symbol chart (each color gets a unique symbol for black-and-white printing), a color legend with DMC number, name, and thread quantity, and 50×50-stitch section pages for large patterns. Print the full chart or individual section pages. The section pages include row and column numbers to help you navigate large patterns without losing your place.
What Makes a Good Photo for Cross-Stitch Conversion
The quality of your source photo directly determines the quality of the resulting pattern. High-contrast photos with a clear, simple subject and plain background produce the best results. A golden retriever's face against a green lawn, a red rose against white, a bold graphic logo — these convert cleanly because the color regions are large and distinct. Complex photos with many small details, very dark areas, or busy backgrounds produce patterns with many small isolated stitches. Use the confetti reduction setting to clean these up.
Lighting is the most important factor. Natural daylight produces the most accurate colors. Flash photography creates harsh shadows and overly bright spots that map to incorrect thread colors. For pet portraits and people portraits: natural window light facing the subject, no direct sun (which creates harsh shadows). For product photography: diffuse studio lighting or an overcast outdoor shot. If your photo is dark or has heavy shadows, use the brightness (+20) and contrast (+25) sliders in ArtPatt before generating — this dramatically improves color separation in the pattern.
Choosing Grid Size for Different Projects
Grid size determines the stitch count and finished dimensions of your cross-stitch. On 14-count Aida (the most common beginner fabric), 14 stitches = 1 inch (2.54cm). A 70×70 stitch grid = a 5×5 inch (12.7×12.7cm) finished piece — suitable for a small desk frame. A 100×100 grid = 7.1×7.1 inches (18×18cm) — a standard greeting-card size frame. A 140×140 grid = 10×10 inches (25.4cm) — a substantial wall piece. For portraits: a 100-stitch-wide grid captures enough detail for a recognizable face. For pet portraits: 80–120 stitches wide gives the right balance of detail and stitchability.
Higher Aida count means smaller finished size at the same stitch count but more detail per square inch. 18-count Aida: a 70-stitch design = 3.9 inches (10cm) instead of 5 inches — more compact and more detailed. 28-count evenweave stitched over 2 threads gives the same density as 14-count but with slightly more delicate individual stitches. For your first photo cross-stitch: use 14-count Aida, 70–100 stitches wide, 15–20 DMC colors. This is achievable in 10–30 hours depending on your speed.
Photo to Cross-Stitch Success Stories
“Uploaded a photo of my grandmother and got a beautiful cross-stitch pattern in 30 seconds. The CIEDE2000 color matching captured her warm skin tones perfectly — I've tried three other converters and none got the skin tones right.”
Claire B.
Cross-stitch beginner making a family gift
“Converted a photo of my dog for my partner's birthday. Set the grid to 90 stitches, used 20 DMC colors, and turned on backstitch for the outlines. The finished piece has the backstitch around the eyes and nose making it look like a professional illustration.”
Thomas W.
Intermediate cross-stitcher
“I've been making cross-stitch patterns from family photos as Christmas gifts for 3 years. ArtPatt replaced my previous converter because the colors are just more accurate. The confetti reduction alone saves me hours of manual cleanup.”
Sarah M.
Cross-stitch pattern maker
Photo to Cross-Stitch FAQ
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Convert Your Photo to a Cross-Stitch Pattern
Upload any photo. 454 DMC colors. Backstitch detection. Free, no account needed.