How to make a custom diamond painting from a photo
- Choose a photo with good light and a clear subject. Portraits, pets and landscapes all work.
- Set the width in drills. At 2.5 mm per drill, 120 drills is 30 cm wide and 160 drills is 40 cm. The height follows the photo.
- Choose the number of colours (25–40 suits most photos) and square or round drills.
- Check the preview, then download the PDF: cover, DMC colour key with drill counts, and the numbered symbol chart.
- Order the drills by DMC code from the key, and print the chart or have it printed on adhesive canvas.
Picture size, drills and canvas
| Width in drills | Picture width | Typical canvas width (3 cm border) |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 20 cm (7.9 in) | 26 cm |
| 120 | 30 cm (11.8 in) | 36 cm |
| 160 | 40 cm (15.7 in) | 46 cm |
| 200 | 50 cm (19.7 in) | 56 cm |
| 240 | 60 cm (23.6 in) | 66 cm |
A 30 × 40 cm picture has 120 × 160 = 19,200 drills. At a relaxed pace of a few hundred drills an hour, that’s a project of several weeks of evenings.
Why the key uses DMC codes
Diamond-painting drills are numbered with the colour codes of DMC embroidery floss. That makes the key universal: you can order loose drills by DMC number from most sellers, and any colour left over from one kit can be reused in the next. The tool chooses from the full DMC colour range, matching your photo’s colours with the CIEDE2000 colour-difference formula. Not every seller stocks every code, so check availability, or reduce the number of colours if a code is hard to find.
Square or round drills?
- Square drills lock together edge to edge and give full, mosaic-like coverage. Best for portraits and detailed photos.
- Round drills are quicker and easier to pick up and sparkle more, but small gaps show between them.
The chart is the same for both, because each square on the chart is one drill either way.
How many drills to order
The key counts every drill of each colour and adds 10% under To buy. Drills are sold in bags by count or weight, so round up to the next bag size, especially for the large background colours.
Frequently asked questions
What drill size does it use?
2.5 mm, the standard size for square and most round drills, so 120 drills across is a 30 cm (11.8 in) wide picture. Add about 3 cm of border on every side for the canvas.
Why DMC codes?
Diamond painting drills are numbered with DMC embroidery-floss colour codes, so most suppliers sell loose drills by DMC number. Check your supplier has every code before ordering.
How many drills do I need?
The key counts the drills for each colour and adds 10% spare under “To buy”, since some drills are misshapen or lost. Loose drills are usually sold in bags of a few hundred to a few thousand; round up.
Square or round drills?
Square drills cover the canvas completely and look like a mosaic; round drills are quicker to place and sparkle more but leave small gaps. The pattern is the same; only the preview changes.
How many colours?
Simple designs: 10–20. Photos and portraits: 25–50. Commercial custom kits often use 30–50 colours.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser.
Last updated 2026-10-19.