How to make a stained glass pattern from a photo
- Choose an image with bold, simple shapes: a flower, a bird, a pet, a landscape, a logo. Crop it close and avoid busy backgrounds.
- Set the panel width and the number of glass colours (5–9 is typical). The height follows the image.
- Choose the piece size. “Large pieces” is best for a first panel; “Small pieces” suits experienced cutters and copper foil work.
- Pick the method, copper foil or lead came, so the lines and the material list match how you will build it.
- Download the PDF: a page with the glass preview, the numbered pattern, the glass list and materials, then the pattern at full size over several sheets.
What the tool does to make the pattern cuttable
- Smooth curves: the outlines are smoothed so there are no jagged steps, thin fingers or tight notches that glass can’t be cut into.
- No tiny or skinny pieces: any piece smaller or narrower than the limit for your piece size is merged into its neighbour.
- Break lines: pieces that are too large, very irregular, or wrap all the way around another piece are split, the way a designer adds extra lead lines. A ring of glass can’t be cut in one piece.
- Labels: every piece gets the letter of its glass colour and a piece number, numbered in rows from the top so neighbouring pieces have nearby numbers.
Piece size limits
| Setting | Smallest piece (about) | Narrowest part | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large pieces | 3 × 3 cm | 9 mm | First projects, lead came windows |
| Medium pieces | 2.2 × 2.2 cm | 7 mm | Most copper foil panels and suncatchers |
| Small pieces | 1.6 × 1.6 cm | 5.5 mm | Experienced cutters, detailed copper foil |
Limits are in real size, so a bigger panel keeps more detail. Too many pieces? Lower the number of colours or choose larger pieces.
Materials list
- Glass: the area of each colour in cm² and square feet, plus 25% for cutting waste. Buy each sheet a little larger than that so you can follow the texture or grain.
- Copper foil: every joint has two foiled edges, so the tape needed is about twice the total length of the lines, plus 15%.
- Lead came: the length of the inside joints plus 10%, and separately the border around the panel.
- Also needed: solder, flux, a glass cutter, running and grozing pliers, a grinder if you have one, and zinc or U-came for the frame.
From pattern to panel
- Print the full-size sheets at 100% and check the 5 cm red line. Trim and tape the sheets together where they overlap.
- Make two copies. Keep one whole as the layout guide; cut the other apart with pattern shears, which remove the width of the foil or lead line.
- Trace each paper piece onto its glass (letter = colour), cut, grind and check it against the layout copy.
- Foil or lead the pieces, solder, frame, then clean and polish.
Glass colours on screen are only a guide. Choose real sheets by holding them up to the light where the panel will hang.
Frequently asked questions
How does it turn a photo into a stained glass pattern?
It reduces the picture to the number of glass colours you choose, smooths the outlines into cuttable curves, and merges any piece that is too small or too narrow to cut into its neighbour. Every remaining piece gets a glass letter and a number.
How big will the pieces be?
Choose “Large pieces” for a first project: no piece is smaller than about 3 × 3 cm or narrower than about 9 mm at your panel size. “Small pieces” allows pieces down to about 1.6 × 1.6 cm for experienced cutters.
How much glass do I need?
The glass list shows the area of each colour in cm² and square feet, plus 25% for cutting waste. Buy sheets a little bigger than that so you can lay out the pieces with the grain.
Copper foil or lead came?
Copper foil (Tiffany method) suits small pieces, curves and suncatchers. Lead came suits larger windows with bigger, simpler pieces. The tool estimates the foil tape or lead came you need for your pattern.
How do I print the pattern at full size?
Download the PDF and print the full-size sheets at 100% (actual size). Check the 5 cm red line, then trim and tape the sheets together where they overlap.
Is my image uploaded?
No. The pattern is made in your browser, so your image never leaves your device.
Last updated 2026-10-20.