How to make string art from a photo
- Choose a photo and use the zoom to fill the frame with the face or subject. Drag the small picture to move it. The small picture shows the photo the way the generator sees it: grey, with stronger contrast.
- Set the board: circle or square, the size, and how many nails. The preview builds up line by line in a second or two.
- Adjust the contrast and the number of lines until the preview looks right. More lines make it darker and more detailed, but take longer to string.
- Download the PDF. It has a summary page, the nail template at real size spread over several sheets, and the numbered step list.
- Build it: tape the template to the board, hammer a nail through every dot, remove the paper, then follow the steps with your thread.
How many nails? Nail spacing by board size
| Circle diameter | 150 nails | 200 nails | 250 nails | 300 nails |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 cm (12 in) | 6.3 mm | 4.7 mm | 3.8 mm | 3.1 mm |
| 40 cm (16 in) | 8.4 mm | 6.3 mm | 5.0 mm | 4.2 mm |
| 50 cm (20 in) | 10.5 mm | 7.9 mm | 6.3 mm | 5.2 mm |
| 60 cm (24 in) | 12.6 mm | 9.4 mm | 7.5 mm | 6.3 mm |
| 70 cm (28 in) | 14.7 mm | 11.0 mm | 8.8 mm | 7.3 mm |
Nails closer than about 4 mm are hard to hammer straight and leave little room for the thread, so use fewer nails on small boards. 200 nails on a 50 cm circle is the classic portrait setup.
How much thread and how many pages?
Every line crosses the board, so string art uses far more thread than people expect: a 50 cm portrait with about 3,000 lines takes roughly 1.2–1.5 km. The tool adds up the exact length of your pattern, plus 10% for knots and mistakes. Buy thread on large cones rather than small spools.
| Board | Template pages on A4 / Letter | Template pages on A3 |
|---|---|---|
| 30 cm | 4 | 2 |
| 40 cm | 6 | 4 |
| 50 cm | 9 | 6 |
| 60 cm | 12 | 6 |
| 70 cm | 15 | 6 |
The step list takes one page per 200 steps, with a box to tick after every 10.
Materials
- Board: plywood or MDF 12–18 mm thick, painted white for black thread (or black for white thread). Mark the centre with the cross on the template.
- Nails: thin panel pins or brad nails about 15–20 mm long, hammered in to the same height, about 8–10 mm sticking out.
- Thread: strong polyester or cotton sewing thread, or embroidery floss for a bolder look. Choose the thread setting in the tool to match, so the preview shows the same density.
Tips for a better result
- Faces: fill most of the frame with the face, light from one side, plain light background. Eyes and the hairline come out best.
- Too dark or muddy? Lower the number of lines or the contrast. Too faint? Raise them, or choose thicker thread.
- The generator stops early when no further line would make the picture better, so you may get fewer lines than the maximum.
- Keep tension even and wrap each nail the same way (always going round clockwise, for example) so the lines stay straight.
- Lost your place? The step list is numbered, and the TXT download has the same nail order in groups of ten.
Frequently asked questions
How does a string art generator work?
It places the nails around the board, then picks lines one at a time: from the current nail it tries every other nail and takes the line that covers the most dark area of your photo that is still uncovered, then repeats from that nail. The list of nails it visits is your pattern.
How many nails and lines should I use?
200 nails and 2,500–3,500 lines suit a 50 cm (20 in) circle and most portraits. Small boards (30 cm) look better with 150–180 nails and fewer lines; big boards can take 250–300 nails.
How much thread do I need?
Usually 1–2.5 km for a portrait, which sounds like a lot because every line crosses the board. The tool adds up the exact length of your pattern and adds 10% for knots and mistakes.
What photo works best?
A face or a single subject, close up, with good contrast and a plain, light background. Busy backgrounds turn into grey haze. Use the zoom to fill the circle with the face.
How do I print the nail template?
Print the template pages at 100% (actual size) and check the 5 cm bar. The pages overlap, so trim one edge, line up the dots and tape them together, then tape the template to the board and hammer a nail through each dot.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The pattern is calculated in your browser, so your photo never leaves your device.
Last updated 2026-10-20.