Custom paint by numbers takes the same numbered canvas system used in standard kits and applies it to your personal photograph. Instead of a pre-designed image of a landscape or animal, you paint a canvas that exactly mirrors your own photo — your pet, your family, your wedding day, a meaningful landscape.

The result is a hand-painted artwork that is entirely personal. It makes for one of the most thoughtful gifts available — especially for portraits of pets, children, or commemorative occasions.

The process at Paintly Kits is straightforward: upload your photo, choose your canvas size, and we convert it into a numbered canvas kit with matching paints and brushes. You paint it at your own pace, then frame and display it.

Photo selection is the most important step. The best photos for custom paint by numbers share these qualities:

Once you upload your photo, our design system analyses the image and segments it into distinct colour regions. Each region is assigned a number corresponding to one of the included paint colours.

The number of distinct colours depends on the complexity of the image and the canvas size you choose. A standard kit includes 24–36 colours. More detailed images at larger sizes can include up to 50+ colour shades for highly realistic results.

Our team manually reviews each conversion to ensure the most important details — faces, eyes, defining features — are captured accurately. For portraits especially, this human review step makes a significant difference in the final quality.

The resulting canvas is pre-printed with your image outline and all section numbers, ready to paint exactly as you would a standard kit.

Larger canvases contain more detail and produce more impressive finished pieces, but take longer to complete. Here is a guide to choosing the right size:

30×40cm: Good starting size for a simple subject (pet portrait, single person). 15–20 painting hours. Suits a desk frame or small wall space.

40×50cm: The most popular size. Works well for portraits, landscapes, and most subject types. 20–30 hours. Makes a strong wall display in a standard frame.

50×70cm: Best for complex subjects, group photos, or when you want maximum visual impact. 30–50 hours. Gallery-wall statement piece.

For a first custom kit, the 40×50cm size offers the best balance of detail, painting time, and display impact.

Painting a custom kit works exactly the same way as a standard paint by numbers kit. The numbered canvas system makes it completely achievable regardless of artistic experience.

A few tips that apply specifically to custom portrait and pet kits:

Faces and eyes first (or last). These are the most important areas. Some painters prefer to tackle them early when motivation is high; others prefer to save them for last when technique is most refined. Either approach works.

Don't overblend. The colour boundaries in your canvas are intentional — they create the definition that makes the portrait recognisable. Work within the numbered sections rather than trying to smooth every border.

Reference your photo. Keep the original photo nearby as you paint. When you're unsure about a colour section, comparing against the photo helps you verify you're on track.