Yes, you can make paint by numbers from your own image: a photo, a drawing, a scan of a printed picture or a screenshot all work, as long as the file is sharp enough. For a photo, aim for at least 1,500 px on the long side after cropping; for a drawing, at least 1,000 px on the short side.
Photos
This is the usual route and the one the custom kit is built around. You upload the picture on the product page, pick a size and a color count, and the kit does not go to the cart until a file is attached. The sharper and more evenly lit the original, the cleaner the zones. Colored indoor light can tint skin and fur, so a daylight shot is the safer pick. Leave some room around the subject: cropping to a canvas shape cuts into the edges. For the two largest sizes (50x65 and 60x60 cm), the file should reach 2,500 px on the long side.
If you are not sure how to shoot it, how to take the perfect photo for a custom paint by numbers covers light and framing.
Drawings and flat artwork
A drawing does not have to be a photo to work. Anime frames, line art, game screenshots and your own watercolor are already built from flat areas of color, which is what a numbered canvas needs. They often get by with fewer colors: 24 can be enough where an animal portrait asks for 36. Send at least 1,000 px on the short side. One condition: only use work you own or have paid for.
A scan of an old print
A printed photo from a family album can become a kit, but photograph or scan it carefully. A phone shot of a glossy print picks up glare and a slight angle, and either one muddies the zones. A flat scan at a high enough resolution to pass the pixel minimum is the better route. The file check only reads file properties and dimensions, so it cannot tell you the scan is good: look at it at full size yourself before you upload.
Screenshots
A screenshot is usually too small. Check the pixel dimensions before you try: if it falls under the minimums above, no setting will rescue it, and a larger original is the answer.
How many colors to pick
Landscapes and simple images do well with 24 colors. Faces, animals and groups are better with 36 or 48. A larger count means more zones to paint and more detail to keep within the lines, so it is also a time decision.
What to expect after you order
The preview on the page is an approximation, not a proof to sign off. Processing is estimated at 1 to 3 business days and standard shipping at 7 to 15 business days; those are estimates, not guaranteed dates. The kit arrives with numbered acrylic paints, brushes in several sizes, a printout of your image and step-by-step instructions. If you would rather start from a ready-made design, browse the paint by numbers kits for adults. For the full order walkthrough, see custom paint by numbers from a photo: the complete guide.
