Photo painting guide

How to turn a photo into paint by number

A favorite photo can become a numbered canvas. This guide explains how to choose a clear picture, prepare it for conversion and paint it one shape at a time in BrushMark on iPhone or iPad.

BrushMark is listed as coming to the App Store in 2026. The workflow below describes the app features documented on this website; see the app homepage for its current availability.

1. Choose a photo with a clear subject

Start with a pet, portrait or place that is easy to recognize at a small size. A subject that stands out from its background gives the conversion clearer edges to work with. A bright pet against a dark sofa, for example, will usually be easier to distinguish than a similarly colored pet against a patterned rug.

• Look for clear edges around the main subject.
• Prefer photos where important details are visible rather than lost in shadow.
• For a first picture, try one subject and a simple background.

A busy photo can still be worth trying, but many small details may produce a more demanding canvas. Pick a picture you will enjoy spending time with rather than choosing only for technical quality.

2. Crop before importing if the background competes

If the subject occupies only a small part of the frame, prepare a tighter crop in your photo editor before choosing it in BrushMark. Keep the features that make the picture recognizable: a pet's ears, a person's eyes or the outline of a building. Avoid cutting so close that the subject loses its shape.

Compare the full image and the crop at phone size. If the crop makes the subject easier to see, it is a useful starting point. Cropping does not restore missing detail in a blurred or very dark original; another photo may give a better result.

3. Convert the photo and choose a detail level

Choose the photo from your library. BrushMark turns it into closed, numbered shapes and a color palette on your device. The app offers four levels of detail, ranging from twelve to forty colors.

For a shorter session, begin with fewer colors. For a picture where subtle differences matter, try a higher detail level. More colors can preserve more of the photo's variation, but the best choice is the one that makes the canvas enjoyable to finish.

4. Fill the numbered shapes

Select a color and tap shapes with the corresponding number. BrushMark fills each whole shape, so you do not need to trace inside the outline. If a tap does nothing, check that the selected color matches the shape's number.

Pinch to zoom when a number is hard to read. The hint button finds the next shape for your selected color. Progress is saved, so you can return to the picture in another session.

5. Save or share the finished painting

When the canvas is complete, the finished screen offers Save to Photos and Share. Saving puts the finished image in your photo library. You can also share a before-and-after card using the app's sharing feature.

What if the photo does not convert well?

• The subject blends into the background: try a tighter crop or a photo with more separation between subject and background.
• Important detail disappears: try a higher detail level or a clearer original.
• The canvas feels too busy: try fewer colors or a simpler photo.
• A shape will not fill: match its number to the selected color, then zoom in if needed.

BrushMark processes the chosen photo on your iPhone or iPad. The site documents that photos are not uploaded for conversion. Read the privacy policy for the complete data-handling details.

Explore BrushMark

See the app's features and availability or visit BrushMark support for help with conversion, saving and purchases.

Published October 3, 2026 by Fidget Digit Studios L.L.C. This guide is based on the app features and support guidance documented on this site.