So you've got an incredible photo you want to turn into a diamond painting. 

STOP! Before you upload, consider this: while your picture is no doubt beautiful on your computer or phone, some images turn into very bad diamond paintings.

"Garbage In, Garbage Out." 

There are a few things you *MUST* consider about your photo before you submit it to be turned into a custom Paint With Diamonds. 

Here are the 3 secrets to choosing the perfect photo for your custom diamond painting: 

1. Choose Only Large High-Quality Photos. 

2. Pay Attention To The Colors And Shading Of Your Original Photo. 

3. Pick The Canvas That Best Fits Your Photo. 

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1. Choose Only Very Large High-Quality Photos.

Only submit a photo that is:

  • Very Large 
  • Very High-Quality
  • Taken In Good Light 

**If your image is even a little bit blurry or pixellated when you look at it, it will NOT work as a diamond painting. Images need to be super high quality to work.** 

What makes a good photo? Pixels.

Now for the sake of metaphor, imagine each pixel is a nice little diamond. 

The more pixels (diamonds) you can pack into an image (canvas), the more detail you get in your painting. 

We need your photo to have a LOT of pixels (diamonds). That way, when we blow your photo up and print it onto a canvas, your final painting will look as crystal clear as your original photo. 

IF YOUR IMAGE LOOKS BAD (BLURRY, PIXELLATED) WHEN YOU ZOOM IN: Choose a different image. Your original image is too small to be turned into a diamond painting. Please choose a different image for the best results. 

QUICK TIP: If you have any doubts about your image, use a photo-viewing program to zoom in to your image and see how the image looks. If you're on your phone, simply pinch your screen and zoom in to see how the picture looks up close.

Need help figuring out if your image is large enough? Send an email to cheryl@paintwithdiamonds.com with the words "CUSTOM PWD HELP" in the subject line!

2. Pay Attention To The Colors And Shading Of Your Original Photo. 

One of the most common questions we hear: "Why is the white part of my diamond painting a different color? Why does the black part of my painting contain brown and green diamonds?" 

If your original photo is slightly red, or slightly blue, that color will be magnified 1000x when we turn your photo into a diamond painting kit.

And when there's a slight red hue on your entire photo, that red bleeds into parts of your painting you would expect to be white. Check this out, for example:

When we blow up your photo, every pixel becomes much more obvious. It's kind of like looking at your face in one of those super close-up mirrors. You notice every pore, wrinkle, spot, whatever. With your diamond painting, you'll notice every pixel you place with a color that just feels "off." 

To stop this from happening, we recommend making some basic color and tone adjustments in your favorite photo editing program before submitting your photo for a custom. For a free tool you can use to make these adjustments on your own, you can check out LunaPic here

What a world of difference some basic color adjustments can make! Pay close attention to the colors and hues in your original photo!

3 Secrets To Choosing The Perfect Photo For Your Custom Diamond Painting

As a courtesy, the Photoshop experts at Paint With Diamonds always make enhancements to your photo to make for a gorgeous diamond painting. For example, without color correction, the image above would've had a lot of PINK diamonds where WHITE fur should be. 

3. Pick The Canvas That Best Fits Your Photo. 

The 2 important things to pay attention to here: 

1. Canvas Size: How Big Should Your Canvas Be? 

2. Canvas Orientation: Do I Need A Landscape, Portrait, Or Square Canvas?

How Big Should Your Canvas Be? 

Let me counter your question with another question: how many people, dogs, etc. are in your photo?

Consult the helpful chart below as a reference for what size canvas you should order based on how many people are in your photo!

**We advise that the subject of your photo take up most (70-90%) of the frame for the ideal diamond painting. 

3 Secrets To Choosing The Perfect Photo For Your Custom Diamond Painting

When in doubt, here's a good rule of thumb our fans swear by: the larger the canvas you order, the more detail your diamond painting will have.

3 Secrets To Choosing The Perfect Photo For Your Custom Diamond Painting

Do I Need A Landscape, Portrait, Or Square Canvas? 

That depends. Is your original image landscape, portrait, or square? 

Make sure you choose a canvas size that corresponds to the aspect ratio of your original photo!

For example, if your original image is LANDSCAPE, you want to choose a canvas something along these lines: 

  • 30x20cm 
  • 60x40cm 
  • 90x60cm 

**If you select a SQUARE canvas and send us a LANDSCAPE photo, we will have to crop your photo. While I can guarantee you we'll do our best to carve out the perfect diamond painting, I can't guarantee we won't accidentally crop out someone or something you love. 

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Have a secret of your own about choosing the perfect photo? Leave it in the comments down below! 

Share this post with anyone you think will benefit from it :). 

Comments

  • Becky Bonner said:

    Would like to do this as a custom but wondering if it is too busy?
    IMG_8358.jpg

    January 04, 2023

  • Norell Durfee said:

    I have a pet portrait but can’t find how to order it. Help please

    January 04, 2023

  • Vickie said:

    I have 3 firetruck photos, landscape that I want to do for the fire station. Im having a hard time picking out canvas size.

    October 13, 2021

  • Sue said:

    I want to order a pic of my pup. When I tried to upload a pic. It wouldn’t go to that pic its far down on my gallery on my phone. I also want to order another pic. I can’t get.to. help

    September 07, 2021

  • Deanna Cortez said:

    I want to custom one with 7 persons n the colors are black n dark blue what is the right size to go with it

    September 07, 2021

  • Desiree said:

    I have a original military photo that has a sepia look, will that effect the out come? The photo is a 8×10. Where do we send photos?

    May 03, 2021

  • Susan Doty said:

    I would like to order a custom canvas of my granddaughter’s artwork. She draws and is in art school. The work I’m thinking of is Anime. How do you think this will translate and what size canvas should I choose?

    March 23, 2021

  • Sharon caves said:

    I want to do a custom of two dogs size 60×40cm in a landscape image. When I down loaded the pic it only showed middle of pic is that how you are seeing it too or are you seeing whole pic. Don’t want half a pic

    February 05, 2021

  • Diane Saincome said:

    I want to do a custom of my brother ( he passed 1/28/21) I would like his picture with his B- day and Death date is this possible. Possibly 30by40??

    January 31, 2021

  • Bobbi d Harbrecht said:

    I am trying to order a custom order but I cannot find on your website where to order it or where to submit my photo. Can you please help me?

    January 14, 2021

  • Wanda Clarke said:

    I would love to do a diamond art photo of my grandson and my dog. First time doing this . I need your help for how big and photo? If I send a pics to you can you make sure they will be high quality

    January 14, 2021

  • NancyCasazza said:

    I would like to do a landscap portrait with thre people in it what do recommend.

    December 16, 2020

  • Roy Tinis said:

    How large of a diamond painting can I make from JPG image size 3008×2000. File/ photo size 2.71MB? Thanks.

    December 16, 2020

  • Anna L Brouillard said:

    I was wondering if an ultrasound picture would turn out ok. I have a gift in mind for my friend but don’t want to risk uploading a scanned copy of an ultrasound if the quality will not be as good as a regular colored potograph.

    December 16, 2020

  • Ann Miller said:

    I loved doing this project and I am now interested in sending you a picture of my granddaughters horse. It is not the whole body only the head and background of him standing outside. I’m not sure about the size. I am a 77 year old and not savey to cm sizes and do not know to much about pizels. Do I send you a photo and would you be able to tell me if it will work?
    Thank you

    December 16, 2020

  • lisa said:

    I work on paper and canvas. I have been varnishing my watercolors for over a decade, and now with UV protective acrylic varnishes and sprays, I frame all my works on paper, including watercolors without a mat or glazing. Generally, I glue the paper to a panel with acrylic matte medium.king

    April 04, 2020

  • Stacy Brackett said:

    I purchased a custom painting and was completely elated with the outcome! It was 8×10, whatever that comes out to. I wish there was a way to upload my painting so you can see how awesome it turned out. There’s a whole lot of detail that I was very doubtful about, but it came out beautiful! I was my mother holding my granddaughter. I’d love to share it if this becomes available to me!

    April 02, 2020

  • Dolores Dorish said:

    I would like to do a picture of my daughter and her husband (who is deceased). Can I send a copy of their wedding picture so I can make a DIAMOND painting of it? What would I have to send to you, just the picture?

    April 02, 2020

  • Vanessa Faucett said:

    Can you take a picture phone when they Sean it to you from their phone would that work

    January 26, 2020

  • Onalee Lock said:

    Can you adjust coloring on photo before making it into diamond art. My dog is a while westie but in any picture I have. Things reflect on his white hair. He is deceased so no do overs. Thank you.

    January 16, 2020

  • Barbara Bush said:

    On this site, you have the pictures in centimeters, why not list the actual size in inches. Some people do not recognize items in centimers like myself. It is WAY, too confusing. PLEASE COMPLY.

    December 03, 2019

  • Linda G Shangraw said:

    I would like to buy some frames. I have two that are 30x 30 two that are 30 x40 and two that are 50 x65cm. Could you help me with buying them. Thankyou

    November 20, 2019

  • Jas said:

    How do I order my photos & prices please thks

    November 20, 2019

  • Linda said:

    I am not seeing any prices for personal pictures? I would do square probably 40 inches 2 people and scenery.. any idea on costs

    October 06, 2019

  • Kathy said:

    Would love to order one with the horse photo I have would the cost still be 9.99

    October 06, 2019

  • Victoria Rhoades said:

    I have 3 separate pictures 2 are of my grandkids faces and the third is my daughter..their mother..I would like your professional oppinion on the layout of them…I thought of her in the middle of her kids…I really would like them all in one piece but if not then I will have to settle for doing them separatly

    October 06, 2019

  • Allison Barr said:

    I would like to get my son and his dad done please

    August 05, 2019

  • Sarah Rieks said:

    How can I upload my photo??

    July 18, 2019

  • please help me order missing drills for my custom picture said:

    Pease help me order missing drills for my custom order

    July 18, 2019

  • Carolyn Morris said:

    I’m looking to make a bulk order (300-350). Id like them to be approximately 5×20 cm (2×8”) with a self adhesive (sticker) backing. What would the approximate cost be?
    IMG_0034_1555952324777.jpg

    June 04, 2019

  • Kathy Greene said:

    How do you order a 60×40 in landscape picture for a custom picture?

    March 05, 2019

  • Laurie said:

    Read this before you take the photo. I’m so glad I did. Waiting til spring to take photos of my pets.

    March 05, 2019

  • Kirsten said:

    Hi there,
    I have been seeking all the absolutely beautiful to do the 5D artist by the way I wondering if I wanted buy one of them that will be included the accessories for the first time? Or is there seperate the only big the picture to order without the accessories which mean to buy own pen, etc
    Let me know ASAP is because I am interesting to buy one of them :)
    Many thanks,
    Kirsten James-Bell

    February 03, 2019

  • Donna Groves said:

    I have a Photo in mind, I tried to down load the Photo to my lap top, so I can send it to your web site.

    February 03, 2019

  • Miro said:

    may I ask, how much it will cost, if I sent my picture & buy only one example/piece of it from you? Portrait on 30X40 cm.
    We are in EU.

    Thanks you.

    January 24, 2019

  • Judith SULLIVAN said:

    I ordered a custom photo and now after reading everything I am not sure that my photo is the highest quality. Please look me up and check my order, let me know if my photo worked okay. If it is not, then I would like to be able to change it. Also, these pictures are huge, some of my family won’t have wall space, do you have anything that is smaller and still is beautiful.

    January 15, 2019

  • Betty Miller said:

    Why is all pictures in 40×40cm
    What is cm and why not inches ???

    January 15, 2019

  • Sherry Harris said:

    I have finished 3 custom kits and I love the results. I truly was blown away with the results. They were given as gifts and the family cried when they received them. I plan on doing many more

    January 15, 2019

  • Zania Langley said:

    How do I send the photo ?
    Are your Dimonds High Quality ?

    January 15, 2019

  • Kathy Rose said:

    Can you use a panoramic to do 3 panel custom?

    January 15, 2019

  • Gail Newman said:

    I would like to see the photos I chose before I order! Thank you!

    January 15, 2019

  • Jenna Ricciardi said:

    Hi there, if I sent though the photo of my boys could you make the changes it needed for the diamond painting to look like the original image when it’s finished

    January 15, 2019

  • Gabriele Hulett said:

    Can I mail you a photo of my picture. If so, please give me your address.

    January 15, 2019

  • Robyn said:

    Can you use multiple pictures?

    November 20, 2018

  • Deb Campbell said:

    I had you do a custom picture of my Siamese cat. You made her eyes gray and clearly they are blue. They are the most beautiful thing about her. Also a lot of the black “diamonds are matt” and some shine and some at so stuck together that I was unable to use them.
    Please don’t publish this , I just wanted an answer.

    November 20, 2018

  • kim calderon said:

    Funny you use my dog picture as an example. The picture on the right is after you guys fixed it. That’s not what my finished picture looks like.

    August 03, 2018

  • Susan Lorch-Kendrick said:

    I have a professional photo of my sons in a grey scale. Would I be able to take a picture of it and send it to you or would you need the photo to work on and secondly would grey scale work?

    August 03, 2018

  • Sylvia Gariepy said:

    Can i just mail you a photo that id like to be made up for diamond painting?

    August 03, 2018

  • Linda Leonard said:

    I may order another one as soon as I get this one do e.

    August 03, 2018

  • Gwen said:

    I would like to make diamond art of ATL Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and Boston Celtics logos to give as gifts. Is this possible to order, if so what is the cost for 5/7 And 8/10 sizes

    November 20, 2018


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