Free tool
Turn a photo into a stitchable chart
Edge-aware photo conversion for cross stitch, crochet, knitting, and ten more grid crafts — mapped to real DMC colors and fully editable afterward. Included in every Craft Studio trial and plan.
How it works
Drop in a photo
Upload a JPG or PNG and pick a grid size. The converter builds the chart live as you adjust settings — no waiting, no upload queue.
Pick a mode and palette
Faithful keeps every detail, Simplified flattens noise for cleaner stitching, Poster gives bold flat areas. Colors quantize to real DMC floss numbers — cap the palette at whatever your stash allows.
Keep editing
The result is a fully editable chart, not a locked export. Fix stray stitches, swap floss colors, add backstitch outlines and text on separate layers, then export a printable PDF with symbols and a floss key.
Frequently asked
- How does the photo conversion work?
- It's an edge-aware tracing algorithm: the converter detects the important outlines in your photo, then quantizes every cell to the closest color in your chosen palette. It's deterministic — the same photo and settings always produce the same chart, and every stitch stays editable afterward.
- What makes a photo convert well?
- Clear subjects, good contrast, and simple backgrounds chart best. Portraits work well at larger grid sizes (150+ stitches wide); logos and illustrations convert cleanly even at small sizes. The Simplified mode helps busy photos by flattening noisy areas before quantizing.
- Does it use real DMC colors?
- Yes. Converted charts map to actual DMC floss numbers, so the palette panel doubles as your shopping list. You can cap the number of colors, swap any of them afterward, or re-quantize against a palette you already own.
- Can I convert photos for crochet or knitting instead?
- Yes — choose the craft first and the grid geometry follows. Crochet colorwork uses an adjustable cell aspect ratio so the finished panel matches your gauge rather than coming out stretched.
Ready to chart your photo?
Start a 7-day free trial — full editor, photo import, DMC palettes, and printable exports included.
Start your free trial