Add a grid to any photo

Add a grid to a photo and draw it square by square: the free grid drawing method for artists.

or drop a photo anywhere, or press Ctrl+Vor , or

What is the grid drawing method?

The grid method is one of the oldest ways to draw accurately: place a grid over a reference photo, draw the same grid lightly on your paper, then copy the image one square at a time. Each square holds only a small piece of the picture, so angles, sizes and positions are easy to judge. The grid does the measuring for you. Artists have used it since the Renaissance to scale up references and keep proportions correct, and it is still one of the fastest ways to improve accuracy in portrait, animal and landscape drawing.

How to add a grid to a photo

Choose a photo. It never leaves your device. The grid is drawn in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Crop to the part you want to draw, so every square counts.
Set rows and columns. Turn on Square to keep the cells perfectly square, the easiest shape to copy onto paper.
Adjust the lines. Thickness, color and opacity, so the grid stays visible on light and dark areas.
Turn on labels. Rows get letters and columns get numbers, so you always know which square you are in.
Download or print. Save as PNG or JPG, or as a print-ready PDF sized for A4 or Letter paper, portrait or landscape.

Then draw the same number of squares on your paper and copy the photo square by square.

Choosing the right grid size

Few large squares (around 4×4) for quick sketches and simple subjects.
8×8 or so is a good balance for most portraits and pets: enough guidance without slowing you down.
12×12 and up for high detail, complex scenes, or larger paper.
To scale a drawing up or down, keep the number of squares the same and change their size on paper. A photo gridded 8×8 copied onto 3 cm squares comes out larger than on 2 cm squares, with identical proportions.
If you keep losing your place, add more squares. If the grid feels like a cage, remove some.

Tips for drawing with a grid

Work one square at a time and check where lines cross the square's edges. Those crossing points are your anchors.
Use B&W to judge values without the distraction of color, or Sketch to reduce the photo to outlines.
Use Fade to dim the photo so the grid and your eye focus on shapes, not detail.
Draw your paper grid with light, thin pencil lines so it erases cleanly after inking or shading.
The Center and Diagonal guides find the middle of the picture instantly, useful for placing the first strokes.

Grid drawing questions, answered

Is drawing with a grid cheating?

No. The grid is a measuring tool, like holding up a pencil to check an angle. You still draw every line yourself, and the constant comparing of photo to paper trains the same observation skills you use drawing freehand. Most art teachers introduce the grid method exactly for that reason.

How many squares should I use?

Start with the 8×8 default. Add squares for detailed subjects or large paper, remove them for quick studies. More squares mean more guidance but more setup on paper.

Do my photos get uploaded?

No. The grid, the filters and the export all happen in your browser. The photo never leaves your device, which also means the tool works offline once loaded.

How do I print the gridded photo at the right size?

Download as PDF and pick A4 or Letter, portrait or landscape. The photo is centered on a true-size page with a 10 mm margin, so squares print at a predictable size you can measure and reproduce on your drawing paper.

How do I transfer the grid to my paper?

Count the rows and columns, then rule the same number of squares on your paper at whatever size fits it. Copy the edge labels (A, B, C and 1, 2, 3) lightly so you can find any square fast. Then draw what you see, one square at a time.