Custom Photo Dot Painting Kit

A custom photo dot painting is a complete art kit made from your own photo. You upload your image. A real person on our team converts it by hand into a dot painting template. We print it onto a 240 g/m² polyester canvas, pack in dual-tip markers in the colour you have chosen, and ship your finished kit in 1-2 working days. No experience needed. Everything included.

Most people who order this kit are not thinking primarily about dot painting. They want something that means something. A pet portrait that will outlast the pet. A photo of someone they love, turned into something they built with their own hands. A gift so personal that no one else in the world owns one like it.

When you place the last dot and step back to look at the whole painting, you will understand why this is our most popular and most gifted product. The image is yours. The work is yours. The feeling that follows is yours too.

Why this kit is different from anything else you will find

Every other custom photo product you can find online uses software to convert your image automatically. An algorithm processes your photo and spits out a template. It is fast, it is cheap to produce, and the results are inconsistent.

We do not do that.

A real member of our team looks at your photo. They assess the detail, check the contrast, adjust the conversion manually to suit the size you have chosen, and make sure the dot painting version is actually going to look good. If something in your photo will not translate well, they contact you before a single thing gets printed. You either adjust, swap photos, or we sort it together.

That is the difference between a template produced in seconds by a computer and a kit made by a person who cares about the result.

Your canvas is printed on 240 g/m² polyester: firm enough to hold the dots cleanly, flat enough to frame when you are done. The dual-tip markers include a 1.0 mm tip for filling larger circles and a 0.5 mm fine tip for detail work. Every colour your specific image requires is included. Nothing extra to buy. Nothing to prepare. You open the kit and start.

Choose how your kit arrives

When you add your kit to the cart, you choose one of three finishing options. Here is an honest explanation of each.

Rolled canvas
Your custom printed canvas arrives rolled and ready to paint. This is the most flexible option. Once you have finished your dot painting, you frame it yourself in any standard frame that matches your size. Good choice if you already have a specific frame in mind, or if you enjoy choosing the frame as part of the process.

Gallery wrapped and ready to hang — most popular
We stretch your canvas over a solid wooden frame before it ships. The frame sits entirely behind the canvas and is not visible from the front. When you finish painting, you hang it on the wall. That is it. No framing to organise, no extra cost, no measuring. The finished painting looks exactly like gallery wall art because it is. This is the option most of our customers choose, and the one we recommend if you are not sure.

DIY frame kit
Your rolled canvas arrives with a wooden frame kit. Once you have completed your painting, you stretch the canvas over the frame yourself. A satisfying option if you want to take the whole thing from blank canvas to finished piece with your own hands. See the frame kit here.

What comes in your kit

• Your custom pre-printed 240 g/m² polyester canvas — every circle colour-coded with the exact colour it should be, laid out precisely from your photo
• Dual-tip markers in every colour your specific image needs (1.0 mm tip for larger areas, 0.5 mm fine tip for detail)
• A quick-start guide covering technique, tips for clean dots, and how to correct small errors

If you choose the gallery wrapped option, your canvas arrives already stretched. If you choose the DIY frame kit, the frame arrives packaged separately in the same delivery.

How to order your custom kit

1. Choose your size from the options above. If you are unsure, the size guide below will help.
2. Choose your finish: rolled canvas, gallery wrapped, or DIY frame kit.
3. Add to cart and upload your photo using the file upload field at checkout. A clear, well-lit photo works best.
4. Our team converts your image by hand and prepares your custom canvas. If they spot anything worth flagging, they contact you before printing.
5. Your kit ships from our EU facility within 1-2 working days. Free delivery to the UK.

Which size is right for your photo?

Nine sizes, from compact to statement-level large. Here is honest guidance on each.

• 30 x 40 cm — A solid first size. Manageable, and the finished painting fits neatly in a standard frame. Best for photos with a clear single subject: a pet with distinctive markings, a close portrait, a clean landscape. Completion time: one to two sessions for most people.
• 40 x 50 cm — A step up that gives faces and finer details more room to breathe. Popular for portrait photos where expression matters. Still manageable for a first-time buyer. Completion time: two to three sessions.
• 40 x 60 cm — A taller format that suits vertical photos naturally: a person standing, a doorway, a tall tree, a full-length portrait. The proportions feel intentional on the wall. Completion time: two to three sessions.
• 40 x 80 cm — Striking and narrow. Works beautifully for photos with strong vertical composition. Makes a statement in a hallway or staircase. Completion time: three to four sessions.
• 50 x 50 cm — A square that suits centred subjects naturally. Pet portraits, close couple photos, and detailed close-ups often look particularly strong in this format. Completion time: two to three sessions.
• 60 x 80 cm — This is where kits start to feel genuinely impressive. Enough detail to carry a group photo. Enough size to be the focal point in a room. Completion time: three to four sessions.
• 80 x 80 cm — A large square. Statement-level. Family portraits, landscapes, and images with a lot happening in the frame have real room here. Completion time: four to five sessions.
• 80 x 100 cm — For when you want something that stops people in the room. Best for detailed images with clear subjects. Completion time: four to six sessions.
• 80 x 120 cm — Our largest kit. The most detailed, the most impressive, and the most rewarding to complete. Best for very detailed images or for anyone who wants the most striking piece possible. Completion time: five to seven sessions.

Not sure which size suits your photo? Contact us before ordering and we will give you an honest answer based on your specific image.

Ordering this as a gift?

It is our most gifted product. By a significant margin.

Here is why a custom dot painting works as a gift when almost nothing else does at the same level. A framed print of someone's photo is lovely. A photo book is thoughtful. But neither of those requires the recipient to sit down and spend hours creating something with their own hands. Neither results in a piece of wall art they can look at and say, honestly, that they made it themselves.

The IKEA Effect is a well-documented psychological phenomenon: people assign significantly higher value to things they have built themselves, even partially. A custom dot painting takes that principle and applies it to something genuinely beautiful.

The most common gift choices: pet portraits for animal lovers, couple photos for anniversaries and Valentine's Day, photos of children or grandchildren for parents and grandparents, landmark photos for people who have moved or emigrated, group photos after a big life event.

If you need the kit by a specific date, get in touch first. We will confirm whether the timeline works and, if needed, discuss options.

A few honest things worth knowing before you order

Photos that work best: A clear subject, good lighting, and strong contrast between the subject and background. The better the original photo, the better the dot painting. Low-light photos, heavily blurred images, and very busy backgrounds are harder to convert well. Our team will tell you honestly if your photo is going to cause a problem.

Completion time: The times listed in the size guide above are for people working in focused sessions of around 60 to 90 minutes. If you sit for shorter periods or work slowly, it takes longer. If you lose yourself in it for an afternoon, it takes less. There is no deadline. Many people keep their kit going over a week or two of evenings and find that part of the appeal.

Correcting mistakes: Dot painting is more forgiving than it looks. A dot placed wrongly can be covered once it dries. The quick-start guide covers this. Small errors are part of the process and virtually invisible in the finished painting.

Returns: Because your kit is made specifically for your photo, we cannot accept returns on completed custom orders. If there is a fault with the kit itself — a printing error, missing markers, or anything we got wrong — we will replace it at no cost. If you have any doubts before you start, contact us.

Frequently asked questions

What types of photo work best for a custom dot painting?

Photos with a clear subject, good lighting, and strong contrast produce the best results. Portraits, pets, and landscapes with a defined focal point all convert well. Blurry, very dark, or heavily cluttered photos are harder to work with, and our team will flag any issues before your canvas prints.

Is my photo converted by a person or by AI?

By a real person. A member of our team converts every photo manually. We do not use automated software or AI filters. Manual conversion means your template is checked for quality, adjusted for your chosen size, and approved by a human before it goes to print. This produces consistently better results than software conversion.

What is the difference between gallery wrapped and rolled canvas?

Gallery wrapped means we stretch your canvas over a solid wooden frame before it ships. The frame is hidden behind the canvas so only the artwork is visible. Rolled canvas arrives flat and unframed, ready to paint and then frame yourself. Gallery wrapped is the most popular choice because there is nothing else to organise after you finish.

Can I use a photo of my pet?

Yes. Pet portraits are our most common custom order. Dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits all work beautifully. A well-lit photo where your pet is facing roughly toward the camera, with their markings and colours clearly visible, produces the best result. Our team will let you know if your photo needs any adjustment.

Can I use a group photo with multiple people?

Yes. Group photos work well in the larger sizes. For a photo with three or more people where faces matter, we recommend 60 x 80 cm as a minimum. In smaller sizes, faces in group photos can become very small and lose detail. If you are unsure, send us your photo and we will advise.

How long does it take to complete the painting?

The size guide above includes estimated completion times for each size. A 30 x 40 cm can often be completed in one or two sessions. An 80 x 120 cm typically takes five to seven sessions of around 60 to 90 minutes each. Most people spread the work over several evenings and find the process genuinely relaxing.

What happens when I finish the painting?

If you chose gallery wrapped, your painting is ready to hang the moment you finish. If you chose rolled canvas, take it to any frame shop or order a frame online using your canvas dimensions. Many customers share their finished pieces on Instagram and tag us. That is one of our favourite parts of running this shop.

Can I send the kit as a gift directly to the recipient?

Yes. At checkout you can enter the recipient's delivery address. If you would like to include a personalised message, add it in the order notes field. We do not include pricing information inside the kit. If you need the kit to arrive by a specific date, contact us first to confirm the timeline.

What if I am not happy with how my photo was converted?

Our team checks every conversion before it prints and contacts you if anything needs adjusting. If you receive your kit and the conversion does not look right, contact us with a photo of the canvas. We will assess it and, if the conversion was the issue rather than the original photo, we will reprint at no charge.

Choose your size and finish above

Questions before ordering? Contact us here and we will respond within one working day.