…or drop or paste an image. It stays on your device; nothing is uploaded.
Matching grid for your drawing
Draw squares 2.50 cm wide.
How the grid method works
The grid method breaks a complicated picture into small, simple pieces. You draw a grid over the reference photo and an identical grid, with the same number of squares, on your paper. Then you copy the picture one square at a time, paying attention only to where lines enter and leave each square. Because each square is small, your brain stops trying to draw "an eye" or "a hand" and starts drawing shapes, which is why the method produces accurate proportions even for beginners.
Artists have used grids for centuries to enlarge sketches into murals and paintings, and it is still the standard way to scale up a design for a wall, a canvas or a sign. The labels on each row and column, letters across and numbers down, let you name any square, so you can find square C4 on the photo and its twin on the paper without counting.
Using this tool
Choose a photo, set how many squares you want across, and the tool works out how many rows fit the picture's shape. Pick a line colour that shows clearly against the photo, and turn on diagonals for portraits and curved subjects: each square is then divided into triangles, giving extra reference points for eyes, mouths and the curves of a face. Black and white mode helps you see light and shadow without colour getting in the way.
Download the gridded picture as a PNG to view on a tablet beside your drawing, or print it. Then enter the width of your drawing in the matching-grid box: the tool calculates the square size and prints a labelled grid at exactly that size, corrected for your printer if you have calibrated it. Draw your grid lightly in pencil if you are working directly on your drawing paper, so you can erase it afterwards.
Tips for accurate copies
Work on one square at a time and cover the rest of the reference if you get distracted. Mark where each important line crosses the grid lines first, then join the marks. Check proportions by comparing whole rows and columns every now and then, not just single squares. When you are done, erase the grid in stages so you do not smudge the drawing.
To change the size of a drawing without a grid, the proportion calculator works out the new width or height and the scale for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The picture is opened and drawn by your browser on your own device. Nothing is sent to a server, and closing the page discards it.
How many squares should I use?
Start with 6 to 10 squares across for a simple subject and 12 to 20 for a detailed portrait. More squares mean more accuracy but more lines to draw on your paper; diagonals add accuracy without adding squares.
Why are the squares square?
The grid method only works if the reference and the drawing use the same proportions. Square cells keep that simple: the grid on your paper uses the same number of squares across and down as the photo, just at a different size.
How big should the squares on my paper be?
Enter the width of your finished drawing and the tool divides it by the number of squares. The matching grid button then prints a labelled grid at exactly that size, ready to trace or draw over lightly.
Which line colour should I pick?
Use black on light photos, white on dark ones and red or blue when the picture has both. Lower the opacity if the lines hide details you need to see.
Last updated · About us