Color by number from a photo turns one of your own pictures into a numbered puzzle: the image is split into areas, each area gets a number, and a color key tells you which color goes where. Color them all in and your photo slowly appears, made by your own hand. Coloriki makes the page from any photo you upload, with 4 to 14 colors, in your browser and without an account.
This tool is new and still in beta. It already makes good pages from the right kind of photo, and we are still improving it, so this page is honest about what works best. Read on for how the color by number generator works, how many colors to choose, which photos give the best puzzles, which ages it suits and how to print it.
How to make a color by number page from a photo
- 1 Upload a photoJPG, PNG or WebP up to 15 MB. Simple, colorful photos with large areas give the clearest puzzles.
- 2 Choose the number of colorsThe menu offers 6, 8, 10 or 12 colors. Fewer colors mean bigger areas and an easier page; more colors mean more detail and a longer project.
- 3 Get your numbered pageColoriki splits the photo into areas, numbers each one and adds a color key that shows which color goes with which number.
- 4 Match your colors and startFind a crayon, pencil or marker close to each color in the key, write the number on it or on a scrap of paper, and color area by area.
How color by number from a photo works
A photo has thousands of shades. A color by number page needs only a handful. Coloriki groups the shades of your photo into the number of colors you chose, then draws the outline of every area where one color sits next to another. Each area gets the number of its color, and the key shows the color behind each number.
The result looks a lot like a coloring page with numbers in it. When the colors are filled in, the areas come together into a simplified, painted version of your photo, a bit like a poster or a paint-by-number kit.
How many colors to choose
The number of colors is the biggest choice you make. It decides how many areas there are, how small they get and how close the finished page looks to your photo. You can go from 4 to 14 colors; the menu offers the most useful steps.
- 6 colors: big areas and few numbers, a good first page and the right choice for younger kids
- 8 colors: the balanced choice for most photos and most ages
- 10 colors: more shading in faces, fur and skies, for older kids and patient colorists
- 12 colors: the most detail, more small areas, best for teens and adults with fine pencils
Which photos work best
Not every photo makes a good puzzle. Because colors are grouped into large areas, the best photos already have a few strong colors and clear shapes. A busy photo with many small objects makes many tiny areas with tiny numbers, which is no fun to color.
- A pet on a plain floor, sofa or lawn
- A single flower or a bunch of flowers against the sky
- A landscape with a clear sky, a field and a few trees
- A bright toy, a fruit bowl or a colorful car
- A close portrait with a plain background, with 10 or 12 colors for the face
Ages and how to make it easier
Children who know their numbers up to the number of colors can do it. Around ages 5 to 7, start with 6 colors and a photo with big shapes, and sit with them for the first few areas. From about 8, 8 or 10 colors is a satisfying afternoon project. Teens and adults often enjoy 12 colors and a meaningful photo, such as the family pet or a favorite holiday view.
Doing it together helps: one person reads the numbers, the other colors. You can also split the page and let siblings each take some of the colors.
Printing tips
Print on plain or slightly thicker paper; with markers, 100 to 120 gsm stops colors from bleeding through. Check that your printer prints at full size so the small numbers stay readable. Before coloring, compare your pencils with the key and pick the closest match; it does not have to be perfect, and close enough still makes the picture appear.
Tips for a great color by number page
- Start with 6 or 8 colors; you can always make another version with more.
- Crop the photo so the subject is large and the background small.
- Colorful photos make better puzzles than dark or grey ones.
- Lay out the matching pencils in number order before you begin.
- Color the biggest areas first so the picture shows up quickly.
- Turn a favorite pet photo into a page for grandparents to color.