Grid drawing method
Print a drawing grid over any picture
A numbered, lettered grid of true-size squares over your picture, plus a matching blank grid to draw on, the same size or enlarged. The picture stays on your device.
8 × 8 squares of 2 cm · A4 portrait
Sample: Otter
Drop a picture here or paste one. JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF or SVG.
Drawing with the grid method
- Choose a square size. Big squares are easier for beginners; small squares copy detailed pictures more accurately.
- Print both pages. With Fill the page, the blank squares are bigger than the reference ones, so your drawing comes out larger; the note under the grid says by how much.
- Copy one square at a time. Find B3 on both pages, look only at where the lines cross that square's edges, and draw just that.
- Rub out the grid when you are done, so draw over it lightly with a soft pencil.
The options
A name in every square helps younger children keep their place. Diagonals check angles and the middles of shapes. White lines, which get a dark edge, show up on dark photos; red stands out on black-and-white ones. Black and white and Lighten save ink and make the grid easier to see.
Printing at true size
A4 is 210 × 297 mm and US Letter 8.5 × 11 inches. The squares are drawn at their real size, so print at 100% or “Actual size”, not “Fit to page”, and measure one square with a ruler to check.
Sources
- ISO 216:2007, Writing paper and certain classes of printed matter: trimmed sizes, A and B series, and indication of machine direction, for the A4 size. iso.org
Questions
What square size should I use?
For a first try, 2.5 to 3 cm (about an inch) keeps the number of squares small. For a detailed portrait, 1 to 1.5 cm gives more reference points. Younger children do best with fewer, bigger squares.
How do I copy a picture onto a big poster?
Print the reference page, then rule a grid with the same number of rows and columns on the poster, say 5 cm squares. Copy square by square as usual; the drawing grows in proportion.
Is my picture uploaded?
No. It is resized and placed under the grid by your own browser, and it is never sent anywhere or saved.