Photo to Thread Palette
Choose a photo and get its main colors as DMC floss numbers, with how much of the picture each color covers. Everything happens in your browser: the photo is not uploaded anywhere.
or drop it here · Your photo stays on this device.
Choose a photo to see its thread palette.
Turn this photo into a pattern
The pattern maker converts a photo into a full cross stitch chart with DMC colors, symbols and a printable PDF. Free to start, no signup needed.
Make a pattern from a photoHow it works
- Your browser shrinks the photo and reads its pixels. Nothing is sent to a server.
- The pixels are grouped into the number of colors you choose, using k-means clustering in the CIELAB color space, which follows how people see color.
- Each group's average color is matched to the nearest DMC thread by CIEDE2000, and groups that land on the same thread are combined.
- The rating next to each thread shows how close the match is.
Getting a useful palette
- Crop the photo to the part you want to stitch first: backgrounds use up colors.
- Start with 8 to 12 colors. More colors pick up small details and shading.
- Swatches are approximate screen colors, so check real skeins before you buy.
From palette to pattern
A palette tells you which threads a picture needs. For a full chart with symbols, stitch counts and a PDF, open the photo in the pattern maker, which uses the same DMC color matching.
Frequently asked questions
More thread tools
DMC Color Chart
All 489 DMC floss colors with numbers and names. Search, sort by number, color or name.
Cross StitchThread Conversion
DMC to Anchor and J&P Coats, and back, with a note on how each match was found.
Cross StitchCross Stitch Graph Paper
Printable graph paper at your fabric count, A4 or Letter, with a ruler to check true size.
Cross StitchSkein Calculator
How many skeins a color needs from its stitch count, fabric count and strands.