EZGlassPattern · Photo to pattern

Make a stained glass pattern from a photo

Drop a photo and get a pattern with the number of pieces you choose. Every piece is checked for cutting at your real size before you print.

Updated

Photos never leave your device. The check runs in your browser.

Answer in 30 seconds

To make a stained glass pattern from a photo, simplify it into a small number of large, mostly convex pieces, then check every piece can be cut at the finished size. EZGlassPattern does the simplifying and the checking in your browser.

  • Choose a piece count: 20 to 150 pieces, with Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced presets.
  • Set the real size: inches or centimetres, copper foil or lead came.
  • Fix what's flagged: then download a full-size pattern and shopping list.

Piece count presets

PresetGood forWhat to expect
BeginnerFirst projects, classesFewer, larger pieces with gentle curves. Less detail, much easier cutting.
IntermediatePets, houses, simple portraitsEnough pieces for recognisable shapes. Some careful curves.
AdvancedDetailed portraits, big panelsMany smaller pieces. More grinding and more time at the bench.

Key takeaways

  • Fewer pieces is usually better — glass shows shapes and colours, not photographic detail.
  • Pick a clear photo — one subject, good light, a plain background.
  • Every piece is cut-checked — inside corners, deep curves, slivers and crowded junctions are flagged.
  • Private by design — Your photo never leaves your device: the whole check runs in your browser.
A real pattern made by the engine from a photo of a sunflower against a blue sky, in amber and blue glass: numbered pieces in glass colours, with the cuts the checker flagged circled in red and orange.
A real pattern made from a photo, with its cut-check flags and suggested fixes.

Choosing a photo that works

  • One clear subject. A single pet, a house front, a flower. Busy scenes turn into busy patterns.
  • Strong light and shadow. Glass reads as blocks of colour, so contrast helps.
  • A simple background. You can replace it with plain background glass later.
  • Big enough to see the shapes. A phone photo is fine; tiny thumbnails aren't.

What happens to your photo

The colours are grouped into a small set, nearby areas are merged into pieces until you reach your piece count, and neighbouring pieces share one line so the pattern closes properly. Then the cut check runs on every piece at your finished size.

You'll see a preview with any problem pieces marked. One click adds a break line or merges a sliver into its neighbour. Colours come from a small glass palette and you can change any piece. The full walk-through is in how to make a stained glass pattern from a picture.

Printing and buying glass

The pattern packet is a full-size PDF tiled on Letter or A4 with registration marks, a numbered key, a colour key and a shopping list with glass area per colour, copper foil length and lead came length. There is also an SVG for a Cricut or plotter. See how much glass and foil you need for the arithmetic behind the list.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Drop a photo

    Drop a JPG, PNG or WebP photo into the tool. It stays in your browser.

  2. 2

    Set size and method

    Enter the finished width in inches or centimetres and choose copper foil or lead came.

  3. 3

    Choose a piece count

    Pick Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced, or set a count between 20 and 150.

  4. 4

    Fix flagged pieces

    Read the cut-check flags and apply the suggested fixes: add a break line, merge a piece or close a gap.

  5. 5

    Pick glass colours

    Adjust colours from the small glass palette.

  6. 6

    Download and print

    Download the tiled full-size PDF, check the scale square, and print at 100%.

Frequently asked questions

Can any photo become a stained glass pattern?

Almost any, but simple photos work best: one clear subject, good contrast and a plain background. Glass shows shapes and colour, not fine detail.

How many pieces should my pattern have?

It depends on size and experience. Beginners do best with fewer, larger pieces; the Beginner preset keeps the count low. You can set anywhere from 20 to 150.

Is my photo uploaded anywhere?

No. The photo is processed in your browser and never leaves your device.

Is it free?

The preview, cut check and difficulty score are free with no account. The printable packet needs a $5 Project Pass (30 days) or Lifetime.

Can I edit the pattern after it's made?

Yes. You can apply fixes, merge pieces, add break lines and change colours before you download.

The check is free. Pay once when you print.

No account and no card for the cut check. A Project Pass is $5 one-time for 30 days of printable pattern packets, with no subscription. Lifetime covers everything, forever.

See pricing

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