STEP 01
Upload a photo
Choose a clear portrait, pet photo, or high contrast silhouette from your computer or phone. Adjust crop and brightness right on the canvas.
Free String Art Generator
Create Beautiful String Arts
From Any Photo
Turn portraits, pets, and silhouettes into numbered winding instructions and a printable full scale nail template in seconds.
60 TO 360+ PINS
1:1 PDF, SVG & TXT
LOCAL BROWSER
Three simple steps
How the string art maker works
Turn any digital photograph into a physical wall piece without guesswork. Our thread art generator maps every straight line between pins around your board.
STEP 02
Choose pin count and generate
Select your nail count and line density. The string art portrait generator calculates the exact sequence of crossings to recreate light and shadow.
STEP 03
Print full scale template and wind
Download your 1:1 nail placement template, tape it onto your wooden board, hammer in the nails, and wind the numbered thread path.
Every portrait becomes a numbered path you can wind by hand with confidence, clarity, and zero guesswork.
Built for makers
Everything you get with the free string art generator
Designed for first time crafters and experienced studio artists who want clean, accurate winding plans.
Pin count from 60 to 360+
Scale from bold geometric 60 pin designs up to finely shaded 360+ pin portraits depending on your board diameter and desired detail.
Live simulation preview
Preview how your finished thread crossings will look on a white or dark board and tune line weight before hammering a single nail.
Thread length calculator in meters
See the exact amount of string for string art required in meters before you start, so you never run short partway through a project.
Printable PDF, SVG and TXT
Export a true 1:1 nail layout for printing at home or tiled across standard sheets, alongside a clean numbered TXT winding list.
Browser based photo privacy
All image processing happens locally inside your web browser. Your personal photos are never uploaded to external servers.
Materials checklist
What you need to make string arts
You only need three basic hardware and craft supplies to turn a generated pattern into tactile wall art.
Read the complete wood, nails and thread guideBoard
Use a flat, rigid wooden board such as 12 to 18 mm birch plywood or painted MDF. A smooth white matte finish gives crisp contrast behind dark thread and holds nails securely without warping.
Nails
Pick thin, uniform finishing nails or panel pins around 20 to 25 mm long with small heads. Drive them to an even height of roughly 10 mm above the board so the thread stays seated cleanly.
Polyester thread
Strong, low stretch polyester thread around 0.25 to 0.35 mm thick is the ideal string for string art. Unlike cotton, polyester resists snapping under tension and keeps crisp straight lines across thousands of crossings.
Project ideas and sizing
Popular string arts you can create
From personalized keepsakes to gallery wall pieces, choose a photo with clear lighting and match your board size to your desired detail.
String art portraits
Turn close up family portraits, wedding photographs, and couple photos into monochrome thread artwork. Clean studio lighting and plain backgrounds help the string art portrait generator capture facial features with crisp contrast.
Pet string arts
Dogs, cats, and horses are among the most popular subjects for custom string arts. High contrast fur textures and bright eyes translate naturally into radial thread crossings on a white board.
Silhouettes and geometric emblems
Minimalist profiles, mountain skylines, and architectural shapes work well with lower pin counts between 60 and 150 nails, making them ideal weekend projects for first time makers.
Handmade gifts and wall decor
Create custom anniversary gifts, nursery plaques, or modern monochrome wall art using a printable 1:1 nail template and a single spool of polyester string for string art.
| Board diameter | Recommended nails | Estimated thread | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 cm | 180 nails | 250 to 450 m | Desk gifts, silhouettes, and bold pet profiles |
| 50 cm | 240 nails | 400 to 900 m | Beginner friendly string art portraits with balanced spacing |
| 60 cm | 300 to 360 nails | 800 to 1,400 m | High detail wall portraits and multi person keepsakes |
Learn the craft
String art guides and tutorials
Explore the math behind thread path optimization, material selection, and practical winding techniques.
Greedy radial search math explained
See how the thread art generator scores millions of candidate chords to approximate grayscale shading with straight lines.
Choosing wood, nails and thread
Compare plywood and MDF boards, ideal nail gauges, and polyester thread thicknesses for sharp, durable string arts.
Winding tutorial for beginners
Learn how to align your 1:1 nail template, tie off cleanly, keep even tension, and avoid tangles while winding.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before generating your first pattern.
Is it free?
Yes. The Stringify string art generator is completely free to use, with no subscriptions, watermarks, or locked template exports.
Are my photos private?
Yes. Everything runs locally inside your web browser. Your photos are never uploaded to a server or stored online.
What board size and nail count are best for beginners?
A 50 cm board with 240 nails is ideal for beginners. It gives enough spacing between nails for comfortable winding while holding crisp portrait detail.
How much thread do I need?
Most 50 cm string art portraits require roughly 400 to 900 meters of polyester thread depending on line count and density. The built in thread length calculator estimates the exact meters before you begin.
Can I sell pieces made with it?
Yes. You are welcome to craft and sell physical string arts created from patterns generated with the tool.
What kind of photo works best for string arts?
Clear, well lit portraits and pet photos with strong contrast between the subject and a simple background produce the sharpest string art results.
How long does it take to wind a string art portrait?
Once the nails are hammered into the board, winding a 240 nail portrait typically takes 3 to 6 hours depending on total line count and pace.
What thread thickness should I use for string arts?
Polyester sewing or quilting thread around 0.25 to 0.35 mm thick works best because it resists snapping under tension and builds smooth grayscale shading.
Ready to start winding
Turn your photo into a printable string art pattern
Pick your pin count, preview the thread simulation, and export your 1:1 nail template in minutes.
Open the String Art Generator