Face and figure references

Portrait Grid Maker

Place facial landmarks more deliberately by comparing one small area at a time. A medium-to-fine grid helps track eye lines, angles, negative space, and the distance between features.

Grid a portrait photo

01 / Canvas

Upload a reference image to create your drawing grid.

Upload a reference image to create your drawing grid.

Your image stays in your browser and is never uploaded.

Click upload or drag a file here

How it works

From reference to usable grid in three steps

  1. 01

    Crop the portrait with the composition you plan to draw.

  2. 02

    Start with 8 x 8, then add cells when the face needs more detail.

  3. 03

    Transfer the head shape and feature lines before eyelashes or texture.

Better results

Use the grid as a guide, not a distraction

Place the eye line

Grid intersections reveal whether features drift up, down, or sideways.

Compare negative space

Check the shapes around the head and shoulders, not only the face.

Work from large to small

Map the silhouette and shadow masses before individual details.

Useful for real art workflows

The same browser tool adapts to different media, scales, and learning contexts.

Head studies
Pet portraits
Figure drawing
Commission planning

Questions

Frequently asked

Is ArtistGrid free to use?

Yes. You can upload a reference image, customize the grid, and export standard PNG, JPG, or PDF files without creating an account.

Is my reference image uploaded to a server?

No. ArtistGrid processes the image locally in your browser. The photo is used to draw the preview and export canvas, but it is not sent to an image-processing server.

What grid size is best for portraits?

Start with 8 x 8 or 10 x 10. Detailed faces may benefit from 12 x 12 or more, but too many cells can distract beginners.

Should the grid lines cross the eyes?

They can. What matters is using the intersections consistently. Adjust the row count if you prefer a key feature to sit near a line.

Can I use this for pet portraits?

Yes. The same proportion method helps place eyes, ears, muzzle shapes, markings, and the silhouette of an animal reference.

Keep exploring

Related tools and guides

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Drawing Grid Maker Online

Make a drawing grid from any reference image. Customize rows, columns, labels, color and opacity, then download a printable PNG, JPG or PDF.

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Grid Maker for Artists

A free grid maker for artists, students, teachers and muralists. Add grid lines to reference photos and download print-ready guides.

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Grid Drawing for Beginners

Learn grid drawing with a beginner-friendly workflow. Make a simple reference grid, transfer large shapes, and avoid common first-project mistakes.

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