Gridline
A simple drawing grid for your photos
Free · Private · Works offline
1 · Add photo→2 · Crop→3 · Set grid→4 · Download

Photo grid maker

Crop a photo and add a drawing grid

Crop modeDrag a handle to resize or drag inside to move. Keyboard: arrow keys move; Shift + arrows resize; Alt makes one-pixel steps.

Start with a photo

Choose an image or drop it here. Your photo stays on this device.

Choose photo
Ready when you are

Make a drawing grid from any photo

Gridline helps artists transfer an image to paper or canvas. Crop your reference photo, choose a grid, and download a clean PNG with the layout you need.

Choose your crop

Use a free crop or select a familiar ratio such as 4:5, 1:1, or 16:9. Move and resize the crop before applying it.

Set up the grid

Choose exact rows and columns, or create square cells. Add numbers, a border, or cross lines when they help your drawing process.

Download your reference

Download a PNG or JPEG, or print a reference. Your photo is processed in your browser and is never uploaded by Gridline.

How to transfer a photo grid to paper

  1. Crop the photo to the part you want to draw. If your paper has a set shape, choose a matching crop ratio first.
  2. Choose a grid you can copy onto your paper. For a 4 × 4 grid, divide both the photo and drawing area into four equal rows and four equal columns.
  3. Sketch one cell at a time, using where lines cross the cell edges as guides. Remove or soften the pencil grid when the drawing is complete.

Which grid layout should you use?

Rows & columns gives you an exact number of cells in each direction. It is useful when you have already marked the same number of divisions on your paper.

Square cells keeps full cells square. If the crop does not divide evenly, the final edge cell can be smaller. Turn on row and column numbers when you need help tracking your place.

PNG preserves crisp grid lines. JPEG can make a smaller file, while Print reference fits the result to a page.