{"id":267,"date":"2011-04-25T18:09:09","date_gmt":"2011-04-25T18:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/designneedlepointkits.com\/?p=267"},"modified":"2011-04-25T18:09:09","modified_gmt":"2011-04-25T18:09:09","slug":"how-to-design-a-needlepoint-canvas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.needlepaint.com\/blog\/2011\/04\/25\/how-to-design-a-needlepoint-canvas\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Design a Needlepoint Canvas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you want a unique needlepoint canvas that has special meaning for you or the person you are making it for?\u00a0 Creating custom needlepoint canvases<\/a> has never been easier.\u00a0 There are some great websites out there explaining how to paint a needlepoint canvas<\/a>.\u00a0 But, if you are interested in designing your own canvas and then having someone else make it for you, then you should read this.<\/p>\n

Basically, Needlepaint.com<\/a> allows users to design a needlepoint canvas<\/a> online, and preview the design before placing an order.\u00a0 Please note, our canvases are not hand painted, as we find that we can get more accurate photo details using digital artwork than doing it by hand.<\/p>\n

Step One – Pick a Design and Idea<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hopefully if you found this blog, you already have something in mind.\u00a0 If you want more needlepoint design ideas please review our entire blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our most ordered designs are: Dogs<\/a>, Cats<\/a>, Kids and Houses.\u00a0 Other favorites are:\u00a0 Needlepoint Ring Bearer Pillows<\/a> and Needlepoint Kindle Covers<\/a><\/p>\n

Really any artwork or photo will work, as long as it is saved as a .jpg, .png or .gif file on your computer.\u00a0 If you have a photo that is not yet digital you can go to a local copy store and have them scan it and save it for you, or you can mail it to us.\u00a0 If you want us to help do the digital artwork for you, please contact us.<\/p>\n

Step Two – Select the size and product you want to make<\/strong><\/p>\n

For most photo’s, you may not want to stitch the entire image, but the exact size is not important.\u00a0 The key is to get close in on the subject, especially if the canvas is smaller than 10″ x 10″.<\/p>\n

If you are making a pillow, kindle cover, or other “functional” type needlepoint project, you will want to be sure to make your image the right scale to fit exactly to your project.\u00a0 An example: if you are making a 12 x 12 pillow, then you will want to be sure your image is square.\u00a0 If you are making a Kindle Cover, then you will want your image to be 6″ high, and 2″ wide or an equally proportioned size so the needlepoint canvas will be 18″ x 6″.<\/p>\n

Step Three – Cropping your Artwork<\/strong><\/p>\n

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iPhoto Edit Option<\/p><\/div>\n

OK, so you have a photo, but you don’t want to stitch all the background, or you have an exact size you want to design.\u00a0 In many of the photo viewing software, there is a Crop feature.\u00a0 This will allow you to select only the part of the image you want on your canvas.<\/p>\n

***In the example below we actually did a 12″ x 16″ rectangle.\u00a0 This means that we need to be sure we use a rectangle of around 3″ x 4″.<\/p>\n

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Cropping in iPhoto<\/p><\/div>\n

Step Four – Uploading your Design<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once you have the image ready, you can go to NeedlePaint.com<\/a> to create your custom needlepoint canvas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Upload your image to NeedlePaint.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Now you can see your own design in Needlepoint!\u00a0 You will automatically be taken to our “Stitched Preview” which shows an approximation of how your canvas will look once you stitch it.\u00a0 There are many adjustments on this page, please read below, we will explain each.<\/p>\n

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Stiched Needlepoint Preview 12" x 16" Husky<\/p><\/div>\n

Canvas Options<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mesh Count:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is a very important feature.\u00a0 18 mesh will show more details, but has many more holes per inch (324 holes to stitch vs 196 stitches in 14 mesh).\u00a0 If you are doing a smaller canvas, 18 mesh will help capture more detail from your photo.\u00a0 (We also are able to supply 8, 10, and 12 mesh, but these need to be special ordered).<\/p>\n

Design Size:<\/strong>\u00a0 Here you can select your height or width.\u00a0 Please note, this will keep the exact same proportions as your original photo, if you want to adjust it, please go back and read the “Step Three – Cropping Your Artwork” section in this blog.<\/p>\n

Advanced Options:\u00a0<\/strong> This allows you to order a larger canvas.\u00a0 Normally or canvases include 1″ of extra canvas on all sides, but if you want more blank canvas, you need make the adjustment here.<\/p>\n

Thread Colors:<\/strong>\u00a0 Another very important feature allows you to select the number of colors you will use on your needlepoint project.\u00a0 We suggest reducing the number of colors as much as possible to make it easier to stitch but where it still looks good.\u00a0 If you are very experienced needlepointer, have lots of floss hanging around, and don’t mind using lots of colors, than by selecting a high number of colors, you will get more details onto the canvas.\u00a0 To adjust the color, click the line on the right or left of the bar.<\/p>\n

Thread Type:<\/strong>\u00a0 You can also adjust the type of threads.\u00a0 Since we match digital colors to real floss colors, the DMC and Presencia will show different results in the preview.\u00a0 DMC is often better for images of people because there are a lot more flesh tone colors to pick from.\u00a0 (If you are ordering floss from us, you will also notice that fewer colors is less expensive).\u00a0 Please note, we do not supply wool, as the color options are very limited, but it can be used on any project.<\/p>\n

Click Finish<\/strong> to see pricing.\u00a0 You can also view our price chart<\/a> before uploading an image if you want approximate pricing details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you want a unique needlepoint canvas that has special meaning for you or the person you are making it for?\u00a0 Creating custom needlepoint canvases has never been easier.\u00a0 There are some great websites out there explaining how to paint a needlepoint canvas.\u00a0 But, if you are interested in designing your own canvas and then […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17,21],"tags":[106,111,115,135,232,233,260],"yoast_head":"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\t\r\n