Make string art from a photo
String art is a picture made from one long thread wound around many nails, which shows a photo or portrait from a distance. The Jarvis 3DP string art generator works out the exact nail order for your photo and gives you a preview and a frame you can 3D print.
What is string art?
In string art, nails are set around a circle or a frame and a thread runs from one nail to another. Each thread is only a thin line, but when thousands of lines overlap, the dense areas look dark and the sparse areas look light, and the image appears.
The hard part is knowing which nail the thread should go to next. The tool does that calculation for you.
Make string art from a photo online
The tool works out, line by line, which nail the thread should go to next so the crossings build the darks and lights of your photo. Your part is:
- Upload your photo. A close portrait with good contrast works best.
- Watch the live preview of the thread building up and adjust the settings if needed.
- Get the complete nail sequence.
- Download the printable frame with the nail positions and print it.
With that list you only wind the thread around the nails in order, and the portrait appears.
Materials, size and time
You can 3D print the frame in PLA or PETG. For the thread, thick black thread on a light background or white thread on a dark one is the usual choice, and small metal nails hold it.
Common frames are 20 to 40 cm across. The larger the frame and the more nails, the more detail you get, but the longer the weaving takes.
Who is it for?
It is for craft lovers looking for a rewarding project, for anyone who wants to give a personal handmade gift, for home and café decoration, and for art workshop leaders who need a group activity.
Frequently asked questions
What is string art?
String art is a picture made of thread and nails. The thread winds around the nails of a frame in a set order, and the overlapping lines form a photo or portrait when seen from a distance.
Which photo is best for string art?
A close portrait with good contrast and a plain background gives the best result. Blurry, very dark or very detailed photos do not read well in thread.
How much thread and how many nails do I need?
The number of nails and lines depends on the frame size and your settings. Typical pieces use hundreds of nails and several thousand lines, and the thread can run to hundreds of metres. The tool shows the exact numbers.
Do I have to 3D print the frame?
The tool gives you a frame with marked nail positions that you can 3D print. If you have no printer, you can order the frame from us or use a wooden board and ordinary nails.
How long does winding take?
Depending on the number of lines, one picture usually takes a few hours. The nail order is given step by step, so you can stop anywhere and carry on later.
Does the string art tool cost anything?
The tools run on JP coins, and the number of coins per use is shown on the tool page. A custom frame print is priced separately.
Turns a photo into a string-art pattern: the ordered list of nails that rebuilds the image with a single thread.
Our tools
- Make a lithophane from a photo: Turns a photo into a thin plate that shows the picture only when light shines through it.
- Make string art from a photo: Turns a photo into a string-art pattern: the ordered list of nails that rebuilds the image with a single thread.
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- Make a layered 3D lamp: A lamp of flat layers stacked one behind another that read together as a 3D scene.
- Make a miniature cubic room: A small printable model of a room, with simple furniture inside.
- Turn a Minecraft map into a 3D print: Turns a Minecraft map you upload into a printable 3D model.
- Turn a game map into a 3D print: Turns a selected area of a well-known game’s map into a printable 3D model.