Dot painting questions, answered

Dot painting is a creative kit where you fill small printed circles on a canvas with a dot marker, one dot at a time. Up close you see individual dots; from a normal distance they blend into a finished image. There is no drawing and no colour mixing.

No. Paint by numbers uses several paints brushed into numbered areas, while dot painting uses one marker to fill printed circles with dots. Dot painting is cleaner and needs no brushes or drying between colours.

No. Diamond painting places small resin gems onto a sticky canvas, while dot painting fills printed circles with marker ink. There is nothing to glue and nothing loose to handle.

No. Every circle is printed for you, so dot painting is about filling, not drawing. No art experience is needed.

A Paint By Dots kit includes a pre printed canvas, dot markers, and a printed preview of the finished image. Step by step instructions are included too. The exact contents for your chosen kit are shown on the product page.

Use the thicker tip for larger circles and the finer tip for small detail circles. Matching the tip to the circle keeps every dot clean and even.

This depends on the option you choose. Canvases may be supplied rolled, ready to hang, or as a DIY frame kit. The format is shown on each product page.

You upload a photo, we review it by hand, and we convert it into a dot painting canvas for you to complete. You make the finished piece yourself, one dot at a time.

Yes. Every custom photo is checked by hand before production to make sure it will work well as a dot painting.

Clear, well lit photos with a strong, simple subject work best. Good contrast between the subject and background helps the finished image read clearly.

Avoid very dark, blurry or low resolution photos, and busy scenes with many small faces or fine detail, as these are harder to translate into dots.

A custom dot painting is a handmade interpretation of your photo, not an exact print. It keeps the feeling and recognisable shapes of the image while having the soft, handmade texture of dots.

Several sizes are available. The options and dimensions for each design are shown on the product page.

For a custom photo, a larger size usually suits portraits and detailed images because it gives the dots more room to form clear features. The product page notes which sizes suit detailed photos best.

Yes. Once the canvas is fully dry you can frame it, lean it on a shelf, or hang it as wall art. It is designed to be displayed.

Where a kit offers colour options, you choose your colour at checkout. The available colours are shown on the product page.

Ink usually dries quickly, though larger filled areas can take a little longer. Let each area dry before resting your hand on it to avoid smudging.

Suitability and any age guidance are shown on the product page and packaging. Younger children should always be supervised.

Start with one corner or a small area of a single colour. Beginning small helps you settle into a comfortable rhythm before moving on.

Press the tip on scrap paper a few times to get the ink flowing again before returning to the canvas.

Small marks blend into the finished image. To tidy a fresh mark, wipe it quickly with a damp cotton bud before it dries, let the area dry, then carry on.

Yes. You can complete a canvas over several sessions. Many people enjoy spreading the work across several calm evenings.

Our shipping destinations are listed at checkout, where available countries and any regional details are shown for your market.

Delivery times are shown at checkout for your destination. Ready-made kits are dispatched quickly once your order is confirmed.

Yes, a little. Custom photo kits include a hand review and personalised production step, so they take longer than ready-made kits. The estimated timing is shown during ordering.

Any customs or import fees depend on your country and are not controlled by us. Please check your local rules, as these may apply to international orders.

Unopened ready-made kits can be returned within the period shown in our returns policy. Please see the policy linked at checkout for full details.

Contact the studio with a photo of the damage as soon as possible, and we will arrange a suitable resolution.

Yes, and we would love to see it. Share your finished piece and tag us: Instagram @paintbydots.co, TikTok @paintbydots, or Facebook @paintbydots. Tagging us also enters you into our monthly community giveaway.

Yes. Each month we feature finished pieces from the community and run a giveaway. To take part, share your dot painting and tag Paint By Dots on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. Full details are posted on our social channels.