How to make a digital grid on your art reference image

Did you know artists of the past used a tool called the camera obscura to enhance the realism in their artworks?

The great Johannes Vermeer is one of the most notable painters who used this tool. A camera obscura projects an image of the subject onto a surface so the artist could trace it. My point is that artists for centuries have used a variety of tools to get to their end product. This post is going to focus on the use of a grid in art and provide helpful tools to create a digital grid on top of digital images to use a reference for your artwork. There is also a video tutorial showing the methods featured here. 🙂

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Q. What is an art grid?

A. Art grids are a helpful tool that some artists choose to use to help them draw an image with greater accuracy. Essentially, it breaks down a large reference image into smaller, more digestible bites. I find art grids to be helpful, especially for beginners. Throughout my own art journey, I found that I heavily relied on grids at first and then phased them out as I became more intuitive and confident in sketching.

Q. I have the photo I want to draw, now how do I determine the size of my paper and grid tiles?

A. Below is a grid conversion chart for a standard 4″ x 4″ square, 4″ x 6″ rectangle, and 5″ x 7″ rectangle photo reference. This chart shows what size to make your final art paper and the measurements to draw your tiles.

Q. I don’t want to print my reference image. How can I make a digital grid on top of my digital photo?

A. Below are some free transparent PNG grids that coordinate to the options above. To use, simply copy the image below as a .PNG file and paste the image on top of your photo.

Q. I really don’t want to bother with too much math and ruler measurements. Is there another option that is faster, easier, and effective?

Here is a simple technique for creating a grid that I call the “No Math Grid.” Once your digital grid is ready, all you need is a paper and a ruler. You start by drawing the big ‘X’ from corner to corner, then a ‘+’ through the midpoint.

Q. Can I use Google programs to create a digital grid on a reference image?

If you are a fellow Google Drive user, feel free to also access these grids by clicking this link here. To employ the grid, simply:

(1) make a copy of the file to your drive

2) insert the image you wish to grid onto the slide

(3) send the image to the back

(4) resize/crop to fit your composition

(5) voila!

I hope this helps! Comment below: Do you use an art grid? Do you find they help or hinder you?

Disclaimer: I am huge fan of drawing from observation. I know some folks are against grids. You do you!