Try to get a picture of her laying there, like that, then map out where you want to put the colors. That way you have an original to create your “rendering“
I agree with others... start with the cat. Comming from a cross-stitch background... I have designed many cross-stitch patterns myself. I would suggest charting the cat out on graph paper. Leave extra because ragdolls are more fluffy than tabby's. I would also decide on your colours at this time too. It might feel like too much prepwork... but will be totally worth it in the end. Best wishes!!❤❤❤ PS.... you could chart the cats head and body separately. The head would be easier to do.
I’d start the cat first as well. Maybe run the pic of your cat through pic stitch or one of those sites that can turn your picture into a cross stitch pattern just to get an idea of how the computer would chart it. If that makes any sense at all. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. It could be a series 🩷🩷
I feel like the dark outline will help you a lot, and then maybe swap out the individual colours for colours that match your cat. Good luck ❤ from Ontario 🇨🇦
I have not converted a diamond painting before, however I have changed a couple of small sections of photos. I would start with the cat. I would take a closeup picture of the canvas cat and open on a lap top in a paint app. You can then zoom and change the colour of individual diamonds. Ctrl z will take away the last change and you can do that several times to fix an error. Save different versions as you go, so you can compare and quickly go back a step if you want. That way you can do all your figuring out before placing the diamonds. They are using white and black to outline and give the fur appearance. You can try different highlights there to decide what works best. You can even try putting some of your diamonds in the pic, so you can use the eye dropper in the program to match your diamond colour. Good luck. You can do this!
One kit that could really give you amazing colors for this would be Reina. All browns are creams it looks like. Good luck and I can't wait to see how you do this
This is certainly an epic undertaking but if it works it will be amazing. Really do look forward to following your progress and yes likely some failures along the way. In the end though I know you will pull it off and be a loving memorial for your beloved family.
My husbands family had a big tabby cat he had a great personality too. I love my rag doll the breed is so sweet and they follow you around just like a dog.
I Love this idea! Sorry I am new to diamond painting so I can't offer much in the lines of help but if anyone can pull this off it's you! Can't wait to see you work through this. ❤
Wow Alysa...what a fun and daunting (would be for me) project. I will enjoy following along and watching your process on this project. The only tips I could think of would be to keep all the black outlining parts of the cat and them maybe you could run the photo through one of those programs that turns it into a cross stitch patter to help with colors. Good luck, my friend!
Thanks! It is daunting I had been thinking of it for months and how and if I would tackle it. I think I will try using a cross stitch program a few others suggested that as well.
Hi Alysa I don't have any tips for you but I think as someone already mentioned perhaps doing the dark outline first would be very helpful. I can't wait to see your projects come to life. 😊
Good luck! And from someone who's never taken on customizing a project, I agree with your approach to start with the cat and her face, I think that's super smart. Maybe to make it less overwhelming and keep that oil painting effect, pick a certain number of shades you plan on using so her fur doesn't end up being a super smooth gradient? It seems like in this style, you can get away a little more with some interpretation? Excited to see you work through something so dear to you!
This will definitely be an epic project! I don't know that I can offer much advice however I have seen several people in the VIP group mention copying the canvas onto paper and planning it out that way first. There are others that put drills over the plastic to lay them out first to get an idea of what/where they want to place the diamonds. Sorry I couldn't be more help! Hope it turns out amazing without too much frustration! Good Luck! 🍀🍀
WOW! This is some project you are taking on. Personally, I don't have an artistic bone in my body. But the suggestions you have made (starting the face, then the kitty and then the background) sounds logical. I just want to wish you luck. Take your time with it. It will turn out great, I believe in you.
No tips I’m afraid but I want to wish you luck. It will look amazing when you’ve finished, however long it takes. If I was going to do it, I’d do your cat first not only for the reason you said but because you might find that you need to extend the outline of the original cat as your cat looks fluffier. Could you possibly take a photograph of the canvas and play about with the colour on the computer? (My brain says MS Paint and that’s showing my age! 🤣) So you can kind of see what it will look like before you start placing diamonds. I think if you can do that, it will save you a ton of frustration. Anyway, a very interesting video. x
I have the Maltipoo Night. I have a Maltese dog, but she passed away last year 😢When I see this canvas, I have to have it❤ I’m about to start painting this one 😍 Sounds like a lot of work to do but I’m sure it will come out great! Good luck with your project Alysa😊
If you can there are apps on your phone or on the computer that can do a cross stitch rendering. I've used Thread Bare which is on both ios and android and it can convert images into diamond painting rendering. Then you can have an easier time with that with what colors go where. Or if you are artistic and have an ipad you can take a picture of the tabby cat on the canvas or take the original rendering image or artwork and draw your cat over it in a similar style. Just to have a visual image to go by.
That’s going to be challenging & look amazing. I look forward to seeing your progress. Maybe you can work from darkest colors to lightest colors to build in the shading. Can you take a pic of the canvas & print the pic in black & white to map out your colors? Just a thought. I’ve never done anything like that before.
Oh this is definitely an undertaking! This is such a huge change that I'm not sure how best to approach it. 😅 I'm thinking it may be best to start with the cat. I wonder if there's a rendering software that you can use to possibly try to figure out the coloring and texture on that first instead of having to keep removing and changing the diamonds? I'm excited to see you work on this and hope the process goes smoothly! 🤞
Wow, this will be a big project! I think you’re awesome for trying this and bringing us along. Just explaining your thought process made my lightbulb to go , oh yeah 👍🏻. I’m sure it will look amazing and I’m excited to see it progress. I’m not that innovative
Hi! I think it's a great project 😊 I agree with you, definitely start with the cat and not the background in case the cat doesn't work out to your taste. Isn't there a app where you can put in a picture and it translates it into pixels? I don't remember the name of it but it could be a good place to start with the colors & you can adjust it to the style of painting you want. And yes, I just checked for picture to pixel and you have a few choices of apps. 😊 Will definitely follow your journey with this DP & I hear you about how important it is to you ❤ have a great day 😊
I’m super excited to see how you end up changing the paintings! I think that doing the cat first might be easier and then work on the background next. Will you be starting a separate playlist for this project?
I ended up deciding to start on the back ground first. The cat is going to be the hardest part. Good idea about a seperate playlist. When I start on the cat I think I'll be able to film wip and chats with it. The background I am treating it like a cross stitch conversion so it takes more brain power if you know what I mean I dont think I cant talk at the same time.
Hi Alysa. This is going to be awesome. I’m currently doing Waiting for Master from DAC and have been tossing up whether to change the colour on the Labrador to white…..and he’s only 12 drills high! 😂 I wonder if it would help if you traced the cat onto paper and then coloured the picture in with colours you’re thinking of using ❤
You tube channel "Diamond Painting with Laura" took the Mandy Manzano canvas "All Cats Do Go To Heaven" and converted her cat that had passed away into the cat that was charted into the canvas. She recorded her process. It might help.
I think you can get AI help. Use it to get as similar a picture as possible. Then using any dp or cross stitch charting software change it to a pixel art. This can be used as a rough guide especially to know how the colors, shadows, transitions, etc work.
Try to get a picture of her laying there, like that, then map out where you want to put the colors. That way you have an original to create your “rendering“
Yes I have a picture already its just how to go about figuring out how to shade it right and still make it look textured
I agree with others... start with the cat. Comming from a cross-stitch background... I have designed many cross-stitch patterns myself.
I would suggest charting the cat out on graph paper. Leave extra because ragdolls are more fluffy than tabby's. I would also decide on your colours at this time too. It might feel like too much prepwork... but will be totally worth it in the end. Best wishes!!❤❤❤
PS.... you could chart the cats head and body separately. The head would be easier to do.
Thanks for your tips! Yes I will start with the head I am going to try a program to figure out the colours and such
I think you will do awesome. I agree with starting with the kitty!
Thank you! I hope I can pull it off!
I’d start the cat first as well. Maybe run the pic of your cat through pic stitch or one of those sites that can turn your picture into a cross stitch pattern just to get an idea of how the computer would chart it. If that makes any sense at all. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. It could be a series 🩷🩷
Great tip to chart that way....💖
Yes thanks for the tip I think I will take a look at a cross stitch program to better visualize the colours and how to keep the textured look
Epic project do the cat first then the rest will fall into place you got this so incredibly special 💜🔆
thanks for the tip!
I definitely think you should do the cat first since it’s the most difficult but also most exciting part of the project while you have the steam.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Tip: Gem under the Sakura might help you with the blending aspect.
Ill take a look thanks!
Good luck! Can't wait to see!
Thanks!
I feel like the dark outline will help you a lot, and then maybe swap out the individual colours for colours that match your cat. Good luck ❤ from Ontario 🇨🇦
Yes I will start with the outlines. Thanks for the good luck!
Good luck!!! I have no tips. Just encouragement. You’ve got this.
Thank you very much!!
You are very creative and I wish you luck with this project. Do the cat first I think. Looking forward to watching this journey with you❤
thanks!
I have not converted a diamond painting before, however I have changed a couple of small sections of photos. I would start with the cat. I would take a closeup picture of the canvas cat and open on a lap top in a paint app. You can then zoom and change the colour of individual diamonds. Ctrl z will take away the last change and you can do that several times to fix an error. Save different versions as you go, so you can compare and quickly go back a step if you want. That way you can do all your figuring out before placing the diamonds. They are using white and black to outline and give the fur appearance. You can try different highlights there to decide what works best. You can even try putting some of your diamonds in the pic, so you can use the eye dropper in the program to match your diamond colour. Good luck. You can do this!
Thank you very much for all the tips!
Yikes, Alysa! What a project!!! But if anyone can do it, you can, after that Hannah Lynn you blinged out.💖
Thank you! I hope I can do it!!
One kit that could really give you amazing colors for this would be Reina. All browns are creams it looks like. Good luck and I can't wait to see how you do this
That painting would give me lots of colours I need! Thanks!
This is certainly an epic undertaking but if it works it will be amazing. Really do look forward to following your progress and yes likely some failures along the way. In the end though I know you will pull it off and be a loving memorial for your beloved family.
Thank you very much! I really hope I can pull it off!
I used to have a ginger tabby cat & I would love to own a ragdoll!
My husbands family had a big tabby cat he had a great personality too. I love my rag doll the breed is so sweet and they follow you around just like a dog.
I Love this idea! Sorry I am new to diamond painting so I can't offer much in the lines of help but if anyone can pull this off it's you! Can't wait to see you work through this. ❤
Thank you very much! I hope I cant do it!
Wow Alysa...what a fun and daunting (would be for me) project. I will enjoy following along and watching your process on this project. The only tips I could think of would be to keep all the black outlining parts of the cat and them maybe you could run the photo through one of those programs that turns it into a cross stitch patter to help with colors. Good luck, my friend!
Thanks! It is daunting I had been thinking of it for months and how and if I would tackle it. I think I will try using a cross stitch program a few others suggested that as well.
Cat first 😊
Thanks!
Hi Alysa
I don't have any tips for you but I think as someone already mentioned perhaps doing the dark outline first would be very helpful. I can't wait to see your projects come to life. 😊
Yes that is a good idea! Thank you!
Good luck! And from someone who's never taken on customizing a project, I agree with your approach to start with the cat and her face, I think that's super smart. Maybe to make it less overwhelming and keep that oil painting effect, pick a certain number of shades you plan on using so her fur doesn't end up being a super smooth gradient? It seems like in this style, you can get away a little more with some interpretation? Excited to see you work through something so dear to you!
What great tips!💖
Yes I think the key will be to have lots of shades of brown and beige to keep that textured look.
Sorry, no tips, but wow, this project sounds awesome! I’m looking forward to see how it turns out.🥰
Thank you very much!
This will definitely be an epic project! I don't know that I can offer much advice however I have seen several people in the VIP group mention copying the canvas onto paper and planning it out that way first. There are others that put drills over the plastic to lay them out first to get an idea of what/where they want to place the diamonds. Sorry I couldn't be more help! Hope it turns out amazing without too much frustration! Good Luck! 🍀🍀
Thank you for your tips!
WOW! This is some project you are taking on. Personally, I don't have an artistic bone in my body. But the suggestions you have made (starting the face, then the kitty and then the background) sounds logical. I just want to wish you luck. Take your time with it. It will turn out great, I believe in you.
Thank you!! I hope I can pull it off!
No tips I’m afraid but I want to wish you luck. It will look amazing when you’ve finished, however long it takes. If I was going to do it, I’d do your cat first not only for the reason you said but because you might find that you need to extend the outline of the original cat as your cat looks fluffier. Could you possibly take a photograph of the canvas and play about with the colour on the computer? (My brain says MS Paint and that’s showing my age! 🤣) So you can kind of see what it will look like before you start placing diamonds. I think if you can do that, it will save you a ton of frustration. Anyway, a very interesting video. x
Great tip.💖
Thanks! Yes I will look into one of the pattern apps and see if that helps plan the colour changes better!
Good luck!! 😊
Thanks!
I have the Maltipoo Night. I have a Maltese dog, but she passed away last year 😢When I see this canvas, I have to have it❤ I’m about to start painting this one 😍
Sounds like a lot of work to do but I’m sure it will come out great! Good luck with your project Alysa😊
I am sorry to hear your dog passed away. I know that day is coming for mine but I think we have another 5 years or more with her fingers crossed!
Good luck! 🤞I don’t think my brain could handle it but I’m confident that you can! 😊
Thanks!
If you can there are apps on your phone or on the computer that can do a cross stitch rendering. I've used Thread Bare which is on both ios and android and it can convert images into diamond painting rendering. Then you can have an easier time with that with what colors go where. Or if you are artistic and have an ipad you can take a picture of the tabby cat on the canvas or take the original rendering image or artwork and draw your cat over it in a similar style. Just to have a visual image to go by.
Great tips thanks for sharing I will look into that!
I know you can do it!!
Thank you! I hope so!
That’s going to be challenging & look amazing. I look forward to seeing your progress. Maybe you can work from darkest colors to lightest colors to build in the shading. Can you take a pic of the canvas & print the pic in black & white to map out your colors? Just a thought. I’ve never done anything like that before.
Thank you so much!! It is definitely going to be a challenge!
This will be an exciting project. Looking forward to the videos. Good luck. Don't forget to breathe, and walk away when you need.... 💜🎨👩🦳
Thank you!! So true I have learned already when it gets frustrating it's time to put it away for the day otherwise I make mistakes.
Oh this is definitely an undertaking!
This is such a huge change that I'm not sure how best to approach it. 😅 I'm thinking it may be best to start with the cat. I wonder if there's a rendering software that you can use to possibly try to figure out the coloring and texture on that first instead of having to keep removing and changing the diamonds? I'm excited to see you work on this and hope the process goes smoothly! 🤞
Yes great idea a few others have suggested the same so I will look into it!
Wow, this will be a big project! I think you’re awesome for trying this and bringing us along. Just explaining your thought process made my lightbulb to go , oh yeah 👍🏻. I’m sure it will look amazing and I’m excited to see it progress. I’m not that innovative
Thank you very much!! I hope I can pull it off!
Hi! I think it's a great project 😊 I agree with you, definitely start with the cat and not the background in case the cat doesn't work out to your taste. Isn't there a app where you can put in a picture and it translates it into pixels? I don't remember the name of it but it could be a good place to start with the colors & you can adjust it to the style of painting you want. And yes, I just checked for picture to pixel and you have a few choices of apps. 😊 Will definitely follow your journey with this DP & I hear you about how important it is to you ❤ have a great day 😊
Yes I dont know why I didnt think of looking for an app. a few people gave me some suggestions so I will try them and see f it works out.
I’m super excited to see how you end up changing the paintings! I think that doing the cat first might be easier and then work on the background next. Will you be starting a separate playlist for this project?
I ended up deciding to start on the back ground first. The cat is going to be the hardest part. Good idea about a seperate playlist. When I start on the cat I think I'll be able to film wip and chats with it. The background I am treating it like a cross stitch conversion so it takes more brain power if you know what I mean I dont think I cant talk at the same time.
I just started working on Gem.
thanks!
I don’t have any tips but good luck! I would probably do the cat first as well though.
Thanks!!
Hi Alysa. This is going to be awesome. I’m currently doing Waiting for Master from DAC and have been tossing up whether to change the colour on the Labrador to white…..and he’s only 12 drills high! 😂 I wonder if it would help if you traced the cat onto paper and then coloured the picture in with colours you’re thinking of using ❤
that is a good idea!
You tube channel "Diamond Painting with Laura" took the Mandy Manzano canvas "All Cats Do Go To Heaven" and converted her cat that had passed away into the cat that was charted into the canvas. She recorded her process. It might help.
Thanks for reminding me I will go back and rewatch her videos. I remember seeing the finish of that project
I think you can get AI help. Use it to get as similar a picture as possible. Then using any dp or cross stitch charting software change it to a pixel art.
This can be used as a rough guide especially to know how the colors, shadows, transitions, etc work.
I will look into it! Thanks for the tips
Your cat looks like mine. She sleeps at least 23 hours a day. She’s special needs
Mine sleeps so much too. We live a quiet life