Mercedes, Apple, Twitter, Pepsi — the shared logo construction grid
Four iconic logos share one underlying construction grid. Here is the geometry they have in common, and how to rebuild it with an overlay.
Grid Maker Pro — free grid drawing tool with 82 composition and drawing grid overlays
Grid Maker ProFree grid drawing tool — drop a photo and lay any of 82 composition grid and drawing grid overlays over it, then export print-ready.
Grid Maker Examples: Stunning Quality
See how Grid Maker Pro transforms your reference photos with professional drawing grids. Compare before and after views across portraits, landscapes, still life, and figurative art. Perfect for artists seeking accurate proportions and precise transfers.
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Grid Maker Pro: Automated Grid Overlay in 1 Click
With Grid Maker Pro, you can apply professional drawing grids instantly to any reference image – saving time and keeping your proportions perfect for accurate artwork.
Whether you're sketching portraits, planning a painting, or teaching composition to art students, you can overlay custom grids, isolate key sections, and export your reference photo – all in just one click.
Try Grid Maker Free
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Grid Maker Pro for Every Creative Professional
Whether you need precise drawing grids for portraits, pixel-perfect UI layouts, stencil guides, or instant class printouts — Grid Maker Pro delivers professional grid overlays for artists, designers, educators, and creators worldwide.
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Artists & Art Students
Drawing grids for study, practice & portfolio work -
Illustrators & Designers
Vector-ready grid overlays & export -
Photographers & Videographers
Composition grids, framing & crop guides -
UI/UX & Digital Design
Pixel-perfect grids, wireframes & CSS export -
Painters & Muralists
Reference grids, wall scaling & accurate proportions -
Educators & Workshop Leaders
Teaching grids, printable handouts & classroom activities -
Architects & Engineers
Technical grids, blueprints & scaled overlays -
Social Media & Content Creators
Layout templates, feed grids & story frames -
Animators & Storyboard Artists
Frame grids, character sheets & motion guides -
Typography & Print Designers
Baseline grids, type layout & print composition -
Fashion & Textile Designers
Pattern drafting, croquis grids & garment templates -
DIY Makers & Crafters
Pattern grids, cutting templates & project planning
Bring clarity to your art process.
Grid Maker Pro makes it simple to go from reference photo to structured sketch with professional drawing grids. Toggle overlays instantly, compare before/after views, and set up proportions without distraction.
- Instant grid overlay on any reference image
- Real-time before / after comparison
- Perfect proportions for accurate drawing
- Customizable grid styles and layouts
The grid method, from Dürer to Grid Maker Pro.
From the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, master artists used the Grid Method to transfer accurate proportions from life to canvas. Albrecht Dürer popularized this drawing technique: a frame of strings between artist and model created a fixed reference grid, so forms could be measured and transferred square by square with precision.
Grid Maker Pro carries that tradition forward for today's digital workflows. Upload any reference image, overlay customizable grid guides, label cells (A1, B2…), and export high-resolution files — so modern artists can break down complex subjects, plan compositions, and maintain traditional precision with digital efficiency. For the full picture, read our guide to 82 composition overlays.
¹ Albrecht Dürer, Underweysung der Messung, Nuremberg, 1525.
1525
Physical string grids
2025
Digital precision
Real examples, real results.
See how Grid Maker Pro transforms reference images across different art styles with professional grid overlays.
Perfect for portrait artists: capture accurate facial proportions and features with Grid Maker Pro's customizable drawing grids.
Try the tool — free
No signup required · Works with any image · Download instantly
Grid drawing tutorials & tips.
Learn professional drawing techniques with Grid Maker Pro's expert guides and tutorials.
Loomis Head at tilted angles: three adjustments that fix foreshortening
The Loomis sphere works at any angle, but tilted references are where most self-taught artists fall apart. Three adjustments that fix it.
Why the rule of thirds is a guideline, not a law
The most-tested grid in photography is also the most misunderstood. Where it works, where it fails, and when to break it.
Phi vs thirds: the 4.9-point compositional difference
Thirds divides at 33.3% and 66.6%. Phi divides at 38.2% and 61.8%. The 4.9-point shift sounds tiny — until you see it in a finished frame.
Golden ratio — overlay of the month
The golden ratio in art — what is real, what is myth, and how to use the phi overlay without forcing it onto every composition.
Q&A — should I use the grid method or a projector?
A reader asks which to use. An honest comparison of skill-building, speed, accuracy, and cost between the grid method, a projector, and tracing.
Newthe AR app
Want to trace this onto real paper?
The web tool here is free forever— all 82 grids, in your browser. The app does the one thing a browser can’t: it locks your reference over your real paper, canvas, or wall through the camera, so you draw the proportions by hand.
- Trace your own photo — 3 AR traces free every month
- All 82 composition grids built in
- Made by a working artist, 15 years at the easel
Free to try — no account, no signup. The web tool stays free forever.
Trace ontoSee pricingCompare AR apps
The short answers.
11 questions · answered in a line or two
Everything people ask before they drop an image into the tool — cost, privacy, exports, and how the grid method actually works.
Read the full FAQWhat is a composition grid?
A composition grid is an overlay of guide lines — thirds, diagonals, ratios — placed over an image to structure where its focal points sit. The definitive reference is the 82 composition overlays guide.
Is Grid Maker Pro free?
Yes — every overlay and every export option, free forever. There is no paid tier, no trial, and no metered usage on the browser tool.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The tool runs entirely in your browser — there is no server to upload to, so your reference image never leaves your device.
Do I need an account?
No — the tool opens, works, and exports without any signup, login, or email.
How many grid overlays are included?
82, organised into 11 categories — from rule of thirds and golden ratio to Loomis heads, perspective grids, and sacred geometry. Browse every one in the Grid Library.
How do I put a grid over a picture to draw it?
Upload your reference, apply a square drawing grid, and copy the image square by square onto matching paper. The full walkthrough is in our guide to enlarging a drawing with the grid method.
Rule of thirds or golden ratio — which should I use?
Start with the rule of thirds for speed; switch to the golden ratio when a composition needs a more gradual, off-centre emphasis. Both are one click in the tool.
Can I use more than one overlay at once?
Yes — activate several overlays together and move, scale, and rotate each one independently.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes — it runs in any modern browser on mobile, tablet, or desktop, with nothing to install.
Can I export for print?
Yes — export PNG, JPG, or PDF at up to 600 DPI, with the overlays locked exactly where you placed them.
Is using a grid cheating?
No — the grid method has been standard studio practice since the Renaissance; Dürer, Van Gogh, and Chuck Close all worked over grids. The longer answer is in our guide on whether tracing is cheating.
Explore the full catalogue.
All 82 overlays · 11 categories · 12 long-form guides
Every overlay has a dedicated reference page with construction details, history, and FAQ. Start from the master library or jump straight to a category.
Composition8 overlaysArtist Guides8 overlaysSacred Geometry20 overlaysPerspective8 overlaysDynamic Symmetry6 overlaysTypography6 overlaysDesign Templates8 overlaysSpecialty Grids7 overlaysArchitecture3 overlaysAdvanced Composition5 overlaysBasic Drawing3 overlays
By audience4 hubs