How to take the best photo for a custom brick set

Your photo is the starting point for your brick design. Brickmakr reads its shape, colours and details and works out how to build them in bricks, so a clear photo makes a real difference to the result. The good news: you don't need a camera or any skill. A phone and a few minutes are plenty.

1. Find good light

Daylight from a window is the best light there is. Stand or kneel with the window beside you or behind you, so it lights up your subject rather than shining into the lens.

Avoid:

• Direct midday sun. It makes harsh shadows that can read as dark patches.
• Dim rooms at night. Phones smooth out detail in low light, and colours go muddy.
• Strong coloured light, like a red lamp or a sunset glow, which shifts the colours we see.

2. Show the whole thing

Make sure everything you want in bricks is in the frame, with a little space around it. If the tail, the roof or the back wheels are cut off, the design has to guess what they look like.

3. Pick the right angle

A side-on or three-quarter view usually works best. It shows both the outline and the depth: for a pet, the shape of the body, legs and head; for a building or a car, the front and one side at once.

Straight-on photos hide the shape, and photos from high above flatten it.

4. Keep it sharp and simple

• Tap the screen to focus on your subject, and hold still.
• A plain background helps the subject stand out. You don't need a studio, just move the toy box out of shot.
• One subject per photo is easiest. If you want a group (two cats, a family), make sure everyone is clearly visible.

5. Add more photos for more detail

You can upload up to 25 photos for one design. A few angles of the same subject (side, front, back) help with the parts a single photo can't show, like markings on the other side or the back of a house.

Photos can be JPEG, PNG, WebP or GIF, up to 10 MB each.

6. Add a few words

A short note fills in what a photo can't. For example:

My dog Biscuit, a beagle. White chest and paws, brown ears, black saddle. Sitting, looking up.

Mention anything that matters to you: a favourite collar, the colour of the front door, the number plate style. You can also skip photos entirely and just describe your idea.

Quick checklist

• Daylight from a window, not direct sun
• The whole subject in frame
• Side-on or three-quarter angle
• Sharp focus, simple background
• Extra angles for extra detail
• A sentence about the details that matter

When you're ready, start your design. It's ready in minutes, and your first small design is free. Making one of a pet? Read our guide on turning your pet into a brick set.