Quick Summary: The New Standard in Paint by Numbers
- The Update: All our ready-made paint by numbers kits now offer the choice of 24, 36, or 48 colour palettes.
- The Benefit: Higher colour counts eliminate colour banding and provide smoother gradients for a highly realistic final painting.
- Total Customization: Combine your chosen colour tier with our existing framing options (Rolled, DIY Frame, or Pre-Stretched) to build your perfect kit.
The Science of Detail: Why We Now Offer 24, 36, and 48 Colour Paint by Numbers Kits
If you have ever completed a standard paint by numbers kit and felt the final result looked a little too blocky or cartoonish, you have experienced a lack of chromatic resolution.
Historically, the paint by numbers industry has defaulted to offering exactly 24 colours for mass-produced designs. This number was chosen by manufacturers to keep shipping weights low and production simple. However, 24 colours are rarely enough to accurately capture the subtle transitions in a sunset, the shadows on a face, or the depth of a dense forest.
We believe your time is valuable. If you are going to spend 20 hours painting a canvas, the final result should be a piece of art you are proud to hang on your wall. That is why we are changing the standard. You can now select the exact level of detail you want for all of our ready-made kits.
Figure 1: The difference in blending quality between a standard 24-colour kit and a premium 48-colour kit.
Understanding Chromatic Resolution: The Tiers Explained
When you increase the number of paint pots in a kit, you decrease the size of the paintable areas on the canvas. This creates finer details and smoother tonal transitions, eliminating the harsh lines known as colour banding.
While we have always offered high colour counts for our highly popular Custom Paint by Numbers and Custom Pet Portraits, bringing this technology to our standard collections gives you unprecedented control over your hobby.
Figure 2: Higher colour tiers mean more individual pigment transitions and smaller canvas cells.
*Higher colour counts result in smaller canvas cells and require more time to complete.
1. The 24 Colour Kit (Standard Detail)
This is the classic paint by numbers experience. It is perfect for beginners, younger painters, or designs that naturally have large blocks of solid colour, like abstract art or simple illustrations.
- Best For: First-time painters and abstract designs.
- Time to Complete: Fast.
- Visual Style: Expressive, visible blocks of colour.
2. The 36 Colour Kit (High Detail)
This is the sweet spot for most painters. Adding 12 additional colours allows for much smoother blending. Skies look more natural, and shadows have depth rather than just looking like flat, dark patches.
- Best For: Landscapes, florals, and intermediate painters.
- Time to Complete: Moderate.
- Visual Style: Realistic with excellent depth.
3. The 48 Colour Kit (Maximum Detail)
This tier is for serious hobbyists who want a museum-quality result. By using 48 specific pigments, the canvas is broken down into incredibly fine sections. The colour transitions are nearly seamless, making the final piece look like a genuine freehand painting from a few feet away.
- Best For: Complex scenes, highly detailed portraits, and dedicated painters.
- Time to Complete: High (Requires patience and good lighting).
- Visual Style: Near-photorealism.
Combining Colour Tiers with Frame Styles
Your artwork needs the right foundation. In addition to choosing your colour count, you still have full control over the canvas topography through our framing options. You can build the exact kit you need before you even add it to your cart.
| Frame Style Option | What It Means | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Without Frame | A rolled, high-quality linen canvas. | You plan to buy a custom glass frame or want to store the finished piece in a portfolio. |
| With DIY Frame | Includes precision-cut wooden stretcher bars to assemble yourself. | You want the gallery look on a budget and enjoy the hands-on process of stretching canvas. |
| Stretched On Frame | Arrives fully stretched and stapled to a wooden frame, ready to paint. | The ultimate convenience. Best for gifts or immediate painting without the setup. |
The Complete Package: Build Your Perfect Kit
We are thrilled to offer this level of personalization. By allowing you to choose both your colour depth (24, 36, or 48) and your presentation format (Rolled, DIY, or Stretched), you are no longer just buying a generic craft kit. You are curating a premium art project tailored exactly to your skill level, your timeline, and your home decor needs.
We have updated our entire catalog. When you browse our collections, simply select a painting you love. On the product page, use the dropdown menus to configure your ideal detail level and framing preference.
Experience the Difference
Ready to see what 48 colours can do for your next project? Browse our full catalog and build your perfect kit today.
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