<p>We don't really allow for product recommendations, but you can make your own grid overlays:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Buy a sheet of flexible plastic, and use a permanent marker and ruler to create a grid with your preferred scale, and simply put it up against your monitor.<br />
Usually it can rest against the borders of the screen, but a little tape will definitely hold it in place.</p>
</li>
<li><p>In an image editor like Photoshop or the free open-source <a href="https://www.gimp.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Gimp</a> you can:</p>
<ul>
<li>add guidelines;</li>
<li>(add a transparent layer and) add lines on top of the reference image (and save that layer to use it whenever you need it);</li>
<li>make use of the feature to show grids (the size can be adjusted);</li>
<li>find premade grids on transparent background images <a href="https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=grid%20transparent" rel="nofollow noreferrer">online</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-28T12:49:22.017Z
I'm not at my pc now, but I think the gimp can show a grid as an option.
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-28T18:06:28.997Z
No problem - and I can confirm it's under View|Show Grid, configured with Image|Configure Grid.  You can set the defaults in preferences.
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-28T22:12:55.280Z
Thank you so much. Maybe the most obvious is the best solution. I will check out Gimp again and them make my own I think....
In2White
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-01T15:23:34.830Z
I think a faster way to add lines, cut, and + might be using google drawings, I sometimes use it and it perfectly works
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-27T20:00:49.753Z
2021-02-28T13:22:48.670Z
2021-02-28T13:22:48.670Z
Joachim
<p>I want to use my photos to paint from. I would like to know how to find a grid for my screen to square off my photo. This would aid in transferring it to a canvas or paper.<br />
I've tried to find a photo editor app, etc. but none offer grid overlays I guess you'd call them.  I'm an artist, not so smart about computers and what's available.</p>

<tool-fabrication><reference>
Grid for copying photos from laptop
In2White
# Grid for copying photos from laptop

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-27)

I want to use my photos to paint from. I would like to know how to find a grid for my screen to square off my photo. This would aid in transferring it to a canvas or paper.  
I've tried to find a photo editor app, etc. but none offer grid overlays I guess you'd call them. I'm an artist, not so smart about computers and what's available.

**Tags:** tool-fabrication, reference


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-02-27. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

We don't really allow for product recommendations, but you can make your own grid overlays:

* Buy a sheet of flexible plastic, and use a permanent marker and ruler to create a grid with your preferred scale, and simply put it up against your monitor.  
  Usually it can rest against the borders of the screen, but a little tape will definitely hold it in place.
* In an image editor like Photoshop or the free open-source [Gimp](https://www.gimp.org/) you can:

  + add guidelines;
  + (add a transparent layer and) add lines on top of the reference image (and save that layer to use it whenever you need it);
  + make use of the feature to show grids (the size can be adjusted);
  + find premade grids on transparent background images [online](https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=grid%20transparent).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I'm not at my pc now, but I think the gimp can show a grid as an option.  
> **username_2**: No problem - and I can confirm it's under View|Show Grid, configured with Image|Configure Grid.  You can set the defaults in preferences.  
> **username_0**: Thank you so much. Maybe the most obvious is the best solution. I will check out Gimp again and them make my own I think....  
> **username_3**: I think a faster way to add lines, cut, and + might be using google drawings, I sometimes use it and it perfectly works  

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