Cross stitch pattern generator with background removal

Use Hide background in The Pattern Maker to keep the main subject of a photo and leave the surrounding chart cells unstitched. Check the cutout, refine the selection if needed, then generate the DMC pattern and printable A4 PDFs.

Remove the background before generating

1. Choose a PNG, JPEG or WebP source image in the cross-stitch pattern generator.
2. Turn on Hide background. The first use downloads the selection model; processing time depends on your device.
3. Check the original and cutout in the preview panel. Look closely at outlines, gaps and small details.
4. Use Refine selection if the automatic cutout misses something, then generate the pattern.

The image and selection edits stay on your device. Automatic background selection can miss leaves, branches, fur and other fine details; inspect the result before preparing PDFs.

Restore what belongs and erase what does not

Refine selection offers a connected-subject selection, Restore and Erase brushes, and a reset to the automatic mask. Restore brings back areas removed by the selection; Erase excludes unwanted areas. Existing transparent areas in the original image cannot be restored into opaque pixels.

For keyboard correction, focus the cutout, move with the arrow keys and apply the current tool with Enter or Space. Check small gaps and edges at a useful zoom before accepting the result.

Empty cells are different from white stitches

A removed background contains no stitches. It is not converted into a field of white DMC thread. Your fabric remains visible in those areas, so consider its color when choosing the image and palette.

Selection preserves the original image dimensions. It does not crop the chart around the cutout. If the subject is very small in the photo, crop the source image in an image editor first so more of the pattern's stitch grid can describe the subject.

Keep the subject colors readable

Preserve subject colors is the default color priority. It gives additional importance to subject detail and distinctive colors when choosing the DMC palette. Balance the whole image is an alternative when the complete composition matters.

Background removal and color priority solve different problems: one decides where to stitch, while the other helps choose thread colors. Neither guarantees that tiny features will survive a small stitch grid. The photo-to-pattern guide explains size and color tradeoffs.

Check both the chart and the PDF cover

Removed areas become empty cells in the preview and both PDF charts. The PDF covers also use the source image with the selection applied. Both chart variants keep their thread symbols and DMC legends.

Turn Hide background off to return to the original image. After changing the selection, regenerate the pattern and prepare fresh PDFs. Save the files before closing the page, then use the A4 printing guide to arrange the sheets.