KKai BuildArt

Turn any image into something you can build

Upload a photo, pick your material (Rubik's cubes, LEGO, cross stitch, glass fusing, stained glass, mosaic and 40 more) and get the pattern, the instructions and the shopping list. Instantly.

Create my first pattern for freeBrowse all 46 media

Free forever · No card · Cancel anytime

Converting doesn't upload your image: the engine runs in your browser

A look inside

Three real screens from a demo account: the finished piece, the same image turned into a different craft, and the assistant that gets it onto the wall.

Kai BuildArt editor with a finished ceramic mosaic in the middle, size and palette controls on the left, and the materials list with its cost on the right.
The Studio: move one control and the piece is rebuilt on the spot, with materials and cost right beside it.
The same image turned into a paint by numbers template: outlined areas with a number inside each one, and the PDF and SVG exports on the right.
Same image, different craft: it comes out as a numbered paint template, ready to print.
Kai BuildArt Build Mode: a progress bar at the top and, in large type, the colour of the current run and how many pieces go in a row.
Build Mode: colour and count in large type, run by run, with your progress saved where you left it.

Sound familiar?

"I want a Rubik's cube mosaic but mapping colors by hand takes days"

"Free tools won't let me use MY colors or MY size"

"I have the pattern… now how do I build it without getting lost?"

Every weekend without that mosaic on the wall is another "someday". And the hours you spend mapping colors by hand are hours you don't build.

“We believe the creative part is building with your hands, not fighting color spreadsheets. From pixel to piece: the machine does the math, you make the art.”

For humans, not for robots

Kai BuildArt turns images into instructions for a person to build by hand. We don't generate files so a machine makes the piece on its own: the finished work always carries your touch.

Kai BuildArt solves the whole journey

Everything live, no waiting

Move a slider and the pattern rebuilds instantly. Realistic material view, pattern view, and the magical "from afar" view.

Your materials, your rules

Real palettes (DMC, LEGO, Hama, Rubik colors) or your own. Inventory mode: use only what's in your drawer.

From pattern to finished piece

Interactive Build Mode piece by piece, shopping list with costs, and pro exports: PDF, SVG, CSV, STL, DXF.

46 art media

Rubik, LEGO, cross stitch, C2C crochet, stained glass, glass fusing, woven hoop mandalas, paint by numbers, string art, 3D lithophanes, LED, murals and more.

How it works

1

Upload your image (or generate it with AI)

2

Pick your medium and constraints

3

Tune it live until you love it

4

Export the pattern and build it guided

Start free · no card needed

What do you want to build your image with?

Each medium with real palettes, physical units and instructions.

Rubik's cubesMosaics with the cube's 6 colors. Cube-by-cube cards and Build Mode.
LEGO 2DFlat mosaics with the real LEGO palette and a parts shopping list.
Ceramic mosaicMurals and art with tiles; simulated grout and quadrant guide.
Hama / PerlerFusible beads. Pegboard split and counts with margin.
Seed beadsLoom patterns with row-by-row threading sequence.
Photo mosaicOne big image made of your small photos.
MinecraftPixel art with real game blocks, layer by layer.
Cross stitchPatterns with DMC codes, symbols, skeins and pro PDF.
Embroidery by zonesColor zones with stitch hints and transfer template.
C2C crochetBlankets and tapestries with auto-written diagonal instructions.
KnittingJacquard and Fair Isle with long-float warnings.
Quilt / patchworkBlocks and HST triangles with fabric per color.
Felt / craft feltCharacters and appliqués as cut-out pieces: real-size template, assembly order and stitches.
Stained glassNumbered pieces, lead lines and real-size template.
Fused glassYour image as kiln-ready glass: cutting template, layers and firing guide.
MarquetryYour image in real wood tones, ready to cut.
Layered paperShadow box and lightbox with per-layer SVG for Cricut/Silhouette.
Layered laser cutPortraits and maps in MDF/acrylic with SVG + DXF per level.
StencilCuttable templates with automatic bridges. Latte preset.
MetalSilhouettes for plasma/laser/CNC with structural warnings.
Perforated artHalftone drilling patterns for lamps and panels.
Jigsaw puzzleClassic jigsaw cuts over your image, for laser or print.
Character papercraftYour photo as a buildable paper character: pick head and body, print, cut and glue.
LEGO reliefPlate-level relief with per-layer counts.
LEGO 3D from modelUpload an STL/OBJ/GLB and turn it into a real LEGO sculpture: layer-by-layer guide and brick list.
Voxel 3DBlock sculpture exportable to STL, also per color.
Lithophane & reliefThe photo appears when the light turns on. Print-ready STL.
Layered topographyStackable maps and reliefs for cutting or 3D printing.
Paper macheMasks, piñatas and light sculptures: silhouettes, volume map and paste recipe.
LED matrixYour image in LEDs with Arduino code and power estimate.
Flex neonLogos and strokes as continuous lines with estimated meters.
Shadow panelPerforations that project your image with backlight.
Seeds & grainsMosaics with beans, corn, lentils and coffee. School & craft.
Garden & succulentsYour design in living plants with a planting plan.
BakingCupcake, cookie and chocolate mosaics for events.
Grid muralWalls in meters with per-cell codes and paint liters.
Paint by numbersSmooth numbered outlines ready to print.
Pixel artThe creative base: retro palettes and clean export.
String artThread and nails: exact pin-to-pin sequence.
Linocut / stampsYour image as a mirrored carvable matrix, with reduction passes for multiple colors.
Screen printingInk separations with positives, registration marks and print order.
Woven hoop mandalaYour image sets the colors; the app gives you the exact round-by-round weave sequence.
DreamcatcherWeb, hangings and beads with a weave pattern and thread meters calculated.
Layered candlesFrom image to recipe: wax grams per color, wick, temperatures and cure.
Modular origamiTriangular module mosaics with per-color counts.
Design generatorMandalas, geometry and AI patterns, no image needed.

Who is this for

Mosaic builders (Rubik, LEGO, beads) who want the exact pattern and shopping list.

Stitchers and knitters who need real codes (DMC) and professional PDFs.

Makers with lasers, 3D printers or Cricut who want ready files (SVG, DXF, STL).

Looking for a pixel-by-pixel drawing editor like Photoshop? That's not us: we start from an image and make it buildable.

What the people using it say

No reviews published yet. The first ones will appear here as they arrive.

Honest pricing

Convert for free forever. Pay only when you need size and pro tools.

Annual subscription: one charge a year instead of twelve. It renews every 12 months at the price in force; cancel whenever you like.

Free

To try it out, and for real small projects.

Free
  • Grid up to 50×50
  • 3 projects
  • Watermarked PNG + basic PDF
Start free · no card needed

Maker

The serious builder: full size and 2D exports.

US$ 4.16/mo

US$ 49.90 · billed yearly

  • Grid up to 150×150
  • 50 projects
  • Pro PDF + SVG + CSV + clean PNG
Choose Maker

Studio

The creator who makes and sells their own work: STL, DXF, API and a commercial license.

US$ 8.33/mo

US$ 99.90 · billed yearly

  • Grid up to 300×300
  • Unlimited projects
  • Pro PDF + SVG + CSV + clean PNG
  • STL + DXF + Arduino
  • REST API + MCP
Choose Studio

Workshop

The business: client work, white-label and more capacity.

US$ 16.66/mo

US$ 199.90 · billed yearly

  • Grid up to 500×500
  • Unlimited projects
  • Pro PDF + SVG + CSV + clean PNG
  • STL + DXF + Arduino
  • REST API + MCP
  • Kit with YOUR logo (white-label)
Choose Workshop
Converting doesn't upload your image: it only leaves your device if you save the project or use AICancel anytime, no fine printIf your plan expires, nothing is deleted (5-day grace)Secure checkout with dLocal Go (cards & local methods)

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost?

Converting is free forever (up to 50×50 cells). Paid plans start at US$ 4.99 a month and unlock big grids, pro exports (paginated PDF, SVG, CSV, STL, DXF) and the BuildArt Kit. Annual gives you 2 months free.

How is this different from the free tools out there?

Three things you won't find together: inventory mode (use ONLY the colors and quantities you own), an interactive piece-by-piece Build Mode, and 46 media in one tool with fabrication exports. Plus everything runs in your browser: real privacy.

Does my image get uploaded anywhere?

Not to convert: the engine runs in your browser. Your image leaves your device only in two cases you choose: if you save the project (a reduced copy, 512 px max, so you can reopen it on another device) and if you use an AI feature (the image goes to the AI provider for that action only; photo to 3D sends it to Tripo). It is not used to train models.

Do I need design or tech skills?

No. Upload an image, pick your material and move simple sliders. The app calculates colors, quantities, costs and guides you piece by piece as you build.

What are KaiCoins?

The currency for AI features (generate designs, advisor, guides). Normal conversions never spend KaiCoins: they're free and unlimited.

Can I sell the patterns I generate?

Yes. With Studio you can sell what you make from your patterns; with Workshop you can also deliver them to clients under your brand. Free and Maker are for personal use.

How do I pay?

By card or local payment methods through dLocal Go, which today charges in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Kenya, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Malaysia. If your country isn't on the list, the Free plan works the same without paying; write to us and we'll let you know when payments reach your country. Monthly or annual subscription: the annual one is charged once a year and renews on its own until you cancel. No card? You can also pay for a year up front, and that payment doesn't renew.

What if I pay and it wasn't what I expected?

If it's your first purchase of a plan, you can ask for a refund within 7 days of the first charge (once per customer): you get back what you paid minus only the plan KaiCoins you already spent. Cancelling is always free and done from your account: you won't be charged again and you keep access until the paid period ends. The details are in the refund policy, in the footer.

Does it work on my phone?

Yes. It works in your phone's browser and installs as an app, no app store needed. Build Mode is designed for keeping your phone next to your work table: the screen stays on while you build, the current piece is shown large, and your progress is saved where you left it.

Does it work for a workshop, a school or a team?

Yes, with one account per person: there are no shared seats or team management yet. The Workshop plan covers client work, kits with your logo and an API to automate; Studio already includes the API and a license to sell what you make.

What happens if my plan expires?

You get 5 days of grace. Then you drop to Free: nothing is deleted, extra projects become read-only until you reactivate.

How does inventory mode work?

You tell it how many units you own per color and the engine distributes the pattern without exceeding your stock.

Kai BuildArt updates

New media, editor improvements and building tips. An email every now and then, and you can unsubscribe with one click.

Your next piece starts with an image

Start free · no card needed

Free forever · No card · Cancel anytime