How to Create a Stained Glass Pattern

You can make a stained glass pattern from almost any image.

Making a stained glass pattern is a simple process. There are no complicated procedures required to make a pattern. You can make a stained glass pattern from almost any image, as long as you can scan it into the computer and turn it into a black and white image. You also can draw a pattern freehand, directly onto the polyurethane film if you have an idea that you cannot find an image for or for an unusual stained glass pattern.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Photo editing software
• Image
• Scanner
• Printer
• Polyurethane film
• Permanent marker
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Scan the image into the computer High contrast images and simple images work best for conversion.

2. Open the photo editing software program. Open the image that you scanned into the computer.

3. Trim any unwanted pieces from the image to eliminate the sections of the image that you do not want in the pattern. Backgrounds are hard to translate into stained glass, so removing them is one way to crop the image. Adjust the size to make it smaller or larger.

4. Go to "Options" and "Color Options." The names of the settings and menus may vary depending on the software. Turn the image to grayscale so that the entire image is in black, grey and white.

5. Change the background color to white if it is still on the image. Use the "Flood fill" tool to dye the inside of the images white. The outlines should remain black or gray.

6. Magnify the image to 200 or 300 percent. Separate any separate pieces of the object that touch. Use the paint tool with white paint to separate the different parts of the image.

7. Print the image onto white paper. If you need multiple pages for a larger image, make sure to divide the pieces that will fit onto a single sheet of paper.

8. Draw the outline of the pattern onto clear, polyurethane film with a permanent marker. Number the pattern pieces so that you know how to fit them together again after you cut them apart. Cut apart the pieces with scissors.

References

• Stained Glass Patterns: Making Patterns
• Cole Brothers: Pattern Guide