A useful outline begins with a clear photograph. Kicks can turn one photo or several views into a colorable set, but it cannot recover details hidden by glare, deep shadow or another object. Use photos you took or have permission to use, and move personal items out of the background.
Photograph the same shoe from four angles
Place the shoe on a plain background that contrasts with its upper and sole. Use soft, even light and keep the entire shoe in the frame. Avoid an ultra-wide camera setting that makes the near end look much larger. Keep roughly the same distance and framing for the two side views.
| Slot | What to photograph | Check before importing |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral / Outside | The outer side, with the camera level with the shoe. | The heel and toe are both visible, with a clear sole edge. |
| Medial / Inside | The inner side of the same shoe. | You have changed sides, rather than mirrored the outside photo. |
| Top | A view straight down at the laces and toe. | The tongue is centered and the opening is not obscured. |
| Back | The heel facing the camera. | The camera is centered, so the heel does not lean to one side. |
Import and inspect each outline
In the studio, select Import photo. Give the set a name you will recognize later and add each image to its matching slot. HEIC, HEIF, JPEG and PNG are supported. One view is enough to begin; add other views when you have them.
The first import may take longer while the browser downloads the cut-out tool. Where the preview offers a subject selection, tap inside the shoe to guide the cut-out. Review the outline before creating the set. The Detail control changes how much edge information is retained, and the seam option helps preserve internal lines. More detail is not always more usable: texture can become a collection of tiny regions.
Fix the photo before fighting the fill
If part of the sole disappears, improve the contrast between the sole and background and photograph it again. If the outline is crowded with tiny lines, use a less textured background or lower the detail. If a panel boundary is missing, change the lighting so the seam is visible. Retaking one clean photo often produces a more reliable template than trying to repair every mark.
After creating the set, test one large region with a contrasting color. If the fill spreads across several panels, undo it and inspect the separating seam. You can use Draw mode for a small correction, then test again in Fill mode. Treat a photo-derived outline as a visual reference, not a dimensionally accurate pattern.
Know where the images are saved
The Import photo workflow processes the source photographs in your browser and keeps the resulting outlines in the set. Signed-out sets use browser storage; signed-in sets are saved to your account. A design that includes an image can carry that image when you save the design to your account or download its project file.
Keep your original photographs separately. Clearing browser storage can remove local sets, and storage limits may prevent a large set from being saved locally. Save an editable project backup once you begin designing. See the privacy policy for the account and drawing-pad data flows.
If HEIC conversion fails: export the photo as JPEG and try that copy. Use a smaller, clearly framed image if your device runs out of memory.