When turning a photo into a paint-by-number picture, the most important decision after picking the photo is the difficulty. It's not just "more zones or fewer zones": it changes how much time you'll invest, how closely the result will resemble the original photo, and even the type of experience (more meditative or more challenging). This guide explains exactly what each level does and how to choose well.
What actually changes between levels
In Color Memories, raising the difficulty increases two things at once: the number of distinct colors in the palette (from a few dozen on Easy to around a hundred on Expert), and consequently the number of zones to paint (from about 300 on Easy to over 1,300 on Expert). More colors means smoother transitions — a sunset sky goes from 3 bands to a believable gradient — and more zones means smaller pieces and finer detail.
| Level | Zones (approx.) | Typical time | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | ~300 | 30-60 min | First timers, short sessions, painting "on autopilot" |
| Medium | ~500-700 | 1-2 h | The balance for most photos and people |
| Hard | ~800-1,000 | 2-4 h | Anyone who's already finished a few and wants a challenge |
| Expert | 1,300+ | 4 h or more | Maximum fidelity to the photo; a multi-day project |
These times are a rough guide: they depend on the photo's size, your pace, and how much you use aids like hints. Most people don't finish an Expert in one sitting — and they don't need to: progress saves itself and you can pick it up whenever you like, even on another device if you have an account.
The golden rule: difficulty based on the photo
The most common mistake is choosing difficulty out of pride ("expert, I can handle it") instead of based on the photo. Each type of image has a level where it shines:
- Close-up portraits (a face filling the frame): medium or hard. Faces need enough skin tones to avoid looking "banded," but at expert a large face generates hundreds of tiny zones in the shadows that add little.
- Pets: hard or expert if the coat has rich texture (tabby cats, long-haired dogs); medium if it's a solid color.
- Landscapes with sky: hard or expert. Sky gradients are where the extra palette shows the most; on easy, a sunset loses its magic.
- Groups of people or highly detailed scenes: expert, or better yet, crop the photo first. The smaller each element is, the more colors are needed for it to be recognizable.
- Simple objects, flowers, food: easy or medium work surprisingly well; these are photos with few natural regions.
We have a whole guide on which photos work best that complements this decision.
Difficulty based on your mood (not just the photo)
The other variable is you. An easy level is almost hypnotic: big zones, fast pace, zero friction — ideal for unwinding for 15 minutes before bed. An expert demands hunting for tiny zones with zoom, switching colors frequently, and staying focused — it absorbs you much more, but it's also more tiring. If your main goal is to relax, don't underestimate the lower levels: as we cover in why paint by number relaxes you, the sweet spot is a task that occupies the mind without frustrating it.
The aids count (and they're not cheating)
Two tools change the experience at high levels: hints, which locate a pending zone of the selected color for you when you've been stuck a while, and zoom, essential at expert (the smallest zones can measure just a few millimeters on screen). Using them doesn't "spoil" anything: the goal is to finish and enjoy it, not to prove visual sharpness. If you notice a level forces you to use hints constantly, drop down a notch next time: it's a sign that photo called for fewer zones.
Multitone or flat colors
Besides difficulty, Color Memories lets you choose between multitone (each zone fills with the real average color from that part of the photo: a more photographic result) and flat colors (one uniform color per zone: more of an illustration or poster look). It doesn't affect the number of zones, only the finish. For portraits and memories, multitone tends to be more popular; for a poster-style result, flat colors.
What if I pick the wrong level?
There's no penalty: you can generate the picture again at another difficulty from the same photo. A common trick is generating the same photo on easy to "test" it and, if the composition works, regenerating it at the level you actually want to paint. And if you're after the exact opposite of choosing — letting the app decide for you — levels mode deals four of your photos across the four difficulties and turns them into a progressive challenge with locks.
Choose photo and difficulty →