Contact Sheet Maker
Add a batch of photos and get a neat contact sheet: a grid of numbered thumbnails with their filenames, ready to print or send as a proof. Choose the page size, columns, spacing and captions, then download a multi-page PDF or JPG pages.
Last updated:
Photo list (0)
How to use the Contact Sheet Maker
- Add your photos with the button or drag them onto the drop area. The sample photos disappear when you add your own.
- Choose the page: paper size, orientation, columns and rows per page.
- Style the thumbnails: cell shape, fit or crop, spacing, margins and borders.
- Set the captions: frame number, filename and image size, plus a title at the top.
- Download the PDF for printing or proofing, or Download JPG for each page as an image.
Photos per page at a glance
Approximate number of thumbnails on one portrait page with 10 mm margins, 4 mm spacing, a title line, page numbers and one caption line. The preview always shows the exact figure for your settings.
| Columns | Cell shape | A4 thumbnails | Thumbnail width | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3:2 | 3 × 5 = 15 | about 61 mm | Client proofs, picking favourites |
| 4 | 3:2 | 4 × 6 = 24 | about 45 mm | Classic 35 mm film style index |
| 5 | 3:2 | 5 × 8 = 40 | about 35 mm | Event and wedding overviews |
| 6 | Square | 6 × 7 = 42 | about 28 mm | Archive indexes, social media grids |
| 8 | Square | 8 × 8 = 64 | about 20 mm | Large archives, quick visual search |
Tips for useful contact sheets
- Keep the filenames. A client can then tell you “I want IMG_2041” and you know exactly which file to edit. Filename sorting uses natural order, so IMG_2 comes before IMG_10.
- Use Fit whole for proofs. Cropping hides parts of the frame, which can be the very detail a client is choosing on.
- Choose the cell shape of your camera. Most DSLR and mirrorless cameras shoot 3:2, phones and micro four-thirds cameras 4:3. For mostly upright photos choose the 2:3 or 3:4 cells.
- Black sheets imitate darkroom contact prints and make colours look punchier on screen, but use a lot of ink; print on white.
- Print at 100% scale. In the print dialog choose “Actual size” rather than “Fit to page” so thumbnail sizes stay exactly as shown.
Frequently asked questions
What is a contact sheet?
A contact sheet is a page of small prints of every frame from a shoot. In film photography the negatives were laid directly on photo paper (in contact with it) and exposed, giving a same-size print of each frame. Photographers still use digital contact sheets to review a shoot, let clients pick favourites and keep a printed index of an archive.
How many photos fit on one page?
It depends on the columns and cell shape. On an A4 or Letter portrait page with 10 mm margins, 4 columns of 3:2 thumbnails give 6 to 7 rows (24 to 28 photos), 5 columns give about 40, and 6 columns of square thumbnails give about 42. The preview shows the exact count per page and the total number of pages.
What resolution should I use for printing?
300 dpi gives the sharpest print and is the usual standard for photo printing. 200 dpi is nearly as sharp for small thumbnails and makes smaller files. 150 dpi is fine for on-screen proofs or emailing.
Should I crop the thumbnails or fit the whole photo?
The Fit whole option shows every image uncropped, which is what you want for client proofs and archives. The Crop to fill option fills every cell completely, which looks tidier when you mix portrait and landscape photos but cuts off edges.
Can I make a contact sheet from RAW or HEIC files?
Browsers cannot decode most camera RAW files, and HEIC only opens in Safari. Convert them to JPG first, or export JPG previews from your photo editor, then add those. Files that cannot be read are listed as skipped.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. The photos are decoded, resized and laid out on your device, and the PDF and JPG files are created in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.