What Is a Paper-Cut Portrait? How Hand-Cut Portraits Are Made

A paper-cut portrait is a picture of a person, a couple or a pet that is cut by hand from paper. Instead of drawing or printing, the artist removes paper so that the shapes left behind form the face. Light and shadow come from the cut-outs themselves, which gives the portrait its graphic, timeless look.

In this guide you will learn how a paper-cut portrait is different from a print, where the craft comes from, and exactly how we make one from your photo in our studio in Kraków.

What is a paper-cut portrait?

A paper-cut portrait is an artwork in which a face is created by cutting shapes out of paper by hand. The remaining paper forms the eyes, hair, shadows and outline of the person. Each piece is made individually from a photo, so no two portraits are the same.

At MiniWishes every portrait is made from your own photo and placed in a 50 x 40 cm frame in the colour you choose. You can read more about the materials on our handmade notice page.

How is a paper-cut portrait different from a printed portrait?

A printed portrait puts ink on paper. A paper-cut portrait removes paper, so the picture is made of real edges and openings that you can see and touch. Because it is cut by hand, every line is slightly unique, which is why handmade paper art feels so personal as a gift.

• Texture: the cut edges and the small shadows they cast give depth that a flat print does not have.
• One of a kind: each portrait is cut individually from your photo, not printed in a batch.
• Simple, graphic style: the portrait keeps the shapes that make a face recognisable and leaves out the rest.

Where does paper cutting come from?

Paper cutting is a folk art found in many cultures. In Poland it is known as wycinanki. By the 1800s it was a popular folk art in the Polish countryside, where people cut decorative paper designs for their homes. Regional styles grew up, such as the colourful layered cut-outs of Łowicz and the single-colour designs of the Kurpie region (read more about wycinanki).

Our portraits are made in Kraków. We use the same basic idea, shapes cut by hand from paper, to create a modern portrait of the people and pets you love.

How is a paper-cut portrait made? Step by step

1. You choose a style and frame. Pick a Face Close-up Portrait, Face Portrait, Head & Shoulders Portrait, Couple Portrait or Pet Portrait, and choose one of 5 frame colours.
2. You upload your photos. You can upload up to 5 photos. Our photo guides show which photos work best.
3. We check your photo. We review every photo, usually within a few hours and always within 2 working days. If a photo will not cut well, we email you a link to upload another one.
4. We turn the photo into a cutting design. We pick the shapes and lines that will become paper. On our photo guides these are the green marked areas.
5. We cut the portrait by hand. The portrait is made by hand in 7 to 10 working days after we approve your photo.
6. We frame and ship it. Your portrait is framed, packed in a protective box and sent by tracked courier from Kraków. See our shipping policy for delivery times.

What materials are used?

We use paper of 120 to 220 GSM in white, black or grey, depending on the artwork. Some portraits need small supports, called bridges and backing pieces, to hold delicate cut paper in place. These supports are black. The finished artwork is placed in a 50 x 40 cm frame.

Which photos make the best paper-cut portraits?

The best photos are sharp, well lit and show the whole face clearly, with nothing covering the eyes, nose or mouth. Because a paper cut keeps only the main shapes, a clear photo matters more than a perfect pose. Read our full guide on how to choose a photo for a custom portrait.

Is a paper-cut portrait a good gift?

Yes. A paper-cut portrait is a personal gift that is made for one person only, from a photo that means something to them. It works well for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Christmas and pet lovers. For the first wedding anniversary, the traditional paper anniversary, it fits perfectly: see our paper anniversary gift ideas.