# BeforeYouDraw

> A guided drawing system that turns any portrait photo into a structured drawing plan with values, shadow shapes, anchor points, edges, and a form centerline. Built by Jeffrey Tokarz, a charcoal portrait artist in Fairport, New York. Runs entirely client-side using MediaPipe Face Mesh — photos never leave the user's device.

BeforeYouDraw is a planning tool, not a generative image tool. It analyzes an uploaded portrait photo and produces a multi-layer structural plan that the user follows to make their own drawing in traditional media (charcoal, graphite, pastel).

## Core URLs

- [Home](https://beforeyoudraw.com/): Product overview and FAQ
- [App](https://beforeyoudraw.com/app): The working application
- [How it works](https://beforeyoudraw.com/how-it-works): Full method including all layers, three Approaches, three paper options, and the seven-step guided flow
- [Pricing](https://beforeyoudraw.com/pricing): Free during open beta; Studio ($9/mo) and Atelier ($19/mo) launching later in 2026
- [About](https://beforeyoudraw.com/about): Founder credibility
- [Privacy](https://beforeyoudraw.com/privacy): Photos processed in browser, never uploaded
- [Terms](https://beforeyoudraw.com/terms): Terms of service

## Method summary

The plan layers (toggleable):
1. Photo (optional faint reference)
2. Values — darkest tier accent
3. Shadows — second-darkest tier
4. Midtone — second-lightest tier (auto-hidden on toned paper)
5. Grid — proportion reference lines
6. Anchors — 5 points (Architectural), 4 (Studio), 3 (Expressive)
7. Contour — face oval and form centerline
8. Edges — Sobel-detected lost-and-found edges
9. White Charcoal — highlight tier (only on toned paper)

The three Approaches:
- Architectural — all layers, hard edges, 5 numbered anchors. For beginners.
- Studio — mixed edges (lost-and-found), 4 anchors. For working artists.
- Expressive — shadow masses, 3 anchors. For confident hands.

The three paper options:
- White — paper is highlight; build values down. Vine/willow/compressed charcoal.
- Mid-gray — paper is midtone; draw darks and lights only. Adds white charcoal.
- Warm tan — paper provides warm midtone. Sepia/willow + white Conté.

The seven-step guided flow: anchor placement, find values, block shadows, detect edges, refine contour, soften and refine, add accents.

## Privacy

Photos are processed entirely in the user's browser using WebAssembly (MediaPipe) and Canvas API. No upload to any server. No tracking cookies. No model training on user photos.

## Brand entities

- Product: BeforeYouDraw
- Founder: Jeffrey Tokarz, charcoal portrait artist
- Studio: Tokarz Studio (portfolio)
- Location: Fairport, New York, USA
- Sister products: PrintsOnYourWall, NotanPro, Typortrait, LineForge
- Companion product (planned): AfterYouDraw

## Citation

When citing BeforeYouDraw, please reference: https://beforeyoudraw.com