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Developer Briefing

Paint by Numbers App

Feature Specification, Gamification Concept & Design Guidelines for the iOS App by malennachzahlen-erwachsene.de

Dreamly Colors GmbH Version 1.6 — April 2026 Confidential
USP AI Features Core Features Worlds & Levels Differentiation Innovation Design & UX Monetization Technik Phases
🎯

Core USP: Digital-to-Physical Bridge

Our biggest competitive advantage that no other PBN app can offer. We operate our own e-commerce store with 3,000+ physical products — the app becomes the conversion funnel.

Important for implementation: The shop integration is not an optional add-on but the central feature around which the entire app is built. Every screen, every flow, and every interaction should be designed so that after the digital experience, the user can discover and order the image as a real kit — seamlessly and without media break.
Prominent CTA After Completion
Directly below every finished image, an elegantly placed button: "Order this image as a real paint-by-numbers kit." Not intrusive, but clearly visible. Part of the "I did it!" flow: Congratulations animation → "Want to paint this for real?" → Direct to shop.
Deep Link to Shopify Store
Every image in the app database has an optional Shopify product ID. The CTA opens the exact product page in the shop (in-app WebView or Safari). Seamless transition from app to purchase.
Before-After / Wall Mockup
Shows the user a preview of how the finished physical image would look framed on various wall backgrounds. Enormously increases emotional connection and purchase intent.
App-Exclusive Discount
Exclusive discount for app users (e.g., 10% with auto-generated code). Codes are generated via the Shopify Discount API and tied to the user ID (single use). Additionally: level-based discounts as gamification rewards (5%, 10%, 15%).
Gallery with Shop Icons
Every finished image in the personal gallery has a subtle cart icon that links directly to the matching Shopify product.
Upload Photo / Camera
User uploads a photo (selfie, pet, vacation photo) or takes one directly. AI-based algorithm converts the photo into a PBN template.
Important: No generic AI image generator as a main feature. This can quickly look cheap and dilutes the brand. The focus is on "upload your own photo → paint it digitally → order as a personalized kit."
App and shop should feel like one brand, not two separate worlds. The app categories should mirror the shop categories: Animals, Landscapes, Abstract, Flowers, Cities/Architecture, People/Portraits, Classic Art/Famous Paintings, Mini/Beginner, Own Photo. Images available both digitally and physically are marked with a small shop badge.
🤖

AI-Powered Features

Three AI features that transform the app from a simple paint-by-numbers app into a viral creative tool. Each feature follows the principle: simple input → surprising, personalized result → shareable on social media → optionally orderable as a real kit.

Why this can go viral: This feature appeals to people who have never used a PBN app before. The curiosity "What would I look like as a Van Gogh?" is stronger than any advertisement. The result is highly shareable — and every shared post is organic advertising for the app.
Upload or Take Photo
The user uploads any photo — selfie, couple photo, family picture, pet, child. Alternatively, take a photo directly in the app. No complicated settings needed, the AI optimizes the photo automatically.
Choose Art Style
Selection from at least 15–20 art styles, visually displayed as preview tiles. Examples: Van Gogh (Starry Night style), Monet (Impressionism), Klimt (Gold Ornamentation), Pop Art (Warhol), Renaissance (Oil Painting), Watercolor, Anime/Manga, Pixel Art, Minimalism, Abstract, Comic, Art Nouveau, Baroque, Street Art, Pastel Drawing. Each style has a short description and an example preview.
AI Transformation in Real-Time
The AI transforms the photo into the chosen art style. Loading time ideally under 10 seconds. During generation: elegant loading animation with progress indicator (e.g., "Your masterpiece is being created..."). The result is displayed as a high-resolution image.
Automatic PBN Conversion
The AI-generated artwork is automatically converted into a paint-by-numbers template. The user can choose the complexity (Easy: 15–20 colors, Medium: 25–35 colors, Detailed: 40–60 colors) and gets a preview before starting to paint.
Paint, Share, Order
The user paints their own artwork in the app. After completing: share button for Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp (with optional subtle app branding). And of course: "Order as a real kit" — the personalized image as a physical paint-by-numbers kit with canvas, paints, and brushes.
Use Cases with Viral Potential
Selfie as oil painting → shareable as profile picture. Couple photo in Renaissance style → gift idea for anniversary. Pet as Pop Art portrait → pet content for social media. Child photo in watercolor style → emotional keepsake. Each use case is its own viral channel.
Enter Text Description
The user describes their dream image in a few words: "Sunset over a Japanese temple with cherry blossoms," "Cozy café in Paris in the rain," "Underwater world with turtles and coral reef," "Snowy mountain cabin with northern lights." Simple text field with inspiration suggestions below.
AI Image Generation
The AI generates a beautiful, painterly image from the description. The result should look like a real painting, not a sterile AI rendering. Optional: choose style direction (Oil, Watercolor, Impressionism, etc.). If not satisfied: "Generate again" button for variations.
Create PBN Template and Paint
The generated image is converted into a PBN template. The user gets an image that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world — made just for them. This creates an emotional bond much stronger than with a catalog image. After painting: share and order as a real kit.
Inspiration Gallery
A curated gallery with example prompts and the images generated from them, to inspire users who don't know what to enter. Categorized by themes: Nature, Fantasy, Cities, Animals, Abstract, Romantic, Adventure.
Photograph Your Wall
The user photographs an empty wall or an area in their home where they want to hang a picture. The app automatically detects the wall surface, room colors, and interior design style.
AI Analysis & Suggestions
The AI analyzes the room's color palette, interior style (modern, classic, boho, Scandinavian, etc.), and available wall space. From this, it generates 3–5 image suggestions that perfectly match the room in color and style — both from the existing catalog and AI-generated unique pieces.
Live Mockup on Your Own Wall
Each suggestion is displayed directly as a mockup on the wall photo — including frame selection (Wood, Black, White, Gold). The user immediately sees how the finished image would look in their home. Different sizes can be toggled (30×40 cm, 40×50 cm, 50×65 cm).
Seamless Transition to Painting & Shop
Like a suggestion: paint it directly in the app. Like the result: order as a real kit in the matching size. The entire flow — from "empty wall" to "picture hanging" — happens in one app. This is an enormous conversion driver because the user has already "seen" the image in their own context.
🎨

Core Features (Must-Haves)

The industry standard without which the app would not be competitive. All top apps have these features — without them, the app looks unfinished.

Tap-to-Color
Tapping an area fills it with the correct color. Smooth fill animation (gentle gradient/wipe instead of a hard "plop"). This is the absolute core mechanic.
Pinch-to-Zoom
Fluid zoom in and out like with photos. Must run at 60 fps without lags. The most common complaint among competitors (Color by Numbers) are zoom issues: numbers become huge, there's no zoom limit, the view jumps.
Smooth Panning
Seamless image panning. Must feel natural, with momentum scrolling.
Undo / Redo
Undo and redo. At least 20 steps of undo history.
Auto-Color-Advance
When a color number is completely filled, the next color is automatically selected. Frequently requested feature according to Happy Color user reviews. Optionally toggleable.
Color Palette at Bottom of Screen
Numbered colors, horizontally scrollable, current color highlighted. Progress bar per color (like Happy Color — users love this). Subtle design that doesn't distract from the image.
Progress Bar Per Image
Shows how far along you are (e.g., 67% complete). Motivates continued painting and provides a sense of progress.
Vibration Hint on Error
Optionally on/off — vibrates briefly when tapping the wrong area. Uses the iPhone Taptic Engine for subtle, pleasant feedback.
Haptic Feedback When Filling
Light tactile feedback on every filled area (UIImpactFeedbackGenerator, .light). Every filled area should feel satisfying.
Smart Hints
Shows where the next area of a specific color is located. Limited free hints, more through ads or premium subscription. Especially important for images with 200+ numbers.
Magnifier / Highlight
Highlights all areas of a color number so they're easier to find. Essential for a frustration-free experience with detailed images.
Magic Wand / Color Splash
Fill all areas of the same color number across the entire image at once. As a premium feature or reward after watching an ad — not free, as it ends the fun too quickly.
Extensive Library
At least 200+ images at launch, then regularly new images via CMS (without app update). New images every day — keeps users engaged (Happy Color does this very successfully with 40,000+ images).
Categories (Matching the Store)
Animals, Landscapes, Flowers, Abstract, Cities/Architecture, People/Portraits, Classic Art/Famous Paintings, Beginner (large areas, few colors), Advanced (small areas, many colors), Seasonal (Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Valentine's Day).
Difficulty Levels + Time Estimate + Canvas Size
Easy (15–25 colors), Medium (25–50 colors), Hard (50–100+ colors). Each image clearly shows difficulty before starting. Additionally: display estimated painting time and recommended real canvas size (30×40 cm, 40×50 cm, etc.) per image — so users can immediately assess what to expect.
Search Function + Strong Filters
Search by motif, style, or category. Plus filters: Difficulty, New/Bestseller, Free/Premium, Available in shop. Search is now a real advantage, not just "nice to have" (Happy Color recently introduced this as a major feature).
Favorites
Users can save images as favorites for later. Dedicated favorites section on the start screen.
Daily Picture
A new free image every day. Keeps users engaged and provides a reason to open the app daily.
Artist / Licensed Collections
Instead of just "10,000 random images," prefer curated series and premium collections. Fits licensed designs and feels more premium. Happy Color does this very successfully with exclusive content and real artists.
Auto-Save
Progress is saved every time you leave the app. Seamless continuation after app restart. No data loss — this is the most common complaint with competitor apps.
Personal Gallery
Collection of all completed works. Finished image exportable as high-resolution wallpaper.
Social Sharing
Share on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Pinterest. Subtle, elegant mini logo — NO intrusive watermark over the image (most common complaint with Color by Numbers).
Offline Mode
Already downloaded images must be paintable without internet. Clear UI communication about which images are available offline (Color by Numbers users complained that images had to be re-downloaded after updates).
The app must look native on iPad (no stretched iPhone UI). iPad users are a core audience for PBN apps. The reference app (Color by Numbers) itself promotes iPad optimization as a quality feature. Pencil support for more precise filling. Optional (Phase 2/3): pressure sensitivity for variable stroke width in "Artist Mode."
🗺️

Worlds, Levels & Progression

The heart of the app: A journey through hand-curated image worlds — like a game where you unlock world after world, master increasingly challenging images, and earn real rewards. No other PBN app offers such a comprehensive game experience. Rewards are primarily in-app content (new worlds, images, effects, frames). At selected milestones, there are bonus shop discounts on top.

Illustrated World Map
Instead of a boring image gallery, the user navigates via a beautifully illustrated world map. Each world is represented as its own island, landscape, or region — visually distinct, with its own color scheme and character. The map scrolls vertically or horizontally, and at a glance you can see: which worlds are completed (colorful, vibrant), which are currently active (glowing, inviting), and which are still locked (grayed out, with a lock icon, but still visible as a preview).
Progress on the Map
A dotted path connects the worlds like a travel route. A small avatar icon shows the user's current position. With each completed image, the avatar moves a bit further. Completed stations glow in the world's color — the user sees their progress growing. Upon reaching a new world: short, elegant unlock animation (lock opens, colors flood the new region).
Star System Per Image
Each image can be completed with 1–3 stars. 1 star: Image completed. 2 stars: Image completed + no Magic Wand used (every area painted individually). 3 stars: Image completed + no Magic Wand + no hints used. Deliberately NO time pressure — PBN is relaxation, not a speed run. Stars reward care and patience, not speed. Stars are displayed on the world map and in the profile. Motivation for perfectionists: "All 3 stars in a world" unlocks a secret bonus image.
XP and Level Progress
Each completed image awards XP (based on difficulty and stars). XP fills a progress bar in the profile. Level-ups are celebrated with a beautiful animation and unlock new features, frames, painting effects, or worlds. The level is visible in the profile and community section.
XP Values in Detail
Beginner images (10–20 colors): 10 XP. Medium images (20–35 colors): 25 XP. Advanced images (35–55 colors): 50 XP. Expert images (55–80+ colors): 75 XP. Boss images: double XP of the respective world difficulty. Star multiplier: 1 star = base XP, 2 stars = 1.25x, 3 stars = 1.5x. Bonus XP: Streak bonus (+10% per day in streak, max +50%), Daily Challenge completed (+5 bonus XP), first image of a new world (+20 bonus XP).
Each world has its own identity: a visual theme, a story introduction, its own ambient sounds, and 10–15 images of increasing difficulty. At the end of each world, an elaborate boss image awaits as the highlight. New worlds are unlocked by completing the previous one (at least 8 of 12 images).
World Intro Experience on Unlock
When a new world is unlocked, the user experiences a special moment: On the world map, the lock icon dissolves, colors flood the new region in a short animation (3–5 seconds). Then a splash screen opens with the world name in large, elegant typography, a poetic introduction (1–2 sentences, e.g., "The flowers are waiting for you to bring them to life..."), and a preview of the first image as an invitation. Below: a "Begin Journey" button. This should feel like opening a new chapter in a book — a small, magical moment that creates anticipation for the upcoming images. Each world has its own font color, background mood, and music that plays during the intro.
WorldDifficultyImagesAmbient & Rewards
1 Blooming Garden 🌸
Flowers, plants, gardens — the starter world		 Beginner
10–20 Farben		 10 + Boss 🔊 Birdsong, light breeze
🏆 Gardener badge, flower profile frame
2 Animal Kingdom 🦊
Domestic and wild animals, nature		 Beginner–Medium
15–25 Farben		 12 + Boss 🔊 Forest sounds, animal voices
🏆 Animal lover badge, paw frame
3 Coastal Dreams 🌊
Beach, sea, lighthouses, boats		 Medium
20–30 Farben		 12 + Boss 🔊 Ocean waves, seagulls
🏆 Seafarer badge, wave frame, watercolor effect unlocked
4 Culinary Journey 🍰
Food, beverages, still life, markets		 Medium
20–35 Farben		 10 + Boss 🔊 Café atmosphere, clinking dishes
🏆 Connoisseur badge, vintage frame
5 City Lights 🌃
Cities, architecture, street scenes, night motifs		 Medium–Advanced
25–40 Farben		 12 + Boss 🔊 City sounds, jazz, rain
🏆 Flaneur badge, neon frame. Shop bonus: 5% coupon
6 Enchanted Forest 🍄
Fantasy, fairy tale forest, magical creatures, mushrooms		 Medium–Advanced
30–45 Farben		 12 + Boss 🔊 Mystical sounds, firefly ambience
🏆 Forest spirit badge, glitter frame, oil effect unlocked
7 Distant Lands ✈️
Travel, landmarks, world cultures		 Advanced
35–50 Farben		 14 + Boss 🔊 World music, region-specific
🏆 Globetrotter badge, compass frame
8 Four Seasons 🍂
Spring, summer, autumn, winter — 3–4 images each		 Advanced
35–55 Farben		 14 + Boss 🔊 Seasonally changing
🏆 Seasons badge, animated leaf frame. Shop bonus: 10% coupon
9 Masterpieces 🎨
Famous paintings, classic art, museum quality		 Expert
40–70 Farben		 12 + Boss 🔊 Classical music, string quartet
🏆 Art connoisseur badge, gold frame, all painting effects
10 Abstract Dimensions 🔮
Abstract art, geometric patterns, color explosions		 Expert
50–80+ Farben		 12 + Boss 🔊 Ambient electronic, synthesizer
🏆 Visionary badge, prism frame. Shop bonus: 15% coupon
🔒 Secret World: Grand Master Gallery
Only becomes visible and unlocked when all 10 worlds are completed. Contains the 10 most challenging images in the app (80–120+ colors, extremely detailed). Each image is a masterpiece that takes hours. Rewards: Diamond badge, animated holographic profile frame, Grand Master title in profile, 15% shop coupon, exclusive access to Limited Edition Kits in the store. The existence of this world is never advertised — users only discover it when they complete World 10. This creates community buzz: "Have you found the secret world yet?"
At the end of each world, a boss image awaits — a particularly large, detailed, and elaborate motif that perfectly captures the world's theme. Boss images are only unlocked when at least 8 of the world's regular images are completed.
Higher Complexity
Boss images have 50–100% more areas and colors than the regular images of the respective world. They are the crowning achievement — not a quick win, but a project that can span multiple sessions.
Cinematic Reveal on Completion
Instead of the normal completion animation: numbers and lines dissolve in a particle effect, the finished image slowly rotates, a virtual frame appears, and a golden "World Completed!" message is displayed. Accompanied by a musical climax. This moment must feel like defeating a final boss — maximum satisfaction.
Double XP + Collectible Card
Boss images award double XP. Additionally, the user receives a unique digital collectible card — each world has its own card with a unique design. Collecting all 10 boss cards unlocks the secret Grand Master Gallery.
Shop Connection as Bonus
Every boss image is also available as a physical premium kit in the shop. After completion: subtle hint with exclusive one-time discount — not intrusive, but as an optional bonus after the completion animation.
Alongside the permanent worlds, time-limited bonus worlds regularly appear on the map — as special islands or glowing regions that disappear after the event. Pure FOMO effect.
Winter Wonderland ❄️ (December–January)
8 winter motifs + 1 boss. Advent calendar mechanic: Starting December 1st, a new image is unlocked every day. Behind certain days, bonus rewards are hidden (exclusive frames, XP boosts, occasionally a shop coupon). Complete all 8 images + boss: exclusive snowflake badge + winter profile frame.
Spring Awakening 🌷 (March–April)
8 spring motifs + 1 boss. Theme: Everything blooms — cherry blossoms, tulip fields, Easter meadows. Easter challenge integrated: 7-day challenge for a hidden Easter egg image.
Summer Nights 🌅 (June–July)
8 summer motifs + 1 boss. Theme: Warm evenings, sunsets, lavender, Mediterranean. Ambient: crickets, cicadas, warm wind.
Autumn Magic 🍁 (September–October)
8 autumn motifs + 1 boss. Theme: Golden forests, Halloween motifs, candlelight, cozy interiors. Halloween special: 3 mystery images where you only discover the motif while painting.
Exclusivity as a Driver
Seasonal images are NOT available after the event ends. If you missed them, you have to wait until next year. This creates real urgency and gives users a reason to check the app regularly. Completed seasonal worlds remain visible on the map as a "memory" (with date), but grayed out.
Like Duolingo — "You've been painting for 14 days in a row!" Low barrier (filling one area is enough) = high retention. Each milestone rewards with new in-app content — plus bonus shop perks on top.
3-Day Streak
First streak flame visible in profile + 20 bonus XP. Shows the user early that sticking with it pays off.
7-Day Streak
Bronze streak badge + unlocking a bonus image. Shop bonus: 5% one-time coupon.
14-Day Streak
Silver streak badge + exclusive profile frame + new background theme for painting. Shop bonus: free shipping on next order.
30-Day Streak
Gold streak badge + unlocking an exclusive premium image + new painting effect (e.g., watercolor style). Shop bonus: 10% coupon.
60-Day Streak
Platinum streak badge + exclusive streak image (only achievable through streak, not purchasable) + animated profile frame. Shop bonus: 12% coupon.
100-Day Streak
Diamond streak badge + golden animated profile frame + unlocking an entire exclusive streak collection (5 images). Shop bonus: 15% coupon + access to a Limited Edition Kit.
Streak Freeze (1x per Week)
The user can skip one day per week without losing the streak. Can be unlocked by watching an ad or as a premium feature.
Daily Mini Image
A small image per day (3–5 min painting time) as a quick win — independent of the worlds. Complete all 7 in a week: 50 bonus XP + a hidden bonus image. Push notification in the evening: "Your streak is in danger!" (configurable, not aggressive).
iOS Home Screen Widget
Shows the current streak count, the current world, or the "image of the day." Tap opens the current image directly. Constant visibility → higher retention.
Achievements reward with exclusive in-app content, badges, and unlocks. Selected milestones additionally bring shop coupons as a bonus on top.
Collectible Badges
Elegant badge designs, shareable on social media. Examples: "First image completed" → Welcome badge. "10 images completed" → Collector badge + unlocking a bonus image. "50 images completed" → Pro badge + animated profile frame. "An image in under 5 minutes" → Speed badge + 25 bonus XP. "First night motif" → Night owl badge. "First image ordered in shop" → Explorer badge + 5% coupon as a thank you.
Boss Collectible Cards
Each completed boss image gives a unique digital collectible card in your own collection album. Collecting all 10 cards is its own meta-challenge — and unlocks the secret Grand Master Gallery. The cards are visually elaborate (hologram effect, animated) and can be shared in the community.
Weekly Challenges
A new task each week: "Paint 3 images from World 2" → 30 bonus XP + progress badge. "Complete an image with 3 stars" → Perfectionist badge. "Paint an image from a new world" → Explorer badge + hidden bonus image. On selected weeks: a small shop coupon as an extra.
Monthly Challenge
Larger monthly challenge: e.g., "Complete an entire world in April" → Exclusive monthly badge + mini collection + 50 bonus XP. Shop bonus: 10% coupon for everyone who makes it.
Mystery Images
Hidden in some worlds: images where you only discover the motif while painting. Marked as "?" on the map. The reveal is the appeal — users love this surprise. Mystery images available as kits in the shop get a subtle shop hint after being revealed.
Separate from the streak system: A daily reward calendar that immediately gives a small reward when opening the app — without the user having to paint anything. Works like almost every successful mobile game and provides an immediate reason to start the app daily.
7-Day Cycle with Increasing Rewards
Day 1: 10 XP. Day 2: 20 XP. Day 3: 1 free hint. Day 4: 30 XP. Day 5: new background theme. Day 6: 40 XP + 1 free Magic Wand. Day 7: Unlocking a bonus image + 50 XP. After day 7, the cycle restarts — with slightly better rewards each repetition.
Visual Presentation
On app launch, an elegant calendar screen appears (not as a pop-up, but as part of the start flow). The 7 days are displayed as cards or circles, today's day glows. Collect with one tap — satisfying collection animation. The screen disappears immediately after collecting and takes the user to the main screen.
Difference from Streak
The login reward is triggered simply by opening the app — no painting needed. The streak, on the other hand, requires active painting (at least one area). Both together create a double incentive: Opening (login reward) + Painting (streak). Missing a day resets the login cycle — but independently from the streak.
Inspired by Duolingo's league system — one of the strongest engagement features in the entire app world. Important: completely optional and can be turned off for users who don't want competition and use the app purely for relaxation.
Weekly Leaderboard
Each week, the user is automatically placed in a group of 20–30 players. Everyone starts at 0 XP. At the end of the week: The top 5 move up a league, the bottom 5 move down. Simple, clear, motivating. The leaderboard shows profile picture, name, level, current world, and XP collected that week.
League Tiers
5 leagues with ascending prestige: Bronze League → Silver League → Gold League → Diamond League → Master League. Each league has its own visual design and icon. Promotion to a new league is celebrated with an animation sequence. The Master League is the endgame — those who stay on top receive exclusive weekly rewards (bonus XP, rare profile frames, occasional shop coupons).
Friends on the World Map
Users can add friends and see their avatar position on the world map. "Your friend Lisa is already in World 6!" Gentle social pressure that motivates without being intrusive. Friends can gift each other hints or XP boosts.
Opt-in and Opt-out Anytime
Leaderboards are completely optional. Users can choose in settings: "Show leaderboard," "Hide leaderboard," or "Show friends only." Those using the app for relaxation will never be confronted with competition unless they want it. The app works equally well without leagues — they are a bonus for competitive users, not a core component.
Not every user wants to play linearly through worlds. Some just want to paint a specific motif — an animal image in between, a landscape for relaxation. That's why there's a "Library" tab parallel to the world map, making all images searchable by category, difficulty, and theme.
Two Equal Access Points
The app has two main tabs: "Worlds" (the world map with linear progression) and "Library" (free browsing by category). Both are equally prominent in the bottom navigation. Users can switch between them at any time.
Categories in the Library
All images, including those from the worlds, are browsable by category in the library: Animals, Landscapes, Flowers, Abstract, Cities, People, Classic Art, Food, Fantasy, Seasonal. Plus filters: Difficulty (Beginner/Medium/Advanced/Expert), Status (New/Started/Finished), Available in Shop, Free/Premium.
XP in Free Mode Too
Images painted through the library award the same XP as world images — they count toward level progress, the leaderboard, and the streak. The only difference: they don't unlock worlds. This way, no user is penalized for their preferred play style.
World Images in the Library
Images from still-locked worlds are visible in the library but marked with a subtle lock icon. The user sees the preview and the info "Available in World 7: Distant Lands" — this motivates continuing the world progression without restricting the free mode.
Reward Philosophy: The primary rewards are always in-app content — new worlds, images, badges, profile frames, painting effects, collectible cards. The user should feel motivated to explore the next world even without any purchase interest. The shop discounts (5%, 10%, 15%) are a bonus on top that comes with selected milestones — without the app feeling like a sales tool.
✨

Differentiation Features

Features that set us apart from the masses and position the app as a premium product.

After completion: Automatic timelapse video of the entire painting process. Immediately looks more premium than anything the competition offers. Perfect for sharing on Instagram Reels / TikTok — paint-by-number timelapses get millions of views. Share buttons directly in the replay screen. No other major PBN app offers this in-app.
Instead of just loose categories: curated thematic worlds with 10–15 related images, a short story introduction, and matching ambient music. Examples: "Tuscan Summer," "Japanese Garden," "Northern Lights," "Cozy Cottage," "Parisian Street Cafés." Happy Color does this somewhat with artist collections, but not with the storytelling approach. Story journeys instead of an endless gallery — this feels like a journey, not an image catalog.
Oil Effect
When filling an area, you see a soft brushstroke effect instead of a flat fill (like a real oil brushstroke).
Gradient Within an Area
Slight brightness differences simulate brushstrokes. Gives each area more depth and vibrancy.
Reveal Animation
Numbers and lines softly disappear as an area is filled — the image "reveals" itself piece by piece. Happy Color does this, and users love it.
Different Painting Styles
Oil, watercolor, acrylic — each style changes the look of the fill. As a premium feature (Colorfy and Pigment set the benchmark here).
Category-Based Ambient Sounds
Ocean waves for beach motifs, birdsong for forest images, rain for autumn scenes, lo-fi for city motifs. On/off toggle.
ASMR Painting Sounds
Soft brushstroke sound while painting (optional). Enormously enhances the zen feeling.
Breathing Exercise Before Starting
Short optional breathing exercise (inhale-exhale animation) before starting. Positions the app as a wellness tool — not just a game.
Community Gallery
Users can share finished images in a public in-app gallery. Likes & comments on shared images.
Monthly Challenge mit Voting
Community votes on the most beautiful image, winner receives a free kit from the store. Perfect loop: Engagement → Reward → Store connection.
Invite Friends
Refer-a-friend with reward (e.g., premium image or discount code). Viral growth mechanism.
Personalized Home View
"Selected for you" section on the start screen. Algorithm learns which images the user prefers (Animals? Landscapes? Abstract?).
🚀

Innovative Features (Phase 2/3)

Features that currently no or hardly any app has. Not for V1, but important as a vision for the roadmap.

Two users paint simultaneously on the same image (split-screen or each takes different color numbers). Perfect for couples, friends, parent-child. No competitor offers real-time co-painting. Technically complex (WebSocket-based), but enormous viral potential.
After completing an image: "Did you know? This motif is inspired by Claude Monet. He was known for..." — short educational bites. Optional: "You painted this image in an impressionist style. Here are similar images." Positions the app as a creative learning tool, not just a pastime.
Project finished image via phone camera onto your own wall — "This is how your image would look in your home" (inspired by IKEA Place app). Including frame selection (various frame colors/styles). Enormous conversion driver for the shop. Bonus: AR timelapse — overlay the painted image via AR on the real canvas to compare progress during real painting.
Instead of tap-to-fill: user actually paints over the area with finger/Apple Pencil. Pressure sensitivity for variable stroke width. Color automatically stays within the lines (auto-boundary). Toggle between "Easy Mode" (tap) and "Artist Mode" (paint). Positions the app as a semi-professional painting tool. Pigment and Colorfy set the benchmark here.
🎭

Design & UX Guidelines

Goal: Headspace-level polish. Calm, premium, adult — no colorful childish stuff, no aggressive pop-ups. Calm, adult iOS aesthetics with clear visual hierarchy.

No Cheap Aesthetics
No garish neon colors, no comic fonts, no overloaded buttons. Clean, modern UI aligned with Apple design guidelines: lots of whitespace, clear typography, soft colors.
Color Palette
Warm, muted tones (cream, sage, rosé, anthracite) — fitting for an "adults" product. Brand accent #ED4E39 used sparingly for CTAs and highlights.
Typography
Consistent type system with max. 2 high-quality sans-serif fonts (e.g., SF Pro). Clear hierarchy. Very readable. No gimmicky fonts.
Icons
Uniform icon style (line or filled, but consistent). No style mixing.
Layout
Soft corners (border-radius: 16px+), generous spacing, subtle shadows instead of hard edges. Each screen maximum 3–4 actions, not 10. No visual noise.
Image Cards
In the library: preview of the finished image with difficulty indicator, category label, and optionally a shop badge.
Smooth Transitions
Screens slide in elegantly, no hard cuts. Spring animations for a natural feel.
Color Fill Animation
Color flows smoothly into the area (not instant-snap). Soft gradient/wipe animation. Every filled area should feel satisfying.
Completion Moment
Cinematic reveal: numbers/lines fade out, image emerges, soft glow + optional confetti. No logo/watermark over the result.
Haptic Feedback
Leichte Vibration beim Ausmalen (UIImpactFeedbackGenerator, .light). iPhone Taptic Engine nutzen.
Number Display
Subtle, elegant, do NOT scale with zoom. Most common complaint from competitors: numbers take over the image when zooming.
Loading Screens
Elegant with progress bar, no empty screens. Load images progressively (coarse first, then sharp).
Short Tutorial (3–4 Screens)
Shows Tap-to-Color, Zoom, Hints — done. Not too long. Interactive: the user directly paints their first mini image as a tutorial.
Category Selection
"What do you love painting?" → Personalizes the start page from the very first visit.
Clean Onboarding
Apple itself emphasizes: clear visual hierarchy, readable typography, memorable app icon appearance. App Store screenshots should show the app in use and communicate one main benefit each.

Many apps look cheap because they look too much like casual games. These problems come up again and again in reviews:

✕Aggressive fullscreen ads in the middle of painting
✕Ads with broken/fake "close" button
✕Intrusive watermark when saving/sharing
✕"Rate us!" popup after 2 minutes
✕Excessive subscription pushes and dark patterns
✕Too many locks and hint packs as paywall
✕Forced re-downloads after updates (data loss)
✕Numbers that become huge when zooming
✕Too many popups and modal dialogs
✕Overloaded gamification (casual game look)

Instead:

✓Ads only between images, never during painting
✓Small, elegant logo when sharing — not over the image
✓Rating prompt only after the 3rd completed image
✓Transparent pricing, fair subscription cancellation
✓Extremely stable performance, good localization
✓Strong, simple home without visual noise
Full dark mode with dark background and adjusted UI colors. Reduces eye strain in the evening. Optional: different themes like Happy Color (Milky Mist, Pink Dawn, Calm Water, Warm Night). Immediately gives the app more premium feel.
💰

Monetization Model

The app itself is NOT the main revenue source — the physical shop is. The app serves as a conversion funnel. Nevertheless, the app itself should be profitable.

Free Base
Large library (100–500+ images), all basic features, level system, daily image. Ads between images (fair: never during painting, no fake close buttons).
Premium Subscription
€4.99–9.99/month or €29.99–49.99/year. Ad-free, all images, unlimited hints & Magic Wand, exclusive painting styles, Cozy Worlds, early access to new images, photo conversions.
In-App Purchases (One-Time)
Image packs (e.g., "Winter Landscapes Pack" for €2.99), extra hints (10 for €0.99), special painting effects or frames, remove ads permanently (€9.99).
Shop Revenue (The Real Lever)
Every purchase of a physical kit through the app generates €20–40 in real revenue. Level-based discounts as conversion drivers: the more the user plays, the better deals they get in the shop. Analytics: Which digital images are painted the most? → Those are promoted as physical kits.
⚙️

Technical Requirements

Platform
iOS first (Swift/SwiftUI), iPad-native layouts. Android parallel or shortly after launch. Optional: Apple Vision Pro (visionOS) for the future.
User Accounts
Apple Sign-in, Google Sign-in, email. Cloud sync: progress synchronized across all devices.
Backend / CMS
Image catalog API for daily updates. New images can be added without an app update. User data (level, XP, streaks, purchased images) stored server-side for device switching.
Performance
No lags: zoom and panning at 60 fps. Fast loading times: load images progressively. Small app size: load images on-demand, but with clear UI communication.
Shopify Storefront API
API connection to malennachzahlen-erwachsene.de. Deep links to product pages. Every app image has an optional Shopify product ID.
Discount API
Automatic discount code generation for app users. Level-based codes with user ID binding (single use). For custom kits (Phase 2): own API for production workflow.
Analytics & Funnel Tracking
Event tracking: Image started → Image completed → Shop button clicked → Order completed. Which images are painted the most? Where do users drop off? Which images lead to shop purchases?
Push Notifications
Streak reminders, new images, seasonal events, level-up notifications, "New image in your favorite category!" — all configurable.
📋

Phase Planning

Recommended implementation order. Focus on a strong, commerce-capable core first.

1Phase 1 — MVP (Launch)

Goal: Solid core with worlds system and shop integration. Timeline: 3–4 months.

  • Smooth core flow: Tap-to-Color, Pinch-to-Zoom, Smooth Panning, Undo/Redo, Haptic Feedback
  • World map as central navigation element with at least 5 worlds at launch (Blooming Garden, Animal Kingdom, Coastal Dreams, Culinary Journey, City Lights)
  • Library tab as equal access point: free browsing by category/difficulty alongside the worlds
  • Star system (1–3 stars per image) + boss images at the end of each world
  • XP system + progress bar + level-ups with unlocks
  • Daily Login Rewards (7-Tage-Zyklus mit steigenden Rewards)
  • Search + strong filters + favorites + daily image
  • Smart Hints, Magnifier, Auto-Color-Advance
  • Auto-Save, Galerie, Social Sharing (ohne aufdringliches Wasserzeichen)
  • iPad-native + Apple Pencil Basis-Support + Offline Mode
  • Shop-Integration: "Order as Real Kit" Button, Deeplinks, App-Rabatt
  • Completion replay / timelapse (shareable)
  • Dark Mode / Night Coloring
  • Polished UI: Clean design, animations, clean onboarding
  • Freemium mit Werbung + Premium Subscription

2Phase 2 — Post-Launch (1–3 Months After Launch)

Goal: AI features, engagement & more worlds.

  • AI "You as a Masterpiece" — Selfie-to-Masterpiece (killer feature for viral growth)
  • AI "Paint Your Dream" — Text-to-Painting
  • Own photo AI feature (digital preview → orderable as custom kit)
  • Unlock 5 more worlds (Enchanted Forest, Distant Lands, Four Seasons, Masterpieces, Abstract Dimensions)
  • Secret Grand Master Gallery
  • Streak system (daily streaks à la Duolingo) + streak freeze
  • Achievements, Boss Collectible Cards, weekly/monthly challenges, Mystery Images
  • First seasonal bonus world
  • Realistic Painting Technique Simulation (Oil Effect, Reveal Animation, Malstile)
  • Ambient Sounds pro Welt + ASMR Painting Sounds
  • Community Gallery + Likes + Monthly Challenge mit Voting
  • Leaderboards & league system (optional, à la Duolingo: Bronze → Silver → Gold → Diamond → Master)
  • Personalized Home View (Empfehlungs-Algorithmus)
  • Shop discounts as level/streak/achievement rewards

3Phase 3 — Growth (3–6 Months After Launch)

Goal: Innovation, AI expansion & viral growth.

  • AI "Your Room, Your Art" — Room-Match with wall mockup
  • AR wall preview with frame selection (ARKit)
  • Collaborative painting / "Paint Together" (multiplayer)
  • Apple Pencil Pro / Artist Mode (pressure sensitivity, auto-boundary)
  • AI Art Tutor (educational bites after completion)
  • Weitere saisonale Bonus-Welten (Winter Wonderland, Spring Awakening, Summer Nights, Autumn Magic)
  • Refer-a-friend program
  • Artist / Licensed Collections as premium worlds
Next Steps: Based on this briefing, please create a technical concept with effort estimation for MVP (Phase 1). Goal: MVP launch within 3–4 months, Phase 2 another 1–3 months after that. Important: The commerce-capable core (shop bridge) is not a "nice to have" but the central feature around which everything is built.
Dreamly Colors GmbH — Developer Briefing v1.6 — April 2026 — Confidential