▶8:24
Getting started
Design your first stained-glass pattern
Learn the canvas, drawing tools, snapping, curves, and how to turn a sketch into clean pieces.
LEARN NESSIE
View software tutorials →From first line to finished glass
Practical, step-by-step tutorials for new makers and experienced glass artists.
▶6:18
Glass preview
Choose color, texture, and light
Explore the glass library and see how transparency, grain, and lighting transform your design.
▶11:42
Making & export
Prepare a pattern for the workbench
Number every piece, check difficult cuts, estimate materials, and print a full-size production pattern.
NEW TO STAINED GLASS?
Make your first sun catcher.
One small project takes you from choosing a pattern to understanding the craft and preparing your finished design.
Choose a beginner template →- 01Choose a simple pattern
Start with 12–16 pieces and forgiving curves.
- 02Learn the essentials
Follow short lessons on cutting, foil, and solder.
- 03Preview your glass
Try color and texture before buying materials.
- 04Make it your way
Print the plan, order materials, or request a quote.
NESSIE STAINED GLASS SCHOOLLearn the craft,
Explore the school →Learn the craft,
not just the software.
A growing video library for every stage of making stained glass—from your first score to advanced restoration work.
▶18 min
LEADING
Build a clean lead-came panel
Plan the assembly order, cut came accurately, and keep every joint strong.
▶24 min
RESTORATION
Assess and restore an older window
Document damage, preserve original glass, and decide what should be repaired or replaced.
▶14 min
COPPER FOIL
Foil pieces smoothly and consistently
Choose the right foil width, burnish clean edges, and prepare the panel for solder.
▶11 min
CUTTING
Read the glass and improve every cut
Score with confidence, break curves safely, and reduce waste at the workbench.
▶16 min
SOLDERING
Create smoother, stronger solder lines
Control heat and speed for even seams, tidy joints, and a professional finish.
Yes. Import a sketch or reference image, trace it inside Nessie, and turn it into a clean stained-glass pattern.
Yes. Preview your design with transparent, opalescent, textured, and specialty glass.
Export printable patterns, numbered piece maps, cutting guides, material lists, and production-ready vector files.
Yes. Submit an eligible design for a fabrication quote and our makers can build and ship the piece.
Yes. Your original designs remain yours.
WORKBENCH REFERENCE
Answers made for the studio.
Short, practical guides you can search at the workbench, save for later, or print for your studio wall.
Safety · Essential
Lead-safe studio setup
Ventilation, surface cleaning, hand washing, clothing, and storage habits for a safer workspace.
Copper foil · Reference
Choosing the right foil width
A practical starting guide for common glass thicknesses, edge coverage, and visible solder lines.
Soldering · Workbench
Temperature and speed guide
Diagnose flat seams, peaks, cold joints, and overheating with a simple visual checklist.
Cutting · Essential
Spot difficult cuts before scoring
Recognize deep inside curves, narrow necks, and shapes that should be redesigned or split.
Lead came · Advanced
Reinforcement basics
When a panel needs support and how design, size, placement, and installation affect the decision.
Pattern design · Essential
Pattern buildability
Check closed boundaries, cutting access, assembly order, scale, and structural lines before making.