Tallypic

Take or choose a photo to countDrop a photo to count

Count seeds in a photo

Count seeds free online from one photo. Spread wheat or other grains in a single layer, check each marker, fix touching seeds and save the exact count.

How to photograph seeds for counting ↓

What are you counting?135 types

For an accurate count

  • Shoot from directly aboveor straight at pipe, rebar and log ends.
  • Spread items in one layerPiles and overlaps cause misses.
  • Use a contrasting backgroundand avoid glare, shadows and blur.

How to photograph seeds for counting

  1. 1

    Spread the seeds in one layer

    Scatter them on a flat sheet or tray and shake gently so few are touching. Seeds lying on top of each other hide part of the sample.

  2. 2

    Pick a background that contrasts

    Use a plain matte sheet that differs from the seed colour: light for wheat and dark seeds, dark for rice and other pale grains. Avoid textured paper.

  3. 3

    Clean the sample, then check touching seeds

    Pick out awns, bits of husk and stones before photographing. After counting, zoom into seeds that touch and remove any extra markers.

Wheat grains scattered on a pale sheet, most of them not touching.

Photo example

Wheat grains scattered on a pale sheet, most of them not touching.

The tool's sample opens saved example markers; uploading your own photo runs a new count.

235 seeds are marked in the tool's sample photo.

When to count seeds from a photo

Seed labs, plant breeders and growers count seeds for thousand-seed weight, germination tests and sowing-rate calculations. Counting out 1,000 seeds, or several replicates of 100, by hand takes time and invites mistakes. Spread a sample, photograph it and check the markers, then weigh the counted seeds. The saved image records the count and the date for each replicate.

Questions about counting seeds

Is there a seed counting app?

You don't need to install one. Tallypic works in your phone's browser: open this page, tap Take a photo and shoot the spread-out seeds from above. Check the markers, then save the marked image to your phone. There are free counts every day and no signup.

Which seeds can I count?

This page starts with the Wheat grains model. The object picker also has rice grains, paddy rice, corn kernels, beans, fava beans, rapeseed, carrot seeds, sunflower seeds and watermelon seeds; choose the closest one before uploading.

Can I use it for thousand-seed weight?

Yes, for the counting step. Count the seeds in each photo and adjust the markers until the count is exact, then weigh those seeds and scale to 1,000. Use the number of replicates your test method calls for.

More counting guides

Steel pipesSteel pipesFace the pipe endsOpen counter & guide RebarRebarPhotograph the cut endsOpen counter & guide VialsVialsShow one visible layerOpen counter & guide CapsulesCapsulesSeparate touching capsulesOpen counter & guide TabletsTabletsMake a single layerOpen counter & guide Bacterial coloniesBacterial coloniesPhotograph the plate from aboveOpen counter & guide Shrimp larvaeShrimp larvaeUse a shallow white basinOpen counter & guide EggsEggsShoot from directly aboveOpen counter & guide LogsLogsFace the cut endsOpen counter & guide ScrewsScrewsSpread them outOpen counter & guide CoinsCoinsLay the coins flat in one layerOpen counter & guide PVC pipesPVC pipesShoot the open ends straight onOpen counter & guide