First Scrollsaw Portrait

Hello

I’ve seen several of these before and have wanted to try it. I recently picked up a magazine that had an article with the instructions showing how to convert photos to patterns, so I decided to give it a try. I picked what looked to be a simple photo, converted it and cut it out with some scrap MDF that was laying around my garage. I can see now some improvement that I could make, and I’d like to make one out of a better wood (even plywood) than MDF. Now that I’ve showed my wife, she wants me to make them as presents for friends and family. I’ve included pics of the original photo, converted photo for the pattern and the final product (if I don’t frame it in some way). Comments on how others make them, woods you use, or backgrounds welcome.

Thanks