Frequently asked questions
Is my image uploaded?
No. Colour matching and PDF creation run in your browser. Your list of owned colours is kept in this browser's local storage and is never sent anywhere. The site only counts anonymous events and stores a comment or email only if you submit one.
What is the difference between Perler, Hama and Artkal here?
They are separate fuse bead brands. This tool supports the standard 5 mm Perler beads, Hama Midi and Artkal S (5 mm), and each brand has its own colour range, names and codes, so a pattern made for one brand does not map exactly onto another. Pick the brand you actually have. The built-in lists have 103 (Perler), 92 (Hama Midi) and 199 (Artkal S) colours, taken from a community dataset, so a brand's current catalogue may differ. If you mix brands, try a few beads first.
What board sizes does it support?
You choose how many boards go across and down (1 to 4 each) and the board size in beads: 29 × 29 (default), 14 × 14, 16 × 16 or 25 × 25. The pattern size is boards times board size, for example 2 × 2 boards of 29 gives 58 × 58 beads. We have not verified the board sizes of every brand, so count the pegs on your own board and pick the matching size.
How accurate are the colours?
They are approximate. On-screen colours come from a community-maintained list (maxcleme/beadcolors, MIT licence), not from manufacturers, and colour codes and names may be out of date. Screens and printers differ from real beads, and ironing changes how beads look. The PDF uses symbols as well as colour swatches so you can identify beads without relying on exact colour; compare against your own beads before you buy or build.
How do I use my own stock and find missing beads?
In "My colours", tick the colours you own for the selected brand and, optionally, enter a quantity in the colour table (leave it empty if you have plenty). "Only use colours I own" limits the pattern to your stock. The summary then lists colours you are missing and colours you own but not in sufficient quantity, and you can copy or download that shopping list. Your stock stays in this browser; you can save and load a my-colours.json file to move it to another browser.
What do max colours and dithering do?
"Max colours" limits how many different bead colours the pattern uses; fewer colours are simpler to sort and buy but lose detail. Dithering mixes nearby colours to imitate smooth gradients, which can look noisier on a small pattern. Try both on your image and compare the previews.
Does it tell me how many bags of beads to buy?
It counts how many beads of each colour the pattern needs and compares that with the quantities you enter. It does not convert counts into bags or packs, because package sizes differ by brand and shop.
Which images can I use, and is it free?
It is free, with no sign-up. Use images you have the right to use, for personal projects; the tool ships no character or brand artwork. It is unofficial and not affiliated with Perler, Hama or Artkal, whose names are trademarks of their owners.