Perler, Hama Midi or mini beads
| Beads | Size | Large square board | Board width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perler® | 5 mm | 29 × 29 pegs (841) | About 5.7 in (14.5 cm) |
| Hama® Midi | 5 mm | 29 × 29 pegs (841) | About 5.7 in (14.5 cm) |
| Hama® Mini | 2.5 mm | 57 × 57 pegs (3,249) | About 5.9 in (15 cm) |
| Artkal® C | 2.6 mm | 50 × 50 or 52 × 52 pegs | Depends on the board |
Perler and Hama Midi are the classic 5 mm size, as is Artkal S: easy for small fingers and quick to fill. Mini beads (2.5 to 2.6 mm) pack four times as many beads into the same area, so a picture comes out finer and smaller, but they take longer and need tweezers and a mini board. Codes differ between brands, so keep to one brand per project and buy by the codes in the legend.
How big it will be
A 5 mm bead is about a fifth of an inch, so a design 58 beads wide spans two large boards, about 11.4 in (29 cm). Pixelplan sizes the pattern in whole boards or to any width you type, and shows the result in inches and centimeters.
How many colors
With children, 8 to 12 colors keep the sorting fun and the picture easy to read. Detailed designs may use 20 or more. Untick the colors you don't have under “only colors I own”, and the pattern uses just the beads already in your tub.
Beads and bags to buy
The legend counts the beads of each color and rounds up to the bags sold: Hama Midi comes in bags of 1,000, 3,000 or 6,000 and Perler in bags of 1,000. Buy a few extra of the main colors; beads roll away.
Ironing, in short
Cover the finished board with ironing paper, iron on a medium setting without steam in slow circles until the beads fuse, and let the piece cool under a book so it stays flat. The ironing guide has the times and fixes for the usual problems.
Screen colors are approximate, and so are photos of beads. The codes in the legend are what to buy; compare with your real beads if a shade matters.
Questions
Which beads does it support?
Perler and Perler Mini, Hama Midi and Hama Mini, and Artkal S and C, each with its own color codes and board size. Pick the beads you will buy; codes don't match between brands.
What is the difference between Perler and Hama beads?
Both are 5 mm fuse beads that fit 29 × 29 boards; they differ in colors and codes. Perler is the usual name in the United States, Hama in Europe and Latin America.
Can I use a drawing or pixel art?
Yes. Turn on pixel art so every bead takes the color of one pixel, with no blending. If the image is already small, use it 1:1, one bead per pixel.
How many beads fit on one board?
A large square board for 5 mm beads has 29 × 29 pegs, 841 beads. A Hama Mini large square board has 57 × 57 pegs, 3,249 beads.
Is the pattern free to print?
Yes. The PDF has a map of the boards and one page per board with a large board number, coordinates and the color code in every cell, with no watermark.
Will the colors on screen match my beads?
Not exactly: screens and bead photos vary. The codes are what to buy; check your real beads when a shade matters.