How to Turn a Picture into a Perler Bead Pattern

Every bead is one pixel, so turning a picture into a pattern means shrinking it to a very small image using colors you can actually buy. Here's how to get a result that still looks like the picture.

1. Start with a simple image

Crop close to the subject and remove busy backgrounds. A strong outline and flat color survive shrinking far better than fine detail.

2. Choose the size in boards

Detail depends on the number of beads, not the size of your photo. One 29-peg board suits an icon. Two boards across (58 beads) suits a pet or character, and a face usually needs three or more.

3. Limit the colors and pick a brand

Open the bead pattern maker, choose your image and pick your brand. Start around 16 colors and adjust until it looks right. Each color maps to a real code on that brand's card, so you can buy exactly what the pattern shows.

Dithering mixes two colors to fake a third. It helps with photos and gradients, but it makes for fiddly bead work, so leave it off for icons.

4. Fix it by hand

Automatic conversion always leaves some stray beads. Remove them with the cleanup option, then use the pen and fill tools for eyes and outlines. These small corrections are usually what make it look good.

5. Check what you have

Open Colors to see the count for each code. If you're out of something, tap the arrow beside it to see close alternatives with a match percentage. See how many beads and pegboards you need for size planning.

6. Make it

Start making shows one board and one color at a time, largest color first. When all the beads are in place, cover with ironing paper and press with a medium iron until they just fuse. An adult should do the ironing. Cool it under something flat, such as a heavy book, so it stays straight.