Pixel beads on a pegboard: from picture to chart
Bead pixel art and fuse-bead charts
Pixel beads are pixel art made of plastic beads on a pegboard: one bead per cell. Same idea as bead pixel art. This page covers how that differs from screen pixels, and how to turn a photo into a chart you can actually build.
Screen pixels vs beads
A screen pixel can be any color. A bead is one of a fixed set of plastic shades. Useful patterns stay readable with few colors: faces, logos, and silhouettes beat tiny gradients. People searching for pixel beads usually want that sprite look plus a shopping list of codes, not a random photo filter.
Start from a strong photo
Crop tight. Prefer a clear subject. Muddy backgrounds waste beads. In Bead Pixel Art, trim edges so the subject fills the board. That often beats cranking the grid size forever.
Pick size for the look you want
29 long-edge beads is a quick one-board piece. 50 to 58 keeps more detail. 87 is three boards of work. Match size to time and how many beads you own.
Cartoon vs detail mapping
Cartoon flattens regions into bead blocks (closer to classic pixel-bead art). Detail averages cells and reduces colors more gently for softer photos. Try both, then export the one you will finish.
Edit on the grid
Paint single beads, fill areas, erase holes, undo mistakes. Turn on color codes when packing trays. Guides every 5 cells help when you build on a real board.
Export and shop
Download a sharp PNG and a list of codes and counts. Buy a little extra of common colors. Treat codes as a shopping plan under real light, not a perfect match guarantee.