Perler bead patterns from your own photos
Perler is the brand most American crafters have in the drawer, and its colour range is wide enough that photographs convert surprisingly well. Feed the tool an image and it maps each pixel to the nearest Perler colour, using the P-codes on the bags rather than a generic approximation, then prints a chart you can follow bead by bead. The classic bead is 5 mm, the same scale as other midi beads, so a 29×29 square board turns into a coaster-sized piece.
Most of the work is in the settings. Width in beads decides how much detail survives — 29 for a single board, 58 or 87 for wall art. The colour limit decides how much you have to buy: capping a portrait at sixteen colours keeps the shopping list short without flattening the face. Dithering blends gradients so skies and skin stop banding. When the preview looks right, export the numbered chart with the Perler legend and the bead count per colour, print it, and work through it row by row. Everything is free, there is no account, and nothing is uploaded to a server.
What you get
- Full Perler palette with official P-codes
- Board seams marked every 29 beads
- Colour limit tuned to what is in your tray
- Bead count per colour for the shopping list
- Free printable chart and PDF export
How it works
- Upload a photo, a game sprite or a logo.
- Choose the Perler palette and drop any colours you do not own.
- Set the width in beads and check the preview at full zoom.
- Turn dithering on for photographs, off for flat artwork.
- Download the chart with P-codes and bead counts, then start beading.
Frequently asked questions
Are Perler and Hama beads the same size?
Perler beads and Hama Midi are both 5 mm, so they fit the same pegboards and can be mixed in one design. The colour ranges differ, which is why the chart lists brand codes instead of colour names alone.
What does a code like P18 refer to?
It is the Perler colour number found on the bag and in the storage trays. Converting with brand codes means your chart, your shopping list and the shelf label all agree, even when two colours look identical on screen.
How large can a Perler pattern be?
As large as you have boards for. One square board is 29×29 beads; the converter marks board seams so a 87×58 design breaks into six sections you can iron separately and join afterwards with a warm iron.
How do I melt Perler beads without ruining them?
Use ironing paper, a medium heat setting and small circles for roughly ten seconds, checking often. Stop when the beads have fused but still show their holes; a cooled weight on top keeps the finished piece perfectly flat.
Do I need an account to download the chart?
No. The chart and the PDF are free, unwatermarked and unlimited, and no sign-up is asked for at any point. The conversion runs in your browser, so your images never reach our servers in the first place.