Flexing your creativity doesn’t mean you have to dip a brush into a jar of paint. With diamond painting, you can transform designs or precious photos into a work of art that sparkles!
Store-bought kits come with all the tools you need to start your project, including a canvas, diamonds and applicator tools. However, it’s important to choose a high-quality image for best results.
Choose the Right Image
The right image is essential to a beautiful diamond painting. It can make the difference between an awe-inspiring artwork and a frustrating disappointment.
Choosing a high-quality, large image is crucial. Pixels are the smallest element of an image that can be printed or displayed, and each one makes up a diamond in your masterpiece.
Make sure the photo you choose is well-lit and free of distracting colors or textures. The lighting of your photo can affect how the colors come out on the canvas, as well as any shading and shadowing that may be present. Basic color adjustments (like adjusting the brightness and contrast) can make a world of difference! The Photoshop experts at Paint With Diamonds will always make any required adjustments as a courtesy.
Identify the Diamond Symbols
While many people like to choose an image that relates to them, others enjoy the freedom of choosing any picture they want. However, this freedom can lead to a lot of wasted time and money. If you’re new to diamond painting, it’s important to select an image that holds a special meaning to you or one you have a connection to.
Most diamond paintings come with a chart that indicates where each color of the diamond should go on the canvas. In addition, a wax pencil (also known as a multi-placer) is included with the kit. You can use this tool to pick up several diamonds at once, speeding up the process. The tool is also useful for cleaning smudges on the paint canvas.
Flatten Your Canvas
When you order a custom diamond painting the canvas usually comes rolled up which is great for shipping but awful for unboxing and getting started. There are a few key techniques you can use to flatten the canvas and get to work quickly.
The edges of the canvas often have adhesive on them which can be annoying as you’re working. To prevent them from sticking to your sleeves, hair or other things that come into contact with them run a strip of paper, plastic film or washi tape over the edge.
Alternatively you can pile up heavy objects on top of the canvas like a spread of books to force it to flatten out. But make sure the pressure is even to avoid creases or distortion of the canvas.
Organize Your Diamonds
Unlike counted cross stitch, where you work from a symbolic chart and stitch one cross of a specific color to the fabric, diamond painting uses small plastic beads or crystals instead of floss. Nonetheless, this craft has roots in traditional embroidery and owes much to it.
You’ll work from a canvas that’s printed with a design divided into sections indicating the corresponding colors of diamond beads, also known as drills. A chart is usually included that identifies each symbol on the canvas and lists the bag and color code of the beads.
Select a well-lit workspace to make it easier to see the symbols on the canvas. Place the canvas and a set of organizers on your workspace, along with a wax pad, a toolkit, and trays. Keep unopened packs of beads in a separate container to avoid mix-ups and spills.
Order Extra Diamonds
Whether it’s an old family photo, a famous celebrity or a beautiful landscape, you can transform just about any picture into bedazzled rhinestone art. It’s a fun and relaxing way to express your creativity, and it also makes a thoughtful gift for friends and loved ones.
It’s important to choose an image with a high resolution, as low-quality images can look blurry and pixelated. In addition, you should avoid any images that have shadowy areas or dark colors. These details won’t come through on the diamond painting, and it could be disappointing for the recipient if they can’t recognize their friend or relative in the finished piece.
Also, keep in mind that the colors on a diamond painting won’t always match exactly with those in the original picture. Instead, the design software will substitute colors based on the international standard of 447 DMC colors. diamond painting eigenes bild