📚 Beads Studio Tutorial

Welcome to Beads Studio! This tutorial will guide you through the complete process from image to bead pattern. Whether you're a beginner or experienced, you'll find what you need here.

🚀 Quick Start (5 Minutes)

1Upload Image

Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, HEIC (iPhone photo format)

How to Upload:

Click the upload area on the homepage and select a local image
Or drag and drop the image directly
You can also import previously saved project files (.json format)

💡 Tip: Use clear, high-contrast images for best results. Recommended image size: 500x500 to 2000x2000 pixels.

2Crop Image (Optional)

After uploading, you'll enter the crop interface. You can:

Drag the crop box to adjust position and size
Select preset ratios (1:1, 4:3, 16:9, etc.)
Click "Skip Crop" to use the original image

Why Crop? Cropping removes unnecessary background, highlights the subject, making your bead artwork more refined.

3Click "Magic Recommend"

This is Beads Studio's core feature! AI automatically analyzes your image and recommends optimal parameters:

Bead Width: Recommended based on image complexity (50-200 beads wide)
Dithering Strength: Low strength (0-20%) for pixel art, high strength (60-80%) for photos
Color Palette: Defaults to Mard palette (291 colors)

💡 For Beginners: Just click "Magic Recommend" and let AI handle everything!

4Click "Generate Beads"

Wait a few seconds and your bead pattern is ready! Now you can:

View real-time statistics (how many colors used, quantity per color)
Use "Image Compare" to compare original and bead pattern
Adjust parameters and regenerate if not satisfied

5Export Pattern

When satisfied, click "Export Pattern":

Choose Resolution: 1x (free), 2x (free), 3x/4x (requires watching ads)
Choose Format: PNG (for digital viewing) or PDF (for printing)
Download and start creating!

Pattern Includes: XY axis coordinates, 5x5 auxiliary grid, color codes, color statistics table

🎨 Advanced Features

🪄 AI Background Removal

For images with complex backgrounds, use AI cutout to remove with one click:

Simple Background Removal: For solid backgrounds, fast speed
AI Smart Cutout: For complex backgrounds, better results (first use downloads ~30MB model)
Adjustable Precision: Adjust accuracy via "Alpha Threshold"

✨ Color Simplification (Highly Recommended)

This feature can save you 30-50% of bead colors, reducing cost and time:

Similar Color Merge: Merge visually close colors (e.g., merge 3 yellows into 1)
Low-frequency Color Removal: Automatically replace rarely used colors
One-click Optimize: Apply both strategies simultaneously

💡 Usage Tips: For large projects, first use "Similar Color Merge" with color difference threshold 20-30; then use "Low-frequency Removal" with minimum percentage 1-2%.

🖌️ Precise Editing Tools

After generation, use editing tools for fine-tuning:

Pan Tool (V key): Drag and zoom canvas
Brush Tool (B key): Manually modify any pixel color
Eyedropper Tool (I key): Quickly pick colors from canvas
Focus Mode: Highlight all positions of selected color for easy beading

📊 Image Compare

Three comparison modes to check pattern accuracy:

Slider Mode: Drag divider to compare left and right
Overlay Mode: Adjust opacity for overlay display
Side-by-side Mode: View side by side

💾 Project Management

Auto-save: Website automatically saves your latest creation
Export Project: Click "Save Project" to download .json file
Restore Project: Upload .json file on homepage to restore previous work

❓ Common Questions

Q: What bead width should I set?

A: Depends on image complexity:

Simple patterns (logos, emojis): 50-75
Medium complexity (cartoon characters): 75-100
Photos, landscapes: 100-150
Large works: 150-200

Q: What is dithering strength?

A: Dithering is an image processing technique that makes limited-color images look more realistic:

0%: No dithering, clear color blocks (for pixel art, cartoons)
50-80%: Moderate dithering (for general photos)
100%: Strong dithering, most grain (for gradient-heavy photos)

Q: Why doesn't the generated pattern match the colors?

A: Possible reasons:

Selected palette brand doesn't match: Try switching palettes
Dithering strength inappropriate: Adjust and regenerate
Needs manual adjustment: Use brush tool to modify key parts

Q: Too many colors, what to do?

A: Use color simplification! Usually reduces 30-50% of colors with minimal visual impact.

Q: Which palette brand to choose?

A: Based on your actual bead brand:

China users recommend Mard: 291 colors, most complete, easy to buy
International users recommend Hama or Perler: Well-known brands
Budget-conscious choose COCO or 漫漫: Cost-effective domestic brands

🎯 Practical Tips

1. Best Process for Photo Beading

Upload photo and crop to highlight subject
Use AI cutout to remove background
Click Magic Recommend (auto-sets high dithering strength)
After generation, use color simplification to reduce colors
Export pattern and start creating

2. Best Process for Pixel Art/Cartoon Characters

Upload image
Click Magic Recommend (auto-sets low dithering strength)
Generate beads directly
Use brush tool to fine-tune details
Export pattern

3. Large Project Creation Tips

Set larger bead width (150-200)
Use color simplification to reduce varieties (save purchase cost)
Export 4x HD pattern for easy detail viewing
Use focus mode for beading to avoid mistakes

4. Secrets to Saving Beads

Use color simplification's "Similar Color Merge"
Remove low-frequency colors
Choose smaller bead width (smaller = less usage)
Crop unnecessary background areas

🛠️ Keyboard Shortcuts

V - Switch to Pan tool
B - Switch to Brush tool
I - Switch to Eyedropper tool
Ctrl/Cmd + Z - Undo
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Z - Redo
Mouse Wheel - Zoom canvas
Space + Drag - Pan canvas

📱 Mobile Usage

Beads Studio perfectly supports phones and tablets:

Gesture Controls: Pinch to zoom, single finger to pan
Touch Editing: Directly tap pixels to modify colors
Responsive Layout: All features work on small screens
PWA Support: Add to home screen for app-like experience

💡 Browser Recommendation: Use Chrome, Safari, Edge or other modern browsers for best experience.

🎉 Start Creating

Ready to try after reading the tutorial? Start your first bead project now!

Start Creating Now →