Alpine morning
BeadForge starter
Free pattern maker • Optional free accounts are live
Free Image to Perler Bead Pattern Maker
Convert any photo, drawing, logo, or pixel art into a printable fuse bead pattern. Start with the free no-signup generator, then use a free maker account to save projects, publish creations, track starter inventory, and build your profile.
Photos never leave your device Print-ready PDF patterns Free accounts add cloud saves
Original photoBead pattern
Photo to bead pattern
Turn photos into bead patterns in seconds
Upload a picture and BeadForge converts it into a fuse bead grid instantly — no graph paper, no counting pixels by hand, no spreadsheet math.
Every pattern comes with pegboard sizing, a color legend, and per-color bead counts. Want to see the full workflow first? Read our guide on how to turn a photo into a Perler bead pattern.
Community
Free maker accounts turn BeadForge into a workshop
The no-account generator stays free. Sign up when you want cloud projects, a maker profile, starter inventory, likes, publishing, and a feed built around finished bead art.
Retro coupe
BeadForge starter
Sushi platter
BeadForge starter
Sleepy cat
BeadForge starter
Explore the community
Make a pattern without signing in, then create a free account when you want to keep it, share it, or build a public maker profile.
Free accounts
Create free, then keep building with an account
BeadForge is still a useful free tool before signup. A free maker account adds the pieces that make it feel like your own workspace.
FeatureNo accountFree accountPremium soon
Pattern generatorFree, no accountFree, plus cloud savesHigher limits
Studio editorBrowser autosaveSaved project libraryExpanded organization
Cloud projectsLocal device only25 projectsUp to 500 planned
File storageExport to your device100 MB included5 GB planned
CommunityBrowse and createProfile, likes, publishingSeller-ready workflow
InventoryExport bead counts25 saved colorsFull multi-brand stash
Why sign up?
The free account tier is intentionally generous.
No-account tool
Fast private creation
Free Maker account
Saves, sharing, profile, inventory
Premium plan soon
More storage and workflow limits
Free Maker accounts include cloud projects, 100 MB of storage, a public profile, community publishing, likes, favorites, remix attribution, achievements, and starter bead inventory.
How it works
How BeadForge works
From image to finished pegboard plan in four steps. BeadForge handles the grid math, color matching, and bead counting so you can focus on making.
1. Upload your image
Drop in a PNG, JPG, or WEBP — a photo, drawing, logo, or pixel art. Everything is processed locally, so your image never leaves your device.
2. Choose pattern size and settings
Pick how many 29×29 pegboards the design should span, set the fit, and fine-tune brightness, contrast, saturation, and dithering with a live preview.
3. Match colors to bead palettes
Choose Perler, Hama, Artkal, or Nabbi. BeadForge matches each peg to that brand’s catalog, then remaps around any colors missing from your stash.
4. Export a printable PDF
Download a print-ready blueprint with a cover preview, a bead shopping list with exact counts, and one labeled page per pegboard.
Why BeadForge
Everything you need to plan a fuse bead project
A focused pattern maker built for crafters, classrooms, pixel artists, and gift makers.
Image to fuse bead pattern
Convert any photo, drawing, or logo into a bead-ready grid in seconds, with live preview while you tweak the settings.
Printable PDF patterns
Export a clean pattern PDF with a cover image, color legend, and a page per pegboard — ready for the craft table or classroom.
Bead counts and shopping list
Exact per-color bead counts for every pattern, so you know what to buy or pull from your stash before you start.
Pegboard layout planning
Size designs across multiple 29×29 pegboards. Multi-board projects print one labeled board per page so nothing gets lost.
Palette and color matching
Choose from 424 approximate color references across four brand catalogs, with dithering and toggles that keep output inside your actual stash.
Autosaved craft progress
Build board by board on a phone or tablet, mark beads as placed, and continue later with progress saved in your browser.
Browser-based, fast, and private
No signup, no uploads, no waiting on a server. BeadForge runs entirely in your browser and works on phones and tablets too.
Two ways to create
Convert a photo, or design from scratch
Both paths end the same way: a printable pattern with a page per pegboard and exact bead counts.
Photo pattern generator
Upload a picture and watch it become a bead pattern in real time. Adjust boards, brightness, contrast, saturation, and dithering — remove the background with one toggle — then print your pattern.
- One-tap background removal
- Maps to bead colors you own
- Exact bead counts per color
Pegboard design studio
A virtual pegboard designer for original patterns and bead sprites. Choose your board layout, then paint beads with click-and-drag tools — brush, eraser, fill bucket, eyedropper — with undo, zoom, and autosave.
- Classic 29×29, mini, or custom boards
- Drag to paint, bucket fill, undo/redo
- Printable PDF of your design
Made for makers
What will you make?
BeadForge is used by parents, teachers, pixel artists, and crafters for everything from rainy-day projects to commissioned portraits.
Kids craft projects
Turn a favorite drawing or photo into a simple pattern kids can follow bead by bead.
Classroom bead activities
Print a class set of patterns with bead counts so prep takes minutes instead of hours.
Custom gifts
Make magnets, coasters, and keychains from photos that actually mean something.
Pixel art and bead sprites
Keep a crisp 1:1 pixel-to-bead grid for sprites and original pixel art designs.
Portraits and pet photos
Multi-board portraits of people and pets with the background removed in one tap.
Large multi-board wall art
Plan big statement pieces board by board, with a printed page for each pegboard.
Skip the graph paper
Why use BeadForge instead of guessing by hand?
Converting an image into a bead pattern by hand means printing a photo, squinting at pixels, sketching a grid on graph paper, and guessing which of your bead colors is “close enough” — then discovering halfway through that you’re 400 red beads short.
A pattern generator does that work in seconds, and does it accurately. BeadForge measures the real color distance between every pixel and every bead color, keeps the grid perfectly aligned to 29×29 pegboards, and counts every single bead before you place the first one.
You still make all the creative decisions — the image, the size, the palette, the crop. BeadForge just removes the tedious math between your idea and your pegboard.
Accurate color matching
Every peg maps to the mathematically closest bead color — no more eyeballing shades under craft-room lighting.
Pegboard math, solved
Patterns align exactly to standard 29×29 boards, whether your design spans one board or a 6×6 wall piece.
Bead counts before you build
Exact per-color totals mean you can shop once, not three times.
Reprint anytime
Your pattern is a PDF. Lose a page, start over, or run a classroom set — just print again.
Bring your own beads
Works with the beads you already have
BeadForge patterns are standard 5 mm midi fuse bead grids, so they work with the pegboards and beads most crafters already own.
- Perler-style fuse bead patterns
- Hama-style bead designs
- Artkal-style bead projects
- Nabbi-style bead patterns
- Pixel art grids
- Bead sprites
- Printable PDF patterns
- Multi-pegboard wall art
Not sure which beads to buy? Our comparison of Perler vs Hama vs Artkal beads covers sizes, colors, and melting behavior. BeadForge is an independent tool and isn’t affiliated with any bead brand.
Learn
Learn with BeadForge Guides
Learn the full craft: make cleaner patterns, choose and fuse beads, plan large projects, sell original art, and price commissions for real profit.
Bead art business
How to Price Perler Bead Art for Profit
Read the guide Selling guideHow to Sell Perler Bead Art on Etsy (and Beyond)
Read the guide Photo patternsHow to Turn a Photo into a Perler Bead Pattern
Read the guide Tool comparisonBest Image to Perler Bead Pattern Converters: 2026 Comparison
Read the guideFAQ
Fuse bead pattern questions, answered
How do I turn a photo into a Perler bead pattern?
Open the BeadForge generator, upload your photo, and choose how many pegboards you want the design to span. BeadForge maps every pixel to the closest fuse bead color and shows a live preview. Adjust brightness, contrast, or the background, then export a printable PDF with the full pattern and bead counts.
Can I print my bead pattern?
Yes. Every pattern exports as a print-ready PDF blueprint with a cover preview, a color legend with bead counts, and one labeled page per pegboard so large designs stay easy to follow.
Does BeadForge show how many beads I need?
Yes. BeadForge counts every bead in your pattern and lists exact totals per color, so you can check your stash or make a shopping list before you start placing beads.
Can I use BeadForge with Hama or Artkal beads?
Yes. Choose a separate Perler Midi, Hama Midi, Artkal S 5 mm, or Nabbi catalog, then toggle off colors you do not own. BeadForge remaps the pattern to the closest active references in that brand.
What image works best for a fuse bead pattern?
Images with a clear subject, strong contrast, and a simple background convert best. Logos, pixel art, cartoons, and close-up photos work great. Busy backgrounds and fine detail get lost at bead scale — our image guide covers easy fixes.
Is BeadForge free to use?
Yes. The core BeadForge pattern maker and Studio remain free with no account required. A free maker account adds cloud projects, a public profile, community sharing, likes, and starter inventory tools. A future premium plan will add higher storage and heavier workflow limits.
Are my uploaded images stored?
The generator processes photos locally in your browser. They do not leave your device unless you explicitly choose to save or share a creation from an account, in which case BeadForge uploads only the files you approve.
What size should I make my bead pattern?
A single 29×29 pegboard is great for beginners, sprites, and small motifs. Portraits and detailed photos usually need at least 2×2 boards (58×58 beads) to stay recognizable. BeadForge previews any size live, so you can compare before committing.
Is BeadForge affiliated with Perler, Hama, or Artkal?
No. BeadForge is an independent tool made by Eleven North. Brand names like Perler, Hama, Artkal, and Nabbi are only used to describe the types of fuse beads our patterns work with.
Make your first bead pattern in minutes
Start with the no-signup generator, then create a free maker account when you want cloud saves, community sharing, starter inventory, and a profile for your bead art.