Bead colors
Perler Bead Color Chart and Codes
A Perler bead color chart connects the color on your screen to a bag you can pull from your stash or buy. The important pieces are the color name, its product reference, and an approximate digital RGB value for image matching.
BeadForge uses the 103-reference Perler Midi catalog maintained by the open-source BeadColors community. This guide explains how to read those codes, why digital matches are never perfect, and how to turn the chart into a pattern that only calls for colors you own.
Common Perler Midi references
| Reference | Color name | Approximate RGB | Useful role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80-19001 | White | 234, 239, 238 | Highlights and light backgrounds |
| 80-19018 | Black | 50, 50, 52 | Outlines, shadows, and text |
| 80-19005 | Red | 176, 53, 60 | Primary red and warm accents |
| 80-19004 | Orange | 235, 123, 49 | Warm gradients and fire |
| 80-19003 | Yellow | 231, 206, 62 | Highlights and bright details |
| 80-19080 | Green | 77, 171, 100 | Mid-green foliage |
| 80-19008 | Dark Blue | 14, 80, 146 | Deep blue and cool shadows |
| 80-19009 | Light Blue | 39, 140, 201 | Sky and water |
| 80-19007 | Purple | 104, 75, 134 | Mid-purple details |
| 80-19083 | Pink | 212, 84, 150 | Bright pink accents |
| 80-19012 | Brown | 103, 76, 68 | Hair, wood, and earth tones |
| 80-19017 | Grey | 144, 148, 151 | Neutral shading |
This is a working reference, not a replacement for holding a physical color card beside your beads. The full selector in BeadForge contains all 103 entries from the source catalog, including newer neutrals, pastels, and specialty shades.
Color accuracy matters
Do not promise a client that a bead portrait will exactly match a digital preview. Beads reflect room light, screens emit colored light, and translucent, glitter, striped, pearl, or glow finishes cannot be represented faithfully by one RGB triplet.
Where the color data comes from
BeadForge’s palette data is derived from the MIT-licensed BeadColors repository, a community project that centralizes color references contributed and corrected over time. The Perler values used here were retrieved on July 30, 2026. BeadForge preserves the source license and labels the values as approximate.
For current product availability, packaging, and official product information, check Perler’s shop-by-color catalog or the retailer you plan to order from. A reference appearing in a dataset does not guarantee that a particular store has it in stock.
How to use a color chart in BeadForge
- Choose Perler Midi in the Bead brand menu before judging the preview.
- Turn off colors you do not own. The image immediately remaps to the remaining references.
- Watch one-off colors. A shade used for only one or two beads may be easy to replace manually.
- Export the bead list. The PDF and on-screen legend show each reference and exact quantity.
- Test under your craft-room light. Compare nearby shades physically before starting a large portrait.
Select Perler Midi, upload a photo, and limit the palette to the colors in your own bins. BeadForge updates the preview and shopping list automatically.
Open the free pattern generatorHow the supported 5 mm catalogs compare
| BeadForge palette | References in catalog | Best reason to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Perler Midi | 103 | Widely available in the United States and familiar to many crafters |
| Hama Midi | 92 | Common European availability and a consistent code system |
| Artkal S 5 mm | 199 | Broad shade range for portraits, gradients, and detailed work |
| Nabbi | 30 | Smaller, simpler palette for projects built from a limited collection |
More colors are not automatically better. A 199-color palette can preserve a photo more closely, but it creates a longer shopping list and more sorting. Fewer colors often produce cleaner cartoon art, easier classroom projects, and faster builds.
Can you mix bead brands?
Many midi fuse beads are nominally 5 mm and may fit the same style of pegboard, but plastic formula, height, softness, and melting speed can differ. If you plan to substitute a Hama or Artkal shade for a Perler color, build and iron a small test square first. A close RGB match says nothing about whether two beads will fuse at the same rate.
Frequently asked questions
How many Perler Midi bead colors are there?
The community-maintained BeadColors catalog used by BeadForge contains 103 Perler Midi references. Product availability changes by market and over time, so check a current retailer or manufacturer listing before buying.
Are digital Perler bead RGB values exact?
No. RGB values are useful approximations for pattern planning. A screen emits light while plastic beads reflect it, and appearance changes with finish, dye lot, room lighting, camera settings, and display calibration.
Can I use only the Perler colors I own?
Yes. Choose Perler Midi in BeadForge, then turn off any colors that are not in your stash. The converter remaps every image cell to the nearest color that remains active.
Can I substitute Hama or Artkal for a Perler color?
Sometimes, but similar screen colors do not guarantee identical plastic, diameter tolerance, or melt behavior. Test a small mixed sample before using different brands together in an important project.
Ready to make your own pattern?
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