Are you aware of difference between square and round diamond paintings?
Do you know the difference between canvas and picture size?
How to choose the perfect diamond painting kit for you?
If the answer is NO, this blog post is just for you!
When I decided to buy my first diamond painting kit, the only thing I had known was that I wanted to get started with this craft as soon as possible. I liked the picture I saw in diamond painting store, the price was affordable and quick delivery was guaranteed - that was enough for me to make a purchase.
The package arrived in three weeks and I opened it with impatience.
Peony - Full Round Drill Diamond Painting Kit
I love flowers, so my first set was „Peony“ full round drill diamond painting kit 30x40cm / 12x16inch with 20 different colors of diamonds (beads) and toolset.
Seven days later, I finished this wonderful floral diamond painting. I show it to my friend and she sad to me: „Oh, it’s wonderful, but I prefer full square drill.“???
IF YOU PLAN TO BUY DIAMOND PAINTING, WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: SQUARE OR ROUND DRILL?
There are two types of diamond painting drill: square and round. For the first, you use square shape diamonds (beads), and for the second you use round shape beads.The square beads are 0,25 cm and round beads are 0,28 cm.
“Partial drill” means that part of the printed picture is not covered with the beads.
“Full drill” means full coverage of the printed area (the entire picture is pasting area).
The full square drill looks like a mosaic, so some people use term „diamond mosaic“ for diamond painting. 50% of people who love this craft will always choose this type. Why? They prefer sharp lines, clean picture and the fact that there is no free space between diamonds.
The round drill looks like cross stitch, so some people use term „diamond cross stitch“ for diamond painting. 25% of people who love this craft and cross stitch will always choose this type. Why? They think that this shape is better for smaller picture size: 15x20cm, 20x25cm, 30x30cm, 30x40cm and for smaller details. Round beads are shinier, but there is a free space around the diamonds.
I'm in the remaining 25%. I love both.
When I find the picture I would like to buy, I don’t care if it is square or round drill. I’m sure that I will enjoy creating both. Only important things for me are that I have enough beads and that my finished work will sparkle!
On Alisa Diamond Paintings we can find various size kits. Some products have both shapes (full square/round drill). Carefully choose (1) the canvas size and then (2) the shape you would like to buy. The most of Alisa kits are the full drill (90%), but Alisa Diamond Paintings also offer partial drill diamond painting kits. I prefer only full drill diamond painting kits.
Full Square/Round Drill Diamond Painting Kits
So, if you want to buy Christmas motive full coverage diamond painting kit with square beads and dimension 30cm x 40cm (in inches 12x16), you will selected as shown on picture below:
Full Diamond Embroidery Christmas Theme
IF YOU PLAN TO BUY DIAMOND PAINTING, WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: WHAT IS DMC ?
Do you know what is DMC in diamond painting?
DMC is diamond painting color chart. Every pattern use the same colors convention as DMC floss. Whether you use square or round beads, there is 447 standard colors.
IF YOU PLAN TO BUY DIAMOND PAINTING, WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANVAS SIZE AND PICTURE SIZE
When I bought my first kit, I didn’t pay attention to the correct dimensions, and I didn’t know the difference between Pasting area, Picture size and Canvas size. I just wanted to get started with the craft as soon as possible. Now I know. The canvas is bigger than picture, and when diamond painting is full coverage, whole picture is pasting area.
When you choose the diamond painting size, you should now that "bigger is better". Bigger the picture means better resolution and sharper details and finished diamond painting picture shines more. But for the beginners, the smaller size is better.
This is my diamond painting shopping experience, and I'd like to hear from you too. Which shape do you prefer, square or round? How do you call this hobby „diamond mosaic“, „diamond cross stitch“ or otherwise?
This was great information. I do not want an entire picture of beads and you explained it so well.
I want diamonds on the picture but I like the background d plain.
Thanks for your expertise
There are some great questions but where are the reply’s?
Im new and thank you for your blog…it helps. But I found a cheaper diamond painting company that sells for $3-$15. Should I stay away from the cheap price or go with it for my first painting? Who do you recommend I purchase my painting from?
I have a large number of new unopened kits, and was wondering if there is a time limit regarding the canvas-or is it ok to keep stored and untouched for along time before starting?
Hello Alisa,
This is an excellent little snippet of information for beginners. I’ve been at this for about a year and have complete nearly 40 and am currently working on a custom 120 × 50 square and man is it a work out. Been at this one for almost two months already.
I just wanted to say, this blog post is excellent for beginners and definitely wish I’d run across something like this when I first began!