Why Brand Colors Matter
Every bead brand has its own color palette with unique names and numbers. A "Red" in Perler is not the same red as Artkal. When following patterns or buying beads, you need the exact brand-specific color code.
Perler Beads (USA)
- Total colors: 100+ (including glow, metallic, transparent)
- Sizes: 5mm (Midi), 2.6mm (Mini)
- Numbering: Simple numbers (01-100+)
- Popular colors: White (01), Black (02), Red (05), Yellow (07), Blue (09)
- Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, craft stores
Hama Beads (Denmark/Europe)
- Total colors: 60+
- Sizes: 5mm (Midi), 2.6mm (Mini)
- Numbering: H-prefix (H01-H60+)
- Key difference: Slightly more muted/pastel tones than Perler
- Where to buy: European craft stores, Amazon EU
Artkal Beads (China)
- Total colors: 200+ across 4 series
- Series: A (2.6mm standard), C (2.6mm soft), S (5mm), R (2.6mm round)
- Numbering: Series + number (A-01, C-42, S-15)
- Key advantage: Largest color range, best for detailed patterns
- Where to buy: AliExpress, Amazon, artkalbeads.com
MARD Beads (China)
- Total colors: 150+
- Size: 2.6mm only
- Numbering: M-prefix
- Key advantage: Very consistent color between batches
- Where to buy: AliExpress, Taobao
Cross-Brand Color Matching
Need to substitute a color? Approximate matches:
| Perler | Hama | Artkal A | MARD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 White | H01 | A-01 | M-01 |
| 02 Black | H02 | A-02 | M-02 |
| 05 Red | H05 | A-05 | M-05 |
| 07 Yellow | H07 | A-07 | M-07 |
| 09 Blue | H09 | A-09 | M-09 |
Note: These are approximate — always verify with physical beads.
Using BeadPixels Color Matching
Our pattern generator includes all brand palettes built-in. When you generate a pattern:
- Select your brand (Perler, Hama, Artkal, MARD, Nabbì, Ikea Pyssla)
- Optionally filter by series (e.g., Artkal A-series only)
- Every pixel in your pattern maps to a real, purchasable bead color
- The materials list shows exact quantities per color code