How to Choose the Right Grid Size

Pattern size sets width and height in pegs. Every cell becomes one bead. Larger grids keep more detail from the source photo but need more beads, colors, and build time. Smaller grids simplify shapes and shorten your shopping list.

• Small · 29×29 — one standard square peg board (841 beads max).
• Medium · 58×58 — four boards in a 2×2 layout (3,364 beads).
• Large · 87×87 — nine boards in a 3×3 layout (7,569 beads).
• Custom — type width and height; the cell counter and board estimate update live.

Pick Small for icons, logos, and first projects. Choose Medium for portraits and most photos — it is the default for a reason. Reserve Large for wall art when you accept a long build and many color jars.

• Match a physical board you already own with Custom dimensions.
• Start smaller when testing a new photo; re-upload at Medium once you like the crop.
• Pixel art imports should match native pixel dimensions (32×32 art → 32×32 grid).

Oversizing a noisy phone photo magnifies blur into random single-bead specks. Undersizing a detailed portrait merges eyes and lips into blobs.

• Grids above the app cell limit show a warning; reduce dimensions before converting.
• Changing size after editing clears manual touch-ups — save first if you already painted fixes.

Medium (58×58) with Balanced detail is the best default for photos. For Create from Scratch, start at 1 board (29×29) unless you know the finished piece must span multiple boards.

Zoom the preview (View full image) and scan eyes, text, and thin outlines. If features blur together, increase grid size or adjust crop. If the pattern looks speckled and busy, shrink the grid or lower detail.

• Board estimate — do you have enough physical boards?
• Color count in the right panel — more than 30 colors on a first build is a warning sign.
• Single-bead islands — run Apply cleanup after sizing feels right.