How the pattern is made
A fuse bead pattern is a very small picture in which every square is one bead. To make one, this tool shrinks your photo until it is only as many squares wide as your pegboard, then swaps each square for the bead color that looks closest to it. Colors are compared the way the eye sees them, so a soft brown fur turns into a brown bead rather than an orange one that happens to share similar numbers.
Real bead sets come in a fixed range of colors, which is why the pattern uses the color list of the brand you pick. The codes in the bead list match the codes printed on the bags and tubs, and the list under the preview tells you how many beads of each color to count out before you start.
Choosing a good photo
The photos that turn into the best patterns are simple ones: a single pet, facing the camera or in clear profile, on a plain background such as a wall, a sofa or the floor. Busy backgrounds turn into speckled noise once the picture is only 29 beads wide, and a dark pet on a dark blanket can melt into it.
Leave “Leave the background empty” switched on and the tool looks at the edges of the picture, finds the main background color and keeps those squares free, so you only place beads on your pet. If your pet fills the whole frame, the tool notices and keeps everything.
Size, boards and colors
One square pegboard holds 29 beads across, which suits a face or a small sitting pet and needs a little under 850 beads if every square is filled. At 58 beads across you need four boards set out in a square, and the picture can show far more detail, such as the white tip of a tail or a collar. The PDF prints one page for each board, with a number in every square that matches the bead list, plus row and column numbers along the edges, so you can work through it board by board.
Fewer colors usually look better than more. Between 6 and 12 colors gives the bold, clean look that bead art is known for, while 20 or more starts to look like a blurry photo. The smoothing option mixes neighboring colors in a dotted pattern to suggest shades your set does not have. It can help with soft fur, but it scatters single beads that are fiddly to place, so try it both ways.
Ironing your piece
Once every bead is in place, cover the board with the ironing paper that came with your set or with baking parchment, and press with a warm, dry iron in slow circles until the beads fuse together. Let it cool, turn it over and press the other side lightly. An adult should do the ironing, since the iron and the beads both get very hot.
Keep the beads away from your pets
Fuse beads are small enough for a dog or cat to swallow, and their bright colors and rattle can make them look like toys. Work at a table your pet cannot reach, sweep up the beads that roll away, and keep the boxes closed between sessions. If you think your pet has swallowed beads or any other small object, call your vet for advice rather than waiting to see what happens.
The finished piece is safe as a decoration, but a hanging ornament or a keyring is better placed out of reach of a curious puppy or a cat that likes to bat things off shelves.
Colors on screen
Screens and printers show colors differently, and bead colors also vary a little from batch to batch, so treat the colors in the preview as a close guide rather than an exact match. The color codes are what matter: lay out the beads you will use next to the printed list and swap any color that looks wrong for one you prefer.