Diamond Painting – All information, tips and recommendations for the “paint by numbers” alternative

Diamond painting is a relaxing and creative hobby that involves creating pictures from small, colorful rhinestones. It's a focused and stress-free experience that allows you to create a unique work of art. In this article, we'll explore why diamond painting is the ultimate hobby for creative people and those seeking relaxation.

Furthermore, we will provide you with instructions, tips, tricks, and recommendations to help you get the most out of your creative experience with the rhinestones. Finally, we will answer frequently asked questions about this artistic hobby .

Let's dive in together…

What is Diamond Painting?

Diamond painting is a new and exciting hobby that is captivating more and more people. It's a mix of paint-by-numbers and cross-stitch , where small, sparkling diamonds are glued onto a canvas. The result is a beautiful, glittering work of art that you can proudly display.

Diamond painting involves covering a pre-drawn image with sparkling, diamond-shaped plastic rhinestones. Similar to paint-by-numbers, the template consists of a pre-drawn area with numbered sections. The task for the amateur artist is to systematically apply the rhinestones (also called resin stones or rhinestones) to these sections. The color to be used is indicated by a number within each section.

In other words, the picture is decorated with plastic diamonds and framed to adorn a wall.

Diamond painting has been one of the most popular hobby art forms for years, allowing beginners to try their hand at creating artwork with a three-dimensional effect. A boring and ordinary image on the pre-printed canvas comes to life, sparkling and shining.

Diamond painting kits are usually available as a complete set containing a motif canvas with self-adhesive protective film, round or square diamonds with a flat underside in all required colors, a painting pen ("applicator") for picking up and placing the diamonds, a tray ("boat") for arranging the stones, and wax to help the diamonds stick to the painting pen.

A detailed instruction manual is usually included in the set.

It is an enriching activity for all age groups , and the best part is that you don't need any special knowledge of art to immerse yourself in the world of diamond painting.

Before we delve deeper into the diamond painting, I would like to tell you something about its origin and history.

Origins and evolution of diamond painting

The concept of diamond painting is not a new invention of the 2020s.

The origins of diamond painting can be traced back to China, where it was known as "5D diamond painting" or "diamond embroidery ." It was first introduced in the early 2000s as a combination of cross-stitch and paint-by-numbers and quickly became enormously popular with craft enthusiasts.

At that time, diamond painting was still done on velvet canvas, which was difficult because it was challenging to glue the beads onto it. Now, with improved adhesive techniques, velvet canvases are experiencing a comeback.

The modern diamond painting technique was invented in 2010 in China by Guangdong Dazu Yueming Laser Technology Co., Ltd. and has spread widely worldwide in the last fifteen years.

Over time, diamond painting has evolved and become increasingly sophisticated. Today, there are numerous variations of this creative hobby, such as partial drill , full drill , round drill , and square drill . These terms refer to the shape of the diamonds and whether the entire canvas or only a portion of it is covered.

Furthermore, the designs available for diamond painting have become more complex and detailed. A wide selection of images is available, ranging from landscapes and animals to portraits and abstract designs.

A creative hobby with many positive effects

The great thing about diamond painting is that it's suitable for everyone, regardless of age or artistic talent. It's a fantastic way to relieve stress and relax. Plus, you can unleash your creativity and create something beautiful. The best part about this hobby is that the possibilities are endless.

There are countless designs to choose from, ranging from animals and landscapes to portraits . You can even upload your own images and have them turned into a diamond painting kit.

Depending on individual needs and experience level, a wide variety of motifs can be selected. Diamond painting offers a broad range of designs, from simple motifs for children to elaborate fox pictures or 3D tigers, all the way to monumental, magnificent works of art with enchanting 3D effects for experienced artists.

When your children are taking their first steps in diamond painting, it is advisable to stay close by, as they might swallow the small parts.

So, if you're looking for a new hobby that relaxes you and fosters your creativity, why not try diamond painting?

Why is it the ultimate hobby for creative people?

If you're looking for a creative hobby that brings you relaxation and joy, then diamond painting is the ideal choice for you. It's a unique hobby for people of all ages that combines the advantages of paint-by-numbers and knitting resulting in a beautiful work of art for your wall decor

Diamond painting isn't just for adults; it's also a great leisure activity for children and seniors . Both young children in kindergarten and primary school, as well as older adults, can use diamond painting to specifically promote and maintain their physical and mental abilities.

The best part is that you don't need any artistic skills to get started. All you need are a few tools and a set of sparkling diamonds. With every diamond you place on the canvas, you'll fall more and more in love with this hobby.

It not only offers art lovers a wonderful opportunity to express their creativity, but also promotes spatial reasoning, dexterity, and fine motor skills. It's a great way to calm the mind and relieve stress and worries. Furthermore, you can proudly display your finished artwork and use it as a gift for your loved ones.

How exactly does diamond painting work?

The concept is similar to "paint by numbers" . Predefined rhinestones, crystals or acrylic in different colors are placed into a drawing that is divided into numbered fields.

You simply pick up one pebble after another with the applicator and place them on the numbered areas on the canvas. Once fixed in place with the adhesive, the individual pebbles gradually form a picture – just like a mosaic.

This method creates colorful pictures and is very easy to do. The special thing about diamond painting is that sparkling rhinestones are placed on the picture instead of using paint. This gives the artwork a unique brilliance and luminosity.

What materials and tools are needed?

In a diamond painting shop you'll find complete kits for a wide variety of designs. All the accessories you need for your first diamond painting are:

• A motif canvas with self-adhesive protective film
• Round or square diamonds with a flat underside in all colors.
• A painting pen, the "applicator", with which you pick up and place the diamonds
• A bowl ("little boat") in which you can arrange the pebbles
• Wax, which helps the diamonds stick to the painting pen

If there isn't a store near you, we recommend ordering from an online shop – for example, you'll find everything you need at Zuty, . With over 5,000 designs on offer, the selection is huge.

What different stone shapes are there in diamond painting?

In diamond painting, choosing the right rhinestones – often called “drills” – is indeed a crucial decision, as it significantly influences the final result and the level of difficulty.

The two main shapes are round vs. square.

This is the classic decision one faces with almost every image.

feature	Round Drills	Square drills
handling	Easier and faster. They don't need to be perfectly aligned because they don't have any "corners" that need to fit together.	More demanding. They must be placed very precisely and straight (edge ​​to edge).
Optics / Coverage	Tiny gaps remain visible between the stones, through which the canvas is slightly visible. The look appears somewhat more “organic” (similar to cross-stitch).	The stones fit seamlessly . This creates a closed, mosaic-like surface without a visible canvas.
Sparkle	They are often considered more glittering because the round faceting refracts the light differently.	They tend to create a flat "shimmer" or a "snap" when they fit perfectly.
Forgiveness	High. If a stone is slightly crooked, it's hardly noticeable.	Low. A single crooked stone can shift an entire row or make it look messy.

Special drills

In addition to the standard colors, there are special stones that are often used as highlights in pictures:

• AB stones (Aurora Borealis): These stones have a special, iridescent coating (similar to oil on water) that reflects the colors of the rainbow. They are mostly used to highlight specific areas of an image.
• Rhinestones (Crystal/Rhinestones): These are often translucent (transparent) or have a silver backing. They sparkle extremely brightly and are often used for "partial drill" artwork, where not the entire canvas is covered.
• Special shapes: These include drops, hearts, stars, or larger jewels. They are used almost exclusively in specific sub-images (e.g., mandalas or Watches ).

Which form is best for beginners?

Clearly: Round stones.

Why? The frustration factor is significantly lower. You don't have to perfectly rotate the pen to get the stone at the exact angle. You can simply "pick it up and place it." This makes getting started more relaxed, and progress is visible more quickly.

Tip: If you're looking for a greater challenge later and want a perfectly closed, pixel-perfect "mosaic" look, you can try using square stones. Many experienced painters swear by square stones because of the satisfying "click" sound when the stones snap seamlessly into place.

How to start diamond painting: a step-by-step guide

If you are interested in diamond painting, but don't (yet) know exactly where to start, you've come to the right place.

In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you how to start your first diamond painting project.

Step 1: Motif selection

Choose your design . There are countless options to choose from, ranging from animals and landscapes to flowers, cityscapes, kitchen themes, fantasy, zodiac signs, children's themes, pop art, football themes, love themes, and abstract designs. Select a design that appeals to you and that you would like to hang up or give as a gift.

Professionals and experienced "painters" often approach the choice of motif almost scientifically, because they know: An attractive preview image on the computer screen does not guarantee a good-looking finished diamond painting.

Based on our interviews and discussions from the community (Reddit, forums), experienced users pay particular attention to these three technical criteria:

1. The “pixel rule” (size vs. level of detail)

This is the most common beginner mistake, one that professionals avoid. Diamond painting is essentially pixel art. The more detail an image has, the more "pixels" (stones) are needed. The professional eye: They don't just look at the subject matter, but immediately at the ratio of image size to level of detail.

• As a rule of thumb : A face often needs at least 10–15 cm of space on the canvas to avoid looking like a "splash of color". An experienced painter would never buy a group portrait of 5 people on a small 30 × 40 cm canvas, as the faces would be unrecognizable.
• Strategy : For complex images (landscapes, many people), they choose huge formats (e.g., 60 × 80 cm or larger). They only use small formats (30 × 40 cm) for striking "snack-size" motifs with few details (e.g., a single flower, a comic strip motif, or lettering).

2. Rendering: Computer vs. Hand-Charted

This is often where the wheat is separated from the chaff among manufacturers.

• Computer-generated : Many cheap providers simply run an image through software. The result is often "noisy"—there are individual, mismatched color dots in areas where they don't belong.
• Hand-Charted (Manually Edited) : Experienced users specifically search for shops that advertise "hand-charting." In this case, a graphic designer has digitally edited the image, removing "confetti" (meaningless individual color dots) and smoothing edges. The image ultimately appears cleaner and sharper.

3. “Confetti” vs. “Color Blocking”

Professionals scan the design to see how it can be laid out – in other words, what the work experience (“painting”) will be like.

• Confetti : Areas with an extremely high number of color changes in a very small space. This is strenuous and slow, but often looks more realistic in the result.
• Color blocking : large areas of one color (e.g., a black background). This is quick (especially with multi-placers), but can be monotonous.

Many professionals pay attention to balance. Too much color blocking is often perceived as boring, too much confetti as frustrating. Reviews often warn: "Caution, the sky is pure color blocking for over 20 hours."

Recommendation for beginners

If you're just starting out, ignore the huge "masterpiece" images from the professionals for now.

The unanimous opinion for the best start is:

The "golden mean" when it comes to size: Don't buy the smallest picture (under 20 x 20 cm), because the result is often so pixelated that you'll be disappointed. Ideally: 30 x 40 cm. This is large enough to depict a subject well, but small enough to complete in a few evenings before your motivation wanes.

Choose round stones: As mentioned earlier, round stones are more forgiving of mistakes. With angular stones, you have to work very precisely right from the start, which can be stressful at first.

Motif choice “Bold & Simple”

When using this proven approach, choose motifs with clear lines and strong contrasts.

• Good : a single butterfly, a comic character, a mandala, a close-up of a flower.
• Bad : a family photo, a wide landscape with many small houses in the background.

Be careful with dark backgrounds: As a beginner, avoid images with vast black or dark blue backgrounds. Symbols on dark backgrounds are often harder to see (you might need a light pad), and dust or cat hairs are immediately visible. Colorful images are more fun to start with.

It's also possible to transform a personal photo or individual image idea into a diamond painting. Zuty even employs an in-house designer for professional execution.

Step 2: Buy the kit

Purchase your painting kit now, complete with all the necessary supplies. A Zuty diamond painting kit contains everything you need to begin your project. This includes the canvas (self-adhesive), the diamonds, tweezers (applicator), wax paper, hooks for hanging, handles for multiple diamonds, and a handy tray for them.

Step 3: Preparations

things organized from the start with your first Diamond painting, it is recommended to take some precautions.

It's best to start by spreading the canvas out on a flat surface to prevent the images from shifting. Make sure the surface provides enough space for any additional accessories.

Tip: It is useful to stick a corresponding rhinestone in the position on the supplied number and symbol chart that is intended for the shape and color of the diamond.

Step 4: Place the diamond stones

It is recommended to start at the bottom of your design and work your way upwards, section by section. Carefully remove a portion of the protective film from the canvas where you wish to begin the painting process.

Please note: Do not remove the entire film, otherwise the canvas will dry out and lose its adhesive properties.

Now begin placing the rhinestones. Use the tweezers or applicator and the wax paper to place the diamonds one by one on the canvas, according to the color coding.

Make sure the flat side of the stones faces downwards when attaching them. Carefully place the element in the appropriate position within the suitable area.

You can now fully populate the first segment. Use tweezers to correct any misplaced elements. Continue in this manner, segment by segment, in ascending numerical order.

After each session, you should cover the wax on the applicator instrument with cellophane and place a plastic film over the area you worked on.

Step 5: Completion

Now it's time to finish the project. Once you've placed all the diamonds, cover the canvas with plastic wrap and weigh it down with a heavy book, a rolling pin, or a board. Gently roll over the finished picture to ensure the diamonds adhere well.

That's it! You've completed your first diamond painting project 🙂

How to get the most out of your hobby: tips and tricks

You've decided to take up diamond painting as a new hobby and now want to make the most of it? No problem!

Here are some tips and tricks that will help you optimize your diamond painting experience.

1. First of all, you should make sure you the right tools ready. A good pair of tweezers, a ruler, and a pencil are essential for accurately following the pattern and precisely placing the diamonds.
2. Furthermore, you should make sure that you enough time and space to fully concentrate on your hobby.
3. Another important aspect is choosing the right motif . Consider which colors and patterns appeal to you most and what size picture you want to create. If you opt for a particularly complex design, you should also allow yourself enough time to complete it.
4. Secure the canvas to the table using tape to prevent it from slipping when placing the stones.
5. It is recommended to start attaching the stones in the lower corner and work your way upwards from there.
6. Protect already completed areas of your diamond mosaic by covering them with ordinary baking paper to avoid wax residue.
7. If you run out of wax glue, you can order more. In the meantime, you can use water as an alternative. Simply dip the applicator tip into a glass of water and then collect the rhinestones.
8. If you need to take a break and don't have space to store your diamond painting flat, you can use a clothes hanger with clips and hang it on the closet or door until you can continue.

And last but not least, you should understand your diamond painting experience as a meditative moment of relaxation . Take time for yourself and enjoy the process. If you feel stressed or frustrated, simply take a break and come back later.

Have fun being creative!

The different types of diamond paintings and their advantages

Which type of diamond painting suits you best?

There are different types of diamond paintings, each with its own advantages. For example, there are round and square stones, which can create different effects. The size of the picture and the number of colors can also vary.

If you'd like to create a detailed image, a larger one with many colors is the right choice. However, if you want to see results quickly, a smaller image with fewer colors is more suitable.

What you can use your finished painting for

You've finished your diamond painting and are incredibly proud of your work. But what now?

There are many ways to further appreciate and enjoy your artwork. One option is to use it as wall decor . You can hang it in a frame or mount it on a canvas to make it stand out even more.

Another suggestion is to use it as a gift . You could give it to a friend or family member, or even sell it to bring joy to others.

Furthermore, you can also use it as part of a DIY project and turn it into a pillow or a bag. The possibilities are endless, and it's entirely up to you how you use your diamond painting.

Final words

And that brings us to the end of our article. We've learned why diamond painting is the ultimate hobby for creative people and those seeking relaxation. It offers not only the opportunity to create beautiful works of art, but also a way to unwind and leave everyday life behind.

The combination of creative activity and meditative effect makes diamond painting a wonderful experience.