Diamond Painting Instructions for Beginners — Complete Guide

Hello! Since I don't have any particular plans for this weekend, I thought I'd create a guide for anyone interested in starting Diamond Painting. In this guide, we'll go through the basics of Diamond Painting so you can get started with this hobby. The best way to learn is by doing, as everyone has their own unique style of Diamond Painting, and there's really no right or wrong way in this art form.

How does Diamond Painting work?

Diamond Painting is a hobby where images are created by attaching small, diamond-shaped pieces to a pre-patterned adhesive canvas. The process begins by selecting the desired image and a suitable canvas. The canvas is marked with letters and numbers that correspond to different colored diamonds. Diamonds are picked up with a special pen or tool and placed in the correct spot on the canvas. Once all the diamonds are in place, the image begins to take shape, and the result is often sparkling and detailed. The work requires patience, precision, and concentration. The finished piece can be framed and hung on a wall or used for other decorative purposes.

What comes with Diamond Painting?

Usually, every manufacturer's Diamond Painting comes with everything needed to start the hobby. You can safely forget about any additional accessories at first; once you get into the hobby, it's easy to think about what extra accessories you want to buy and how much money you want to spend on them. Diamond Painting is a reasonably inexpensive hobby, but like all other hobbies, you can end up spending more money on it than you'd like to admit 😅

So, the package usually includes:
-An adhesive canvas with symbol markings
-A symbol/diamond list
-All the necessary diamonds to create the image
-A toolset

How to get started?

Find a well-lit and sufficiently large work table so you can comfortably spread out your materials; it's unpleasant to work in a cramped space. Spread out the contents of the package on the table and check that it includes the correct diamond work, the right diamonds, and everything else that should be in the package. Look at the symbol list and ensure the correct diamonds are in the package.

How to interpret symbols?

The image below is an example of a Diamond Painting canvas. Finding the correct diamond colour is easy; just look at the list for the symbol and the colour code next to it. The diamond bags are marked with corresponding colour codes.

Removing the protective film

On top of the fabric, there is either a transparent or paper protective film. Do not remove this completely at once to maintain good adhesion; instead, cut small areas off and complete them one at a time to prevent the area from drying out. Here is a video that shows how to cut the areas.

Placing the Diamonds

Pour some diamond colour onto the tray that comes with the toolkit. Take the diamond pen and wax from the toolkit. Dip the tip of the diamond pen into the wax so that the tip is filled with wax. Now the diamonds stick to the end of the diamond pen, and you can pick up a diamond and place it on the correct symbol on the fabric. Watch the video

Round vs square drills — which should you choose?

This is one of the most common questions beginners have. Here's the short version:

• Round drills are more beginner-friendly — they snap into place more easily, and small alignment mistakes are less noticeable. They also have a lovely sparkle.
• Square drills cover the canvas more tightly with no gaps, giving the finished piece a smoother mosaic look. The trade-off is that placement needs a bit more precision.

Our recommendation: start with round drills and try square drills once you've got the basic routine down. Many experienced crafters prefer square drills for the satisfying "snap" effect — but both work beautifully.

What are the differences between diamond paintings from different manufacturers?

The concept of Diamond Painting is the same across all manufacturers, but there are some differences. The most significant differences are in the protective film and the diamond bags. Some manufacturers have machine-packed diamonds in small 1 gram bags, while others hand-pack the correct amount into one minigrip bag per colour. Many prefer minigrips.

Another big difference is in the protective films. Some have a transparent protective film over the adhesive surface, while others have a paper one.

What is the difference between a paper or plastic protective film?

A clear film indicates that glue has been applied to the fabric, and a paper film is double-sided tape installed on the fabric. Double-sided tape is generally used only for individual diamond paintings, while glue is applied in mass production when a large number of the same image is produced at once. In a quality product, it does not really matter which method has been used.

What size Diamond Painting should you get?

Beginners should initially get a small one, e.g., 20x20 or 30x40 cm, to see if this is a suitable hobby. From there, it's easy to determine what size you want to do next. It's important to note that small diamond paintings become blurry, so the image should be as simple as possible if you want the result to be clear. Our small diamond paintings are already selected to be suitable for beginners, with images that are simple enough for small sizes.

Common mistakes to avoid

Nearly every diamond painter runs into these at some point — don't worry, they're all easy to fix.

Opening too much protective film at once
Work in small sections to keep the adhesive clean and tacky. If it dries out, cover the area back up immediately and continue in smaller portions.

Overloading the pen tip with wax
Use a small amount and refresh regularly for consistent pickup. If your pen isn't picking up drills well, clean the tip and reapply a thin layer of wax.

Choosing designs that are too complex too early
A high-detail design on a small canvas can be frustrating. Pick a clear motif with good contrast for your first piece — you'll enjoy the process much more.

Ignoring posture and lighting
Diamond painting is repetitive work. A stable setup with proper lighting reduces hand and neck fatigue. A light pad is especially useful for low-contrast symbols and evening sessions.

You can find more useful tools in our diamond painting accessories collection.

What to do with a finished Diamond Painting?

The finished work can be treated with finishing lacquer, this way the diamonds won't come off the adhesive surface even over the years as the grip weakens. However, this is not mandatory, but for larger and more important works, it is worth doing. Watch a video on applying varnish here.

Finally, frame it, give it as a gift, use it for decoration, or collect finished works in a folder.

In Conclusion

This information is surely obvious to many experienced diamond painters, but hopefully, some beginner hobbyists will find answers to their puzzling questions here. I will update this guide as I come up with more things to add.

Enjoy your Diamond Painting moments everyone!