How to Create Custom Bead Designs From Your Photos to Sell Online

Strong photo elements and colors make good beading designs.

Part of the joy of creativity is sharing your creations with others. Beading enthusiasts can create custom designs from their own photos or drawings. With today's technology much of the tedium is removed from the process. An Internet search turns up conversion programs that allow you to upload a photo and print out a bead work pattern. Using a home computer and printer, along with special paper, you can still make a beading design fairly quickly without a conversion program.

Things You'll Need

• Photo
• Transparent 1/16-inch grid
• Masking tape
• Transparent markers
• Colored pencil
• Iron-on transfer paper

Instructions

1. Choose a photo for your design. Look for strong elements that show distinctly when copied. The subtler the shadings, the more colors of beads you need. Enlarge and enhance the photo to fit your application. Add your signature or identifying mark to the design if you are beading it yourself. Leave the signature off if you plan to sell only the bead pattern.

2. Tape a 1/16-inch transparent grid over the photo. Check that the rows and columns are numbered on all sides. Copy the photo and the grid onto a sheet of iron-on transfer paper.

   Bead the item yourself if you wish to sell a complete design.

3. Make multiple copies of the photo and grid on sheets of iron-on transfer paper if you wish to sell and ship patterns. Convert the pattern to a printable document format, such as a PDF, for online delivery. Remind customers to print the pattern on iron-on transfer paper.

4. Make a materials and instructions list to accompany your design pattern. List the bead colors necessary and count the number of beads of each color. Work in sections by color to make this task easier.

Tips & Warnings

• Enhance the colors of your paper photo with transparent-colored markers, or adjust the colors using a computer graphics program.

• Make your own transparent grid if you cannot find one ready-made. Find a 1/16-inch grid from the Internet and print or copy it onto a printable transparent sheet. Number the columns and rows on all sides.

• Offer tips for completing your design to those who purchase patterns.

• Consider offering a complete kit to your customers. Include the pattern, instructions, beads, iron-on transfer paper, needles, thread and fabric.

References

• "Designer Bead Embroidery: 150 Patterns and Complete Techniques"; Kenneth D. King; 2006
• Fire Mountain Gems and Beads: Printable Seed Bead Graph Paper; Marlynn McNutt