Choosing beads and colors for beaded jewelry is a challenging yet highly enjoyable process. Experienced beaders who have been doing this for years may have tried various combinations and can make more precise choices. However, if you're a beginner like me, this process can also be a bit costly. I'd like to share some of the methods and resources I use when selecting colors for my patterns and jewelry—perhaps you'll find them helpful too.
Color Theory
When choosing beads, we are often constrained by manufacturers' preferences for colors, finishes, and shapes, making it difficult to find the exact shade we imagine. However, color theory can guide us in selecting harmonious beads. As I explored this topic and studied various color palettes, I found myself using colors more intentionally.
While I don't have a specific book or text to recommend, there are countless articles and videos available online. A simple search—using terms from the Wikipedia page on Color Theory—can uncover a wealth of resources. Although most materials on color theory and harmony are created for painting and graphic design, their principles are universally applicable across many creative fields.
Color Wheel
One of the resources I use very often when choosing colors is Canva's color wheel. (Adobe has a more advanced color wheel, but it is not user friendly as Canva, so I don't prefer it.) I use the color wheel especially if there is a specific bead color I've chosen and I'm looking for colors that match it.
If you want to create a color palette in Canva:
- Select a color—either by clicking a point on the color wheel or entering the color code. (I'll share below the method I use to find HEX codes that match my beads and how I create color palettes using BoncukApp.)
- Create a palette by choosing one of these color harmony rules:
- Complementary
- Monochromatic
- Analogous
- Triadic
- Tetradic
- To save a palette you like, click the 'Export palette' button to download it as a PDF. The colors in the palette can help guide your bead selections.
Color Palettes
You can explore a wide variety of color palettes available online to select colors for your beading projects.
Websites like Color Palettes offer combinations derived from images, which can serve as a great source of inspiration. (Some color palettes are even created specifically for Miyuki beads, though they are often shared informally on platforms like Pinterest.) Alternatively, you can create your own color combinations by uploading an image that captures your desired mood to color palette generators like Coolors.
Websites such as Color Hunt also offer ready-made palettes to spark creativity. For me, however, the most inspiring source for color harmony comes from textile patterns. These patterns not only provides beautiful color schemes but also emphasizes key design principles such as emphasis, rhythm, and balance, broadening our creative horizons.
Generating Beading Patterns from Photos
There are online tools that transform photographs into peyote or square stitch patterns while suggesting bead colors. For instance, the Miyuki company provides a Photo Converter for Delica Beads. With this tool, you can upload an image, specify the number of colors and pattern size, and receive a pattern complete with bead color suggestions and a word chart. The interface isn't particularly user-friendly, and I didn't like the results, but you can try it for yourself: MIYUKI Photo Converter for Delica Beads
Creating Color Palettes with Your Own Beads
Most pattern design programs let you select bead brands and color codes, and I may include a similar feature in the future. For now, you can create custom palettes using your own bead collection in any graphic design software or directly in BoncukApp. Here’s how:
- Take a clear photo of your beads in a well-lit environment during the day. Group similar colors together for clarity, as the app allows selection of up to 20 colors at a time.
- Open your bead photo alongside BoncukApp, and make sure your browser's color picker includes an eyedropper tool. Adjust your screen so you can view both the webpage and the photo simultaneously.
- Click the “Design Yourself” button on the app’s homepage.Use the eyedropper tool to select bead colors from the photo. Click the corresponding pixels closest to each bead’s color.Paint the pattern with the selected colors, as if designing a small project.
- Once your palette design is complete, click the 'Save and Stitch' button. Select a working direction for the pattern to proceed to the next step, then save it as a PDF by choosing 'Print' in your browser.
The saved PDF will display your bead colors along with their corresponding HEX codes, which can be reused for future patterns by entering the codes or selecting them with the eyedropper tool.
Even well-thought-out color schemes may not translate perfectly to certain jewelry designs. Factors like bead finishes (e.g., matte, metallic, or iridescent) can significantly affect the outcome. Sometimes, it’s impossible to predict the final effect without physically assembling the design.
If you try out any of my patterns with new colors or have original designs to share, we can build a Bead Color Palette Archive together. Feel free to email me your creations, including photos and the bead color codes, or share them on social media with the hashtag #BoncukApp.
The idea of a shared archive like this reminds me of the joy I experienced in jewelry courses, where everyone applied the same pattern using different color schemes, resulting in uniquely beautiful designs. Let’s recreate that experience online!