Diamond painting has become an increasingly popular hobby in recent years. In this artwork, small resin rhinestones are adhered to a canvas using an adhesive wax pen or glue, allowing crafters to create colorful and sparkling designs. One of the keys to successfully completing a diamond painting project is understanding and properly identifying the symbol system used to guide placement of the rhinestones.
How Diamond Painting Symbol Charts Work
Each diamond painting kit includes a printed canvas and a corresponding legend or symbol chart. The chart shows each symbol used in the artwork design, with codes that match up to the shapes printed on the canvas. By following the symbol chart, diamond painters can identify which colored rhinestone to place in each section of the canvas pattern.
Most diamond painting kits use a numeric coding system for their symbols. Numbers like 317 or 718 will be printed on the canvas, with a matching color code assigned to that number on the legend. More advanced kits may use alphabet letter codes or even symbols like hearts, stars, and flowers.
The symbols are printed using a sticky wax-like ink that will be covered up as the canvas is filled in with rhinestones. This allows the crafter to follow the coded design until their artwork is complete, then remove the symbol adhesive from the finished piece.
Standard Diamond Painting Symbol Sets
While each diamond painting kit can use whatever legend system the artist designs, there are some standard symbol sets that are commonly used across most artwork. Here are some of the typical diamond painting codes and what they represent:
DMC Codes
Many diamond painting kits use symbols that correspond to DMC embroidery floss colors. DMC is a popular brand of embroidery thread, with a numeric coding system to identify each shade in their palette. Diamonds labeled with DMC codes match these thread colors. For example:
- 317 = DMC 317, a mint green color
- 666 = DMC 666, a dark grey
- 3865 = DMC 3865, a mauve purple
Crafters who are familiar with DMC thread can easily match these symbols on a diamond painting to the correct rhinestone color.
Alphabet Letter Codes
Some artists prefer using an alphabetical lettering system for their diamond painting symbols. This involves assigning each distinct color a letter code like:
- A = Red
- B = Blue
- C = Green
The letters printed on the canvas map to this color legend for easy diamond placement.
Abstract Symbols
For more customization and creative flair, many diamond paintings use abstract symbols like shapes, icons, or patterns. Some examples include:
- Heart = Pink
- Star = Yellow
- Circle = Purple
These fun symbols add artistic style to the canvas legend while still clearly guiding diamond placement.
Numeric Codes
Number-based symbol systems are a popular choice for diamond painting artists. Each color is assigned a numeric code that is printed on the canvas. Often these codes are standardized across multiple painting designs from the same creator. Here is an example numeric legend:
| Symbol | Color |
|---|---|
| 352 | Pink |
| 427 | Light Blue |
| 564 | Yellow |
Special Symbol Cases
In addition to general color symbols, there are a few special canvas codes that crafters may encounter in certain types of diamond paintings:
AB Diamonds
“AB” stands for aurora borealis, referring to special iridescent diamonds that shift colors. On the canvas and legend, AB symbols indicate spaces where these shimmering stones should be placed.
Half Diamonds
Some paintings use half diamonds on curved edges or to create finer details. The symbol for a half diamond is typically a dash or diagonal line.
Drill Only
“Drill only” symbols mark canvas spaces where no gem is placed, but the adhesive backing needs to be drilled through. This helps the canvas lay flat.
Tips for Reading Diamond Painting Symbols
Here are some useful tips for deciphering the symbol chart and knowing where to place your diamonds:
- Double check your legend matches the canvas symbols before starting.
- Use good lighting to clearly see the codes marked on the canvas.
- Take your time finding the right symbol match, don’t rush.
- Use highlighters to mark the first symbol of each color on your chart.
- If confused, set the diamond aside and come back to that spot.
Conclusion
Understanding diamond painting symbols is key to creating a successful design. While each kit can have its own unique legend system, most use some variation of numeric, alphabet, DMC, or abstract shape codes. Matching the canvas symbols to your chart tells you exactly where to place each sparkling gem for a stunning finished piece of artwork.