Diamond painting has become an incredibly popular hobby in recent years. In this craft, enthusiasts use tiny resin diamonds to create colorful designs on canvas. One thing you’ll notice when shopping for diamond painting kits is that the diamonds are labeled with DMC numbers. So what do these codes mean? Let’s take a closer look at the DMC numbering system and how it’s used in diamond painting.
What is DMC?
DMC stands for Dollfus-Mieg et Compagnie, a French textile company that was founded in 1746. By the late 1800s, DMC had become a leading manufacturer of embroidery floss and other needlework materials. The company devised a standard numbering system to identify the huge array of floss colors they produced. Today, DMC continues to be the most widely used embroidery floss brand in the world.
The DMC Color Code System
Every DMC embroidery floss color is assigned a unique 5-digit number. This provides an exact ID for that specific shade of floss. The number breaks down as follows:
- The first digit refers to the floss “family” – similar hues are grouped together into families.
- The next 2 digits represent the specific color within the family.
- The last 2 digits indicate the shade of the color.
For example, DMC 347 is:
- 3 – Blue family
- 47 – Light peacock blue color
- 00 – Regular shade
This color coding creates a logical system that makes the huge DMC catalog easy to navigate. It also provides an unambiguous way to identify any of the over 4000 floss colors.
DMC Codes in Diamond Painting
Diamond painting kits use resin diamonds to recreate colorful designs. These diamonds come packaged in small bags labeled with DMC codes. This identifies the exact color of that bag of diamonds.
Each section of the canvas printing will include the matching DMC color code. You simply find the bag with those numbers and use those diamonds to fill in the corresponding area.
This allows you to easily match the diamonds to the canvas for accurate color recreation. The DMC system gives diamond painters a clear labeling system for keeping colors consistent across brands.
Benefits of the DMC Coding
Using the DMC codes offers several advantages for diamond painting:
- Accuracy – The numbers provide an unambiguous identifier for precise color matching.
- Consistency – Colors remain standardized across different diamond painting brands.
- Organization – Easy to keep diamonds sorted and find the right shade.
- Quality – DMC is the industry leader in embroidery floss with strict color standards.
The ability to precisely identify colors is crucial for creating artwork with diamond painting. The DMC coding gives each resin diamond set an ID to maintain color accuracy.
Reading the DMC Codes
Learning to read the DMC codes is part of mastering diamond painting. Here are some tips:
- Memorize the color families – this makes it easier to narrow down shades.
- Pay attention to the last 2 digits – they indicate important shade variations.
- Separate diamonds into family groups to make sorting faster.
- Use a DMC color chart to match codes to actual floss colors.
With practice, you will quickly learn to identify diamond colors just by the 5-digit DMC number. This makes the painting process much smoother.
DMC Color List
DMC produces thousands of floss colors across 24 major families. Here is a table showing the key color families and code ranges:
| Family | DMC Codes |
|---|---|
| White | 100s |
| Black | 310s |
| Gray | 320s – 382 |
| Red | 300s |
| Pink | 220s |
| Orange | 160s |
| Yellow | 700s |
| Chartreuse | 500s |
| Green | 300s – 500s |
| Blue | 300s – 800s |
| Purple | 300s |
| Brown | 300s – 900s |
| Beige | 700s |
This covers the major DMC embroidery floss color families. Specialty threads like metallics, variegated, and glow in the dark also have DMC codes assigned.
Differences from Embroidery Floss
Diamond painting uses resin diamonds rather than embroidery floss. So there are a few key differences:
- Diamonds have more uniform, vibrant colors compared to floss.
- The resin diamonds create a sparkling faceted effect.
- Each diamond is a single solid color, unlike floss which can blend multiple hues.
- Less color variations are available since diamond painting has fewer colors than the full DMC floss range.
The diamonds capture the colors in a bright, painterly fashion compared to soft embroidery. But the DMC coding remains vital for identifying the colorful assortment of resin diamonds.
Number of Diamonds
While DMC offers over 4000 floss colors, diamond painting kits typically contain 20-40 different colored diamonds. Some sets may have up to 60 colors for intricate designs. The diamonds are poured from resin in mass quantities, so most brands stock the core color range:
- Blues
- Greens
- Reds
- Yellows
- Oranges
- Purples
- Pink
- White
- Black
- Gray
- Brown
- Metallic
Advanced kits will include more color nuance with doubles of the major colors in different shades. Overall, diamond painting uses a subset of the most common DMC floss colors to recreate patterns.
Size of Diamonds
Resin diamonds come in a range of sizes measured in facets. The facet count determines how many sides the diamond has:
| Facets | Diamond Size |
|---|---|
| 6 | 2.6 mm |
| 9 | 3.5 mm |
| 12 | 4.5 mm |
| 15 | 5.5 mm |
6 facet diamonds are the smallest at 2.6 mm. 15 facet diamonds are the largest standard size at 5.5 mm. Different counts create visual effects when applied:
- 6 facet – Produces delicate, detailed patterns with a smoother look.
- 9 facet – Smaller diamonds good for intricate images and text.
- 12 facet – Mid-size diamonds balance detail and faster coverage.
- 15 facet – Large diamonds work well for simpler, bolder designs.
Multi-size kits will contain a mix of diamond sizes. Choose based on your design and how much detail you want.
How to Read the DMC Chart
Diamond painting kits include a DMC color chart that matches the symbols on your canvas to a specific diamond color. Here is how to read it:
- The chart lists symbols used on the canvas.
- Next to each symbol is the DMC color code.
- Find the matching diamond bag with that code.
- Use those diamonds on all canvas areas marked with that symbol.
For example, all sections labeled with a red heart would be filled in with the diamonds from bag DMC 451. This chart allows you to precisely match colors without guesswork.
Tips for Organizing Diamonds
Careful color organization is important for an efficient painting process. Here are helpful tips for diamond kit setup:
- Sort diamonds by main color groups.
- Arrange DMC codes numerically within each group.
- Pour small portions into separate containers for easy access.
- Label containers clearly with DMC codes.
- Keep the chart handy to find codes quickly.
Pre-sorting creates a color-coded system to locate needed diamonds. This prevents having to search through bags constantly.
Larger Sets of Diamonds
Specialty diamond painting kits may contain extra-large sets of diamonds with increased color selection. Here are some sizes:
- 60 Colors – Expands color options for gradients and finer details.
- 100 Colors – Wide spectrum for capturing more nuanced shading.
- 310 Colors – Includes the full DMC embroidery floss catalog.
Larger diamond sets allow advanced artists to recreate images with greater realism and depth. These still utilize the DMC coding system for precise color identification.
Other Uses of DMC Codes
Beyond diamond painting, DMC color numbers are important for many craft hobbies including:
- Cross stitch
- Embroidery
- Crochet
- Knitting
- Needlepoint
- Perler beads
The DMC standard provides excellent color consistency across projects and techniques. Many pattern books and software programs incorporate the codes for convenience.
Finding Diamond Paintings by DMC Number
You can use DMC codes to search for diamond painting kits featuring specific colors. Many websites allow filtering by DMC number to find designs. This is useful when looking for:
- Your favorite DMC colors
- Diamond paintings predominantly featuring certain shades
- Matching colors for coordinated projects
DMC coding makes diamond painting searchable for color, opening many creative possibilities.
Conclusion
In diamond painting, DMC codes serve as an important labeling system for identifying the resin diamond colors. The 5-digit numbers provide a consistent standard across brands and designs. Learning how to read and organize the DMC system will improve your diamond painting process. Knowing the meaning behind the codes allows crafters to get the most out of this wonderful hobby.
