~ EXPORT GUIDE ~
How to Print and Export a Bead Pattern
Updated June 2026 · ~3 min read
Once your pattern is ready, MakeBead turns it into a chart you can actually build from — a shareable image or a printable PDF with a full bead list. This guide covers PNG vs PDF, adding a color list and shopping count, the grid ruler, and symbols or color codes for black-and-white printing. It’s free, and you can export without signing in.
Step-by-Step
Open the Export panel
After designing in the maker or converting a photo, click Export to open the download options. Everything runs in your browser — no account needed to export.
Choose PNG or PDF
PNG is a quick image — perfect to post, share, or glance at on your phone. PDF is the printable version: it paginates large multi-board designs onto separate pages so you can print and assemble them in order.
Turn on the color list and bead count
Switch on the color list (materials) to print exactly how many beads of each color the pattern uses. It doubles as a shopping list — so you know precisely what to buy before you start.
Add the ruler
Turn on the ruler to print coordinate numbers around the grid. On larger designs it’s the easiest way to keep your place and never lose track of which row you’re on while placing beads.
Show symbols or color codes (optional)
Add symbols (great for cross-stitch and diamond painting charts) or color codes that label each cell with its bead code. Both make the chart easy to read when you print in black and white.
Download and make
Download your PNG or PDF, print it, and set it beside your pegboard. Follow it bead by bead, ticking off rows with the ruler as you go.
What you can add to your chart
Color list
A per-color bead count — your exact shopping list.
Ruler
Coordinate numbers around the grid so you never lose your row.
Symbols & codes
Per-cell symbols or bead codes for clear black-and-white prints.
Tips for a print-ready chart
- ✓ Print the PDF in color if you can; for black and white, turn on color codes or symbols so every cell is still identifiable.
- ✓ For big designs, the PDF paginates by pegboard — keep the page order so you know which board is which.
- ✓ Treat the color list as a shopping list, and stock 10–20% extra of each color for mistakes and crushed beads.
- ✓ Turn on the ruler for large grids — it’s the simplest way to avoid miscounting a row.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I export a PNG or a PDF?
Use PNG for a quick image to share or view on your phone. Use PDF to print — it’s laid out for paper and splits large multi-board designs across pages with a materials list.
How do I get a bead shopping list?
Turn on the color list / materials option before exporting. You get the exact bead count per color, so you know what to buy before you start.
Can I print in black and white?
Yes. Turn on symbols or color codes so each cell is identifiable without color, then print in grayscale.
Do I need an account to export?
No. Exporting PNG and PDF is free without signing in. An account is only needed to save the design to the cloud and sync it across devices.
What is the ruler for?
It prints coordinate numbers along the edges of the grid so you can always tell which row and column you’re on — a big help on larger patterns.
Can I export a cross-stitch symbol chart?
Yes. Turn on symbols and each color gets its own symbol, the standard format for cross-stitch and diamond-painting charts.
~ FREE, NO SIGN-UP TO START ~
Ready? Make and export a pattern
Design or convert a pattern, then export a printable chart with a bead list and ruler — all free, right in your browser.
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