256×256 grid · pixel art
About this pattern
This is a 256×256 pixel art pattern using 26 colors and 65535 beads. Difficulty is advanced and a typical project takes about 1648 minutes including ironing. Open it in the maker to remix the palette across Perler, Hama, Artkal, or convert into a cross-stitch / pixel-art / LEGO grid.
Pattern stats
- Grid size
- 256×256
- Total beads
- 65535
- Colors
- 26
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time
- ~1648 min
- Pegboard
- extended (tile multiple 50×50 boards)
Supplies
You’ll need 65535 beads across 26 colors, plus a pegboard, parchment paper, and a household iron.
- Pegboard (extended (tile multiple 50×50 boards))
- Iron + parchment / ironing paper
- 23939 × Green
- 16719 × Black
- 6016 × Light Cyan
- 4155 × White
- 3874 × Red
- 2616 × Magenta
- 2364 × Very Light Magenta
- 1137 × Yellow
- 884 × Cyan
- 766 × Very Dark Muted Green
- 691 × Light Muted Teal
- 552 × Teal
- 524 × Dark Blue
- 388 × Light Red
- 308 × Blue
- 239 × Green
- 89 × Light Blue
- 75 × Green
- 67 × Light Yellow
- 67 × Orange
- 27 × Dark Rose
- 18 × Muted Red
- 13 × Very Dark Gray
- 3 × Dark Yellow
- 3 × Light Silver
- 1 × Very Light Blue
How to make this pattern
- Lay the pegboard flat and gather the bead colors listed above. A small bowl per color speeds placement.
- Place each bead on the pegboard following the chart — work row-by-row so you don’t lose your spot.
- Cover the finished design with a sheet of parchment or ironing paper, fully flat against the beads.
- Iron on medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C) for 10–15 seconds, moving in slow circles until beads fuse evenly.
- Let the piece cool fully — about 1 minute — then peel off the parchment.
- For a stronger fuse, flip the piece and iron the back side the same way. This is what we call double-sided ironing.
Tips
- Always use parchment paper. Direct iron contact warps individual beads and destroys the grid spacing.
- Keep the iron moving in slow circles. Pressing in one spot creates flat dimples in the finished piece.
- Pop the cooled piece in the freezer for 30 seconds before peeling parchment — it releases cleaner that way.
FAQ
How many beads do I need for the Alan Becker Animation vs Animator pattern?
You need 65535 beads total. The breakdown by color is: 23939 green, 16719 black, 6016 light cyan, 4155 white, 3874 red, 2616 magenta. Stocking 10–20% extra of each color is a safe margin in case any beads are off-color or get crushed during ironing.
What size pegboard do I need?
A extended (tile multiple 50×50 boards) pegboard fits the 256×256 grid. The standard 29×29 Perler / Hama / Artkal square pegboard is the most common size and covers everything up to 29 cells across.
How long does it take to make?
Plan for about 1648 minutes total — roughly 1638 minutes placing the beads and another 10 minutes for ironing and cooling. Beginners may need 1.5× that on their first few patterns.
Can I use Hama or Artkal beads instead of Perler?
Yes. The colors used in this pattern map cleanly to Hama Midi, Artkal S, and Nabbi palettes. Open the design in the maker, switch the palette in the toolbar, then export the swapped chart before you start ironing.
Is this a beginner-friendly pattern?
This pattern is rated advanced based on grid size and color count. Beginner patterns are under 200 beads and 5 colors; intermediate is up to 600 beads and 10 colors; everything else is advanced.
