Diamond painting FAQ

Diamond painting is a relaxing craft where you place hundreds of tiny, sparkling resin “diamonds” (called drills) onto a pre-printed, self-adhesive canvas. Each drill matches a coded symbol, and together they build a shimmering, mosaic-like picture. Full guide: what is diamond painting.

Peel back a small section of the film on the adhesive canvas, dip the applicator pen in wax, lift a drill, and press it onto its matching symbol. Work one colour at a time, then seal and display. See our how-to guide.

“5D” refers to the facets cut into each drill — around 15–20, so they catch more light and sparkle more than older flat drills. All our kits use 5D drills. More: 5D explained.

It’s very beginner-friendly — no artistic skill needed. If you can match a symbol to a colour, you can do it. Beginners do best starting with a smaller canvas and round drills.

It depends on size: roughly 8–20 hours for a 30×40cm, 20–50 hours for a 40×50cm, and 50+ hours for large pieces. Most people finish a standard kit over 2–3 weeks. Details: how long it takes.

They’re used to mean the same craft. “Diamond painting” is the specific term; “diamond art” is a slightly broader umbrella term. For shoppers, they’re interchangeable.

Diamond painting sparkles and is mess-free (no paint or drying); paint by numbers gives a traditional painted, matte finish. Both are relaxing and skill-free. Compare: diamond painting vs paint by numbers.

Yes — it’s a repetitive, screen-free, absorbing activity that many people find calming and meditative. More: diamond painting for stress relief.

Adults and older children enjoy full kits; our simpler kids’ designs and minis suit younger crafters (with supervision, as drills are small).

A pre-printed, pre-glued adhesive canvas, colour-sorted 5D resin drills (with a little extra of each), a comfort-grip applicator pen, wax, a drill tray, and a symbol chart. Everything you need — no extra tools to buy.

No — each kit is complete. Optional extras like a light pad, multi-placer or storage make it comfier for big projects.

Full drill unless a product says otherwise, so the whole canvas is covered for maximum sparkle. Compare: full vs partial drill.

Yes — we include a little extra of each colour. If you still run short, just reach out to us and we’ll help with replacement drills.

A sturdy printed fabric canvas with a pre-applied adhesive layer, sealed under a protective film. The printed symbols map each spot to a drill colour.

The drills are made of resin and are non-toxic. As they’re small, keep kits away from young children and pets to avoid a choking hazard.

Square drills tile edge-to-edge for a crisp, gap-free, sharp finish (great for detail and portraits); round drills are quicker and more forgiving with a softer sparkle. Neither is “better.” Full comparison: square vs round.

3D drills have fewer facets (about 9) and a flatter shine; 5D drills have 15–20 facets for extra brightness and sparkle. 5D is the modern standard we use.

Email a photo of the colour code to [email protected] and we’ll resend the replacement drills free of charge.

Diamond painting drills are about 2.5mm (square) to 2.8mm (round). Our kits tell you the drill type; both give a full, sparkling finish.

Similar colours can look close in the bag but read correctly on the canvas. Always go by the symbol code on the chart, not by eye.

For simple designs, small-to-medium works well; for portraits, pets and detailed scenes, go larger. See our size guide for a full comparison.

Yes — a larger canvas fits more drills, so gradients are smoother and small features (eyes, faces) actually resolve. That’s why we recommend 40×50cm+ for portraits.

We keep a focused range that fits standard frames: 30×40, 40×50 and 50×60cm rectangles, plus 40×40 and 50×50cm squares (great for a single face or a mandala). See the size guide to choose.

Not as well — small canvases simplify detail, so faces can lose likeness. For anything with a face, size up. See the size guide.

Standard metric sizes (30×40, 40×50, 50×60cm) fit common frames, so you won’t need anything custom. Frame without glass so the facets shine.

Yes — our custom studio turns any photo into a diamond painting. You choose size and drill shape and approve a free proof before we make it.

A sharp, well-lit photo where the subject fills the frame. Avoid blurry or heavily-filtered images. Full tips: turn a photo into diamond art.

For a single face or pet, a 40×40 or 50×50cm square works beautifully, or choose 40×50cm; for more detail or groups, go 50×60cm. Bigger holds more detail so it looks like them.

Always. We send a free digital proof to approve, with free revisions — nothing is crafted until you’re happy.

Yes — free revisions. Want the background softened or the crop adjusted? Just ask on your proof.

Absolutely — they’re some of our most popular custom pieces. More: benefits of custom diamond painting.

You do. By uploading you confirm you have the right to use it, and we use it only to create your piece. See our IP & DMCA policy.

First you approve your free proof, then we craft it by hand. Ordering for a date? Message us and we’ll be straight about timing. Delivery details are on our Shipping page.

Use a “checkerboard” edge when filling large single-colour areas, and press finished sections with a roller. More: 20 tips & tricks.

Lay it under heavy books overnight, or warm it gently with a hair-dryer on low and press flat.

Keep most of the film on so the glue stays fresh, and only peel small sections. If a drill won’t hold, a dab of clear craft glue fixes it.

A pen tip that places a whole row of round drills at once — handy for large single-colour areas. Works best with round drills.

Start at the bottom (or top if left-handed) so you’re not resting your hand on finished areas, and work one colour at a time.

Roll it loosely or keep it flat, film side up, away from heat — never folded.

Sealing is optional but recommended if you’ll display or handle it — it locks drills in and protects the shine. Full guide: how to seal a diamond painting.

A non-yellowing clear brush-on sealer (e.g. a clear polycrylic) or a dedicated spray sealer. Test a corner first and use thin coats.

Choose a frame to fit your canvas and remove the glass so the facets catch the light. Standard metric sizes fit common frames.

Yes — mount it on a stretched canvas or foam board for a modern, frameless look. Seal first so drills stay put.

Frame it, mount it, or turn off-cuts into coasters, bags or cards. 10 ideas: what to do with a finished painting.

Dust gently with a soft, dry brush or cloth. If sealed, a barely-damp cloth is fine. Avoid soaking it.

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Major cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) and popular wallets like PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay, through a secure checkout.

Contact us as fast as you can. Before it’s processed we can usually amend or cancel; once a custom piece is approved and made, it can’t be cancelled.

Yes — join our studio list for genuine offers and early access to sales like Black Friday. No fake “was” prices.

No — guest checkout is available. An account lets you track orders and save a wishlist.

We ship worldwide with tracked delivery directly from China. After 2–4 business days of processing, delivery usually takes US 8–18 · UK 7–14 · CA 8–18 · AU 8–18 · Europe 7–16 · Rest of the world 10–20 business days. See our Shipping page.

No — and we won’t pretend it is. Your shipping cost is shown honestly at checkout. What’s included: proof + revisions on custom pieces, replacement of anything lost or damaged in transit, and support if you ever need replacement drills.

Correct. Many competitors run a “US-based” story while shipping from overseas. We’d rather earn your trust with the truth: we tell you the real tracked window up front.

We email a tracking number when your parcel ships (allow a day or two for the first scan). Any issues, email us your order number.

Yes — we ship worldwide with tracking. See the delivery windows on our Shipping page.

For most destinations, no. A few countries may apply local import charges set by your government, not by us. Ask before ordering if unsure.

A 30-day satisfaction guarantee on standard kits, plus full replacement of anything damaged or lost in transit. Details on Returns & Refunds.

Send us a photo within 7 days of delivery and we’ll replace the affected kit free.

Email a photo of the colour code and we resend the drills free — no need to return anything.

If you run out of, lose, or are missing any drills, just contact us with a quick photo and we’ll be happy to help with replacement drills.

Contact us within 30 days. If a standard kit is unopened and unused you can return it for a refund of the item price; if there’s a fault, we’ll replace or refund. See Returns & Refunds.

Email [email protected] (replies within 1 business day) or use our contact page.