You download a bead chart marked A1, H6 or H16, then discover that the beads you own use a different color system. MARD 291 and MARD 221 can also look like separate brands in software, although they are different color ranges within one brand's system.
Doumen currently offers Artkal, Hama, MARD 291, MARD 221 and Perler options for chart recognition and viewing. To align a digital chart with physical beads, first understand the distinction between brand, palette and color code.
Brands, palettes and color codes
A bead brand identifies the manufacturer or seller, such as MARD, Artkal, Hama or Perler.
A palette is a collection of colors within a brand or product series. Each color may have a code, name and approximate screen value. A larger palette offers more reference colors; it does not mean that you have purchased them all.
A color code identifies a color within its particular system. MARD A1 or H6 must be interpreted in the MARD system. A similar code used by another brand need not refer to the same color.
A useful chart must map to beads you can actually obtain. Screen appearance also depends on display, lighting, bead material and batch. HEX and RGB swatches are approximate references, not precise measurements of your physical beads.
Palette options in Doumen
- Artkal: the Artkal palette option.
- Hama: the Hama palette option.
- MARD 291: the 291-color MARD range.
- MARD 221: the basic 221-color MARD range.
- Perler: the Perler palette option.
These are five choices in the current interface, not a claim that only five brands exist worldwide or that each choice contains the same number of colors. Match your actual beads and the original chart's code system rather than switching brands because a swatch looks similar.
What MARD 291 and MARD 221 mean
291 and 221 refer to the color ranges represented by those palettes. They are not different brands or the number of individual beads in a package.
In the MARD data maintained by Doumen, the basic 221 colors cover the A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and M series. The 291-color range contains those colors plus 70 additional codes. Package quantities and the colors supplied can vary, so selecting a 291-color palette does not mean you own all 291 colors.
Extensions can include clear, glow, fluorescent or other effect colors. Their transparency and material behavior cannot always be represented fully by an ordinary flat screen swatch.
Which MARD range should you choose?
First check what you bought. If you own the basic MARD 221 set and the chart uses its colors, choose MARD 221. If you use the wider range or a chart specifically requires extension codes, consider MARD 291.
Next check the chart's actual codes. A larger range may add no benefit if the pattern uses only basic colors, while a smaller range may omit extension colors that it needs.
Finally check your stock. A new design made against all 291 colors may call for beads you do not own. Verify quantities and availability before starting.
- MARD 221: 221 basic color codes for everyday designs and users who have the basic set.
- MARD 291: the same 221 basic codes plus 70 extensions, for users who need or already own the wider range.
The distinction is available color codes. It does not imply larger beads or inherently superior plastic. Check physical dimensions and specifications separately.
Artkal: check the product series
Artkal offers different bead sizes and series with its own codes. Different series may cover different color ranges, so the brand name alone does not describe a kit's contents. Check the package, supplied chart or pattern labels before selecting Artkal in Doumen. If your beads are MARD, do not read an Artkal number as a MARD number.
Hama: use the matching codes
Hama also has different bead sizes and an independent palette system. Select beads using Hama codes rather than a matching number from another brand. A number or a broad color name can represent different colors across brands.
When the beads or pattern use Hama, choose that palette and check subtle skin tones, grays and whites against the actual materials.
Perler and mixing brands
When using Perler beads or a Perler chart, start with the Perler palette. There are two separate compatibility questions.
Color codes are not interchangeable. Similar appearance does not establish a one-to-one correspondence. Cross-brand replacement requires checking actual colors and acceptable approximations.
Physical compatibility also needs checking. Brands, sizes, batches and series can differ in height and fusing behavior. Test a small sample before a full mixed-material project, and do not combine different bead sizes on the same board.
What happens when the palette is wrong?
- The chart's codes do not match your bags because they use different systems.
- Broad colors look close but skin tones, hair shading or gray transitions change.
- A wider palette assigns colors that you have not purchased.
- Clear or glow effects are mistaken for ordinary opaque screen colors.
Before placing a large area, compare the key colors physically. Then decide whether to change the palette or replace specific colors.
Select a matching palette in Doumen
Step 1: Identify the brand and codes you own
Read the bags, storage labels or purchase records. For MARD, distinguish the basic 221 range from the wider 291 range. Verify that loose bags come from the same system.
Step 2: Import the existing chart
Open Doumen on iPhone or iPad and import a clear image of the bead chart. Supported sources may also allow link import. If compression obscures boundaries or codes, seek the original high-quality image.
Step 3: Select the corresponding palette
Choose Artkal, Hama, MARD 291, MARD 221 or Perler as appropriate. Use MARD 221 for the basic range and MARD 291 when the additional range is needed; select other brands according to the actual materials.
Step 4: Review recognized codes and colors
Check main colors, skin tones, shadows and scattered accent colors against your beads. A missing color can reflect a mismatched palette, poor source quality or missing stock. Do not assume an automatic one-to-one conversion between brands.
Step 5: Use highlighting while making
After confirming grid dimensions, codes and board placement, use color highlighting and count hints to locate cells. This is especially helpful with similar codes such as H6, H7 and H16, which must still be read within the selected system.
Three common situations
I own MARD 221 but the chart says 291
Inspect the specific colors used. If they all belong to the basic range, compare them to your own stock. If extension codes appear, obtain those colors or deliberately substitute them. Selecting 221 in software does not by itself guarantee a correct replacement.
I own Artkal but the chart uses MARD
Do not take beads by matching the letters and numbers alone. Use a reliable approximate color comparison and confirm it with physical samples. Plan large replacements before starting.
I want to convert a colorful photo into a pattern
Choose the actual bead system first. More colors and finer gradients do not automatically make a practical project. Work within the colors you can obtain and simplify redundant near-matches and stray pixels.
Frequently asked questions
Does MARD 291 mean 291 individual beads?
No. It names a 291-code palette range. A project may need many beads of each code; package quantities are specified separately.
Are the 221 and 291 code systems unrelated?
No. Doumen's data includes the basic 221 colors within the wider 291 range; shared basic codes remain in the same MARD system.
Can I use a 291 chart with a 221 set?
Check its actual codes. Charts using extension colors may need additional purchases or substitutions; charts using only basic codes may already match.
Do matching codes across Artkal, Hama, Perler and MARD mean matching colors?
No. Each brand has its own system. Compare colors rather than substituting by code alone.
Which palette options does Doumen support?
Artkal, Hama, MARD 291, MARD 221 and Perler. Recognition still depends on a clear source and a suitable palette match.
Does MARD 291 always recognize better than MARD 221?
No. It provides a wider candidate range. The important question is whether the chart, selected palette and physical beads match.
Why do screen colors and physical beads differ?
Display settings, light, material and batches affect the comparison. Check the important colors physically before a detailed project.
Is a color palette the same thing as bead size?
No. The palette describes colors and codes; bead size affects board compatibility, finished dimensions and fusing conditions.
Choose the system before importing
Use the brand and color range of the beads you own. Select the corresponding palette, then check chart codes, stock and dimensions to avoid wrong colors or purchases.
Recognize bead charts with Doumen
Doumen supports the five palette options above, chart import and color highlighting. Start by identifying your materials, then choose the matching recognition option in the app.