The difficulty with a 104×104 bead pattern is usually the large canvas and many colors, not any one bead. A misplaced position can shift a whole section. Doumen's color highlighting and run hints can help with reading, but physical pegboard sections still need planning. Decide the dimensions, board arrangement, and working area before placing beads.
1. A 104×104 pattern describes canvas cells
A canvas 104 cells wide and 104 high contains 10,816 cells. That does not necessarily require 10,816 beads: transparent or blank background reduces the actual quantity. Find the outermost cells that need beads, then estimate materials by color.
2. Measure the physical boards you have
Do not assume that buying four boards marked “52×52” will always be enough. Brands can differ in usable pegs, joining structures, and spacing. Check that the boards can join without interrupting the grid, and count each board's usable rows and columns before defining your sections.
3. Give each section a clear coordinate range
If you have confirmed an arrangement that really provides 52×52 usable positions per section, you can conceptually divide 104×104 into two ranges across and two down. This is a calculation example, not a fit guarantee for every product. Record each section's starting and ending columns and rows so no boundary column is duplicated or omitted.
4. Place recognizable outlines and reference points first
Find the main outline, corners, and large color areas. Place a few beads to confirm the overall starting position. For filling, work through defined areas, grouping by color within each one if useful. Check each completed section rather than leaving all errors to be discovered at the end.
5. Use reading aids to reduce repeated color searches
Doumen can import a clear pattern. After checking its recognition results, select colors to highlight their positions and use run-number hints. This can reduce repeated searches in a large design with similar blacks and grays or widely scattered colors. It does not automatically plan the physical board arrangement for you.
6. Plan fusing and moving the project in advance
Large projects are harder to turn over, keep flat, and move. Before placing beads, check whether the boards suit your fusing method, whether the work surface is large enough, and whether the project needs handling in sections. Follow the material instructions for high-temperature work; children need adult supervision. Do not wait until the boards are full to discover that there is not enough working space.
Preparing a large project
Confirm board specifications and each section's origin, then plan placement order and fusing. Doumen mainly reduces the effort of finding colors and checking quantities; physical board planning and safe fusing still need your attention.