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If you’re new to the world of diamond painting, you are about to embark on an exciting journey that is sure to provide hours of enjoyment as you express the artistry within you. But best of all, when you’re done, you’ll have an amazing work of art to display proudly in your home or office. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you created it yourself. And, yes, anyone can do it! Completed, diamond paintings make excellent gifts, too.
What is diamond painting, exactly? It’s the art of creating three-dimensional paintings using resin “diamonds.” Much like cross-stitch, it involves making a larger assemblage using smaller components. It is a very relaxing and rewarding hobby that has been trending on social media and exploding in popularity over the last few years.
When you start shopping for your first diamond painting kits, you will notice that some kits have round diamonds while others have square diamonds. As a first-time diamond painter, you’ve probably wondered what the difference is between the two (other than the obvious shape, of course) and which one is better. Keep reading to learn more and discover some helpful diamond painting tips.
Often referred to as 5-D diamonds due to the geometry of their multi-faceted surface, both round diamonds and square diamonds have raised, angled planes on one side, and a flat underside. The faceted side reflects light to give the finished piece a sparkling effect. You’ll even find Diamond Art Club® paintings shimmer like a disco ball, but without the boring, repetitive beat and bad hairstyles!
The diamonds found in diamond painting kits are also commonly called “drills.” Round or square refers to the shape of each diamond you’ll be applying to your canvas. Round drills are the same thing as round diamonds, which have a circular-shaped underside for easier painting, and square drills are the same as square diamonds with edges that have straight lines. Drills and diamonds are also sometimes referred to as “beads,” “gems” and even “rhinestones.”
When it comes to square diamond drills and round diamond drills, there is no clear-cut winner. Both are amazing in their own ways. When purchasing from Diamond Art Club®, there is no guessing involved! Our kits are offered in specifically selected diamond shapes and canvas sizes to help create the best outcome possible for the price point. For example, if you choose a mandala design, it might have round diamonds because they work perfectly for that type of composition. But for a landscape, our designers are more likely to use square diamonds. We want to make it easy to paint with diamonds and supply only the highest quality kits and materials. Whether you choose one with round diamond drills or square diamond drills, you can rest assured that you are getting a quality product that will allow you to create the most beautiful diamond painting artwork on the market today.
Our industry-leading team of graphic designers determines the diamond shape and size that will best represent the artists' original artwork for each 5D diamond painting kit. This helps ensure consistent quality and crisp renderings and prevents you from making mistakes by picking the incorrect diamond size or shape. In the many surveys we’ve conducted, most customers didn't have a diamond shape preference. Typically, our clients make their purchases based on the artwork they like and trust our design process. With so many unique diamond art kits to choose from, the possibilities are endless! Still, you may be trying to decide which type of kit to use the first time. While both options are perfectly suitable for new and experienced diamond painters alike, there are a few things to consider that could help you decide.
Round diamonds are somewhat easier and faster to pick up and set in place on the self-adhesive canvas as they don't have to be placed as neatly. Round ones can be placed without any concern for their orientation since they are the same shape the whole way around. They are also slightly bigger than square diamonds, measuring 2.8mm. As a result, it takes fewer rhinestones to complete a diamond painting with round drills than it takes to finish a square diamond painting. This could allow you to finish your artwork faster. If you are brand-new to the world of diamond painting, many, more experienced crafters believe that starting with round drills is the best option.
Round diamonds are known to have a more sparkly appearance, especially on larger paintings. Our 20-faceted, round diamonds are cut differently from our competitors’ diamond drills. They are designed to have MORE sparkle than any other drills on the market, which only have 13 facets. With 50% more facets, our diamond drills have extra sparkle and shine! A round drill, diamond painting is the best option when you want to create a shimmery and eye-catching work of art that is sure to turn heads for all the right reasons.
Because of the way round drills align, the finished canvas is reminiscent of a sparkly cross-stitch project. This makes round diamonds an excellent choice for simple designs where fine detail is not a primary consideration.
Once a full drill diamond painting made with square diamonds is completed, there is no space in between the rhinestones. If the canvas flexes, there is no room for the drills to move or adjust. Instead, they can pop off, which can be very frustrating. To make sure they stay in place, you may need to use a roller to press the positioned drills more firmly in place.
With round diamonds, there’s room to move. The slight gap between each gem makes them less prone to popping off. This is one of the big bonuses of round drills, especially for newer diamond painters.
On the flip side, diamonds of the square variety fit together very neatly with no gaps. This makes it possible to create a more authentic mosaic look without bits of the canvas peeking through. Keep in mind, square drills need to be placed with greater precision than round drills. If you aren’t careful, they won’t align to form straight lines.
Another feature people really seem to like about the square diamonds is the satisfying “snap” sound they make when you are close to finished and filling in the gaps. The feeling has been compared to the sensation of popping bubble wrap, which arguably is one of life’s greatest pleasures! Plus, the “snap” lets you know that your drills are perfectly aligned and spaced appropriately. It’s hip to be square!
Diamond painting kits with square drills often feature more complex designs than those with round diamonds. Measuring 2.5mm, square diamond drills are smaller than their round counterparts. This allows for more details per square inch, so they are preferred when creating more intricate artwork.
Many of our Diamond Art kits include aurora borealis (AB) accented diamonds, a particularly special type of drill. These come in both round and square shapes, too, so you can enjoy their beauty no matter which drill shape you prefer.
A favorite among diamond painters, AB accented diamonds have an iridescent coating that mimics the glow of the Northern Lights. These magical AB diamonds take your diamond painting experience to the next level. Our regular square and round diamond drills have lots of shimmer, but the coating on AB diamonds adds lots of extra shine to certain parts of your canvas. AB diamonds usually have the same DMC** numbers as their non-AB counterparts, so it’s easy to tell which colors go in which spots.
Electro Diamonds are an exciting new type of drill found in some of our diamond painting kits. These distinctive diamonds are made to add metallic sparkle to a design and come in both round and square shapes. They start off as regular resin diamonds; however, we apply an extra plating to their surface which changes how they look. It takes specialty equipment to apply this coating, but the result is worth it: a diamond drill with a shiny, metallic appearance.
While our other drill types have a lot of sparkle, these metallic diamonds take your artwork to the next level and add an intriguing touch to the designs in which they are used.
Fairy Dust Diamonds are a type of drill known for their unique and eye-catching appearance, as their glittering, iridescent surface resembles fairy dust or glitter. They are made of resin, just like traditional diamond painting drills, but we cover them in a special paste of pearlescent coloring to give them their eye-catching appearance. This coating reflects light in different ways, creating a shimmering effect that adds a touch of magic to any diamond painting project.
Fairy Dust Diamonds produce a lot of depth and add visual interest to a diamond painting. Because of their unique characteristics, they make a painting appear more lifelike and three-dimensional.
These diamonds are a very popular type of diamond painting drill with a fun feature: They glow in the dark! Like other drill types, they are made of resin. However, we mix several elements together to create a top layer that allows them to absorb light during the day and emit a soft glow in the dark at night. They are especially desirable for projects that feature night scenes and dark imagery, as they can create a luminous and mystical effect when the lights are turned off.
To get the best results with Glow-in-the-Dark Diamonds, expose them to bright light for a while before turning off the lights to enjoy the glow effect.
Iridescent Diamonds give a stunning, crystal-like appearance. These drills are semi-transparent and feature a prismatic, rainbow-like shimmer. We combine different metal compounds into a shiny coating, which is then made to adhere to the diamonds. While Iridescent Diamonds are similar to Aurora Borealis (AB) diamonds, they are more transparent and resemble crystals.
Iridescent Diamonds are perfect for adding a touch of magic and sparkle to any diamond painting project. They infuse whimsy into any design and are especially popular for artwork featuring mermaids, unicorns, rainbows, and other fantasy themes.
When you open your diamond painting kit for the first time, take a few minutes to organize your diamond drills. Consider “kitting up” your canvas to prepare, as this simple step will make the whole process easier. You may also want to invest in an upgraded, premium diamond applicator pen. While there’s nothing wrong with the placers that come with diamond painting kits, buying a more ergonomic one makes the process more enjoyable — especially for large canvases. There are also multi-placer diamond pens available that allow you to place more than one drill at a time. Having the right diamond painting tools will get you started enjoying your new hobby a lot sooner.
If you are working with square drills, be sure to have a ruler handy to help you keep them straight. This is much simpler than trying to remove and replace diamonds after realizing you placed them on the canvas crookedly! When using round drills, be extra careful to protect the canvas from dust and pet hair. Even after you finish your artwork, the gaps between round diamonds are perfect places for debris to accumulate.
Only buy kits from trusted brands. At Diamond Art Club®, we manufacture and sell the best diamond painting kits on the market.
Diamond painting has taken the world by storm because it’s fun, addictive, and easy enough for anyone to do. If you are shopping for your first diamond painting kit or looking for new ones to add to your wish list, we recommend not getting too hung up on diamond shapes. Both round drills and square drills allow you to create stunning artwork without any prior skills or talent. And when you order your kit from Diamond Art Club®, you can rest assured that it was designed using the most appropriate shape for the image you selected. If you are new to painting with diamonds, consider trying both shapes to see which one you like best. You may discover a distinct preference for one or the other, or you might find that you love them both equally. Either way, when you start with a kit that features a design you love, you’re sure to enjoy your new hobby! Check out our full selection of top-quality, 5D diamond painting kits today.
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