What Are Fuse Beads? A Beginner's Guide to Pixel Art Beads
Never heard of fuse beads? Here's everything you need to know about Perler beads, Artkal beads, and the hobby that's gone way beyond kid crafts.
By HiBeads Studio · 2026-04-20
Fuse Beads 101
Fuse beads (also called Perler beads, Hama beads, or melty beads) are small plastic beads that you arrange on a pegboard to create designs. When heated with an iron, the beads melt slightly and fuse together into a solid piece of pixel art you can keep.
How It Works
- Choose a design. Follow a pattern or create your own. Most designs are grid-based, like pixel art in video games.
- Place beads on the pegboard. Each bead sits in one cell of the grid. Use tweezers for precision.
- Iron the beads. A household iron or heat press melts the tops of the beads, fusing them into one solid piece.
- Peel and enjoy. Your pixel art is now a rigid, durable creation. Turn it into a keychain, magnet, coaster, or wall art.
Mini Beads vs. Standard Beads
Standard (midi) beads are 5mm. These are what most people picture—Perler, Hama, and Artkal S-5mm all make them. They're easy to handle and good for younger kids.
Mini beads are 2.6mm—roughly half the size. They produce much higher-resolution art with more detail and cleaner lines. HiBeads Studio uses mini beads (compatible with Artkal A-2.6mm) with 221+ colors—one of the largest color selections available anywhere.
What Can You Make?
Almost anything:
- Video game characters (Mario, Pokémon, Zelda, Minecraft)
- Anime characters and pop culture icons
- Custom portraits from photos
- Keychains, bag charms, phone straps
- Fridge magnets and coasters
- Large wall art and 3D builds
Where to Try It
You can buy beads online and iron at home, but if you want to skip the setup and try it with a full color selection, book a HiBeads Studio workshop in Round Rock, TX. We provide everything—300+ colors, boards, tools, guidance, and professional heat-press fusing.
Browse workshops → · Buy beads online →
110 S Lampasas St Suite 3, Round Rock, TX 78664. Call 737-200-0522, text 346-307-1927, or email support@hibeadsstudio.com.