Here is a glossary of terms commonly used in diamond painting :
1. Diamond Painting
A craft activity where you stick small rhinestones (called "diamonds") onto a pre-printed canvas with symbols indicating where each diamond should be placed, to create a sparkling picture. Similar to paint by numbers.
2. Canvas / Canvas
A base support, often made of fabric or plastic, onto which the design is printed. The canvas is covered with an adhesive layer that allows the diamonds to stick. The symbols on the canvas indicate the colors of the diamonds to be used.
3. Poured glue (or gel glue)
- Application : The poured glue is applied in liquid form directly onto the canvas and hardens into a thin adhesive layer. It is covered with a transparent plastic film.
- Appearance : It is often shinier and smoother, which can give a better final appearance to the canvas.
4. Double-sided glue (or adhesive tape)
- Application : Double-sided adhesive tape is glued to the canvas. It is applied by machine and covered with a white protective film.
- Appearance : The tape is opaque and sometimes, when not applied well, there can be folds or bubbles called rivers which make it more difficult to place the diamonds.
5. Rivers
A river, especially on canvases using double-sided glue, is a defect that forms under the adhesive surface. This phenomenon occurs when there are folds or air bubbles in the glue, creating a sort of "crack" or "channel" under the double-sided glue film.
6. Diamonds
Small resin or acrylic rhinestones, square or round, which are glued onto the canvas. They can be shiny or metallic and are often classified by color and number.
7. Drilling
Term used to describe diamonds. There are two types:
- Round Drill : Round shaped diamonds.
- Square Drill : Square shaped diamonds.
8. Aurora Borealis (AB) Diamonds
A special type of beads used in diamond painting . They are coated with an iridescent coating that gives them a shiny, shimmering effect, similar to the changing colors of the Northern Lights.
9. Crystal diamonds
Crystal diamonds are distinguished by their translucent and sparkling appearance, giving an effect similar to that of glass or precious stones.
10. Fairy Dust Diamonds
Magic Dust Diamonds are covered with a thin layer of special glitter powder or shiny particles that give them an extra sparkle, similar to tiny sparkles of light.
11. Metallic diamonds
Metallic diamonds are a special type of beads used in diamond painting that are distinguished by their shiny, reflective finish, similar to that of polished metal.
12. Full Drill
A design where the entire canvas is covered in diamonds, with no empty spaces. The end result is a fully textured and shiny image.
13. Partial Drill
A design where only certain parts of the canvas are covered in diamonds, often used to highlight specific elements of the image.
14. Stylus / Applicator / Pencil
A pen or straw-shaped tool used to pick up and apply diamonds to the canvas. It can be single or have multiple tips to place several diamonds at once.
15. Multiplacers
A multi-placer is a tool that allows you to place multiple diamonds on the canvas at once. It is a tip that attaches to the end of the diamond painting pen and can pick up multiple diamonds at once to place them simultaneously on areas of the canvas where the colors are the same and aligned.
16. Tray
Small plastic container with grooves in which you place the diamonds to organize them and make them easier to pick up with the stylus.
17. Wax / Adhesive gum / Glue
Substance used to fill the tip of the applicator pen to help pick up diamonds easily from the tray. It helps to adhere the diamonds to the pen.
18. DMC Code
The DMC code in diamond painting refers to a numbering system used to identify different diamond colors, based on the DMC brand embroidery thread range. This system is widely recognized and used in the cross stitch and diamond painting fields to ensure accurate color matching. Each color in the DMC system is associated with a unique number. For example, 310 corresponds to black, 666 to bright red, and 995 to a vibrant blue. Whenever you have DMC 310 diamonds they will always be black and so on for each code.
19. Legend
The legend on the side of a diamond painting canvas is a reference table that helps identify which colors of diamonds should be placed on different parts of the canvas. It serves as a guide to associate the symbols printed on the canvas with the DMC codes and the corresponding diamond bags. It is generally composed of 3 columns, the first numbered from 1 to XX to identify the bags, the second includes the symbol to look for on the canvas and the third, the DMC number corresponding to the color.
20. 3D / 5D Diamonds
A type of diamond painting where the diamonds are cut in such a way that they reflect light at different angles, creating an amplified and more realistic 3D effect. The difference between 3D and 5D is the number of facets on the diamonds. 5D is known for its superior brilliance because it has more facets to reflect light.
21. Starter kit / Tool kit
Basic set to start diamond painting. It usually includes a stylus, wax, a tray, different tips and sometimes zip bags.
22. Resin / Acrylic
Diamonds can be made from either resin or acrylic , and while both materials are used for similar beads, they have differences in quality, brilliance, and durability. Here are the main differences between resin diamonds and acrylic diamonds :
23. Sealing
The act of covering the finished painting with a clear protective product (such as glue or varnish) to secure the diamonds and prevent them from coming loose over time.
If you know of any terms that you would like to add to this glossary, you can send us your suggestions at info@mgfactory.ca