Automate Your Pixel Art
This New Tool Could Change Your Bead Crafting Forever
The first DIY 3D pick-and-place bead printer that transforms digital pixel art into physical creations–without the tedious manual placement.
Currently in the concept stage and seeking community backing to bring this time-saving tool to life!
The Part Nobody Enjoys
(But Probably The Most Important Part)
Bead art is a blast, right?
There’s something incredibly satisfying about spending hours on one of your favourite pixel art pieces and watching it all come together. The moment you sit back and take in what you’ve finished, there’s this small but meaningful sense of pride–it’s your creation, all in front of you.
And then there’s the nostalgia that floods in as you look at your piece, especially when it’s a favourite character from an old game or show. The wave of feelings and memories from those classic moments, seeing your favourite character come to life right there in your hands. There’s truly nothing like it.
But let’s be real for a second–eventually, when you’ve created enough of them, you get to a point where the fun part starts to feel a little… well, not so fun.
The finished piece is still incredibly satisfying… But the placement of each individual bead can feel like a marathon after a while. It starts out therapeutic, sure; just you, your beads, and your design.
But after hours of bending over a pegboard, making sure each bead is in place without messing up the entire thing, the process can lose its charm.
You’ve Probably Been There:
Hunched over a pegboard for hours, carefully placing hundreds or thousands of tiny beads with tweezers
One accidental bump, and there goes an hour of work!
Your back hurts, your eyes strain, and larger designs feel almost impossible to complete without making mistakes.
The bigger or more complex your design, the more tedious the process becomes.
Many of us abandon projects halfway through, not because we don’t love the end result but because the
placement process is so mind-numbing and time-consuming.
So… What if you could skip straight to the satisfying part: seeing your finished design come together and ironing it?
The Machine That Places Beads For You:
A First in Pixel Art
This is a DIY automated pick-and-place printer specifically designed for fuse bead pixel art.
Upload any pixel-based image, and the machine precisely places the right beads in the right spots–handling up to 20 different colours per project.
The software automatically matches your pixel colours to available bead colours, and the printer does all the tedious placement work for you!
It Works With The Following Palettes:
Artkal
Hama
Perler
The Core Innovation Is In the Software, Which Performs Three Critical Functions:
Pixel detection on already pixelated images
Colour matching that converts pixels into the nearest available bead colour
Placement logic that generates precise instructions for mechanical execution
The Result?
Perfect bead placement on standard pegboards up to 45x45 cm, far larger than what most people attempt by hand!
No more lost time, mistakes, or abandoned projects because they’re too complex.
The first version of this machine focuses on solving the hardest part (placement) while leaving the final ironing step manual, keeping the system simple and affordable for the DIY community.
The Result?
Perfect bead placement on standard pegboards up to 45x45 cm, far larger than what most people attempt by hand!
No more lost time, mistakes, or abandoned projects because they’re too complex.
The first version of this machine focuses on solving the hardest part (placement) while leaving the final ironing step manual, keeping the system simple and affordable for the DIY community.
How It Actually Works: Let’s Talk Process!
Upload your pixel art: Game sprites, character designs, patterns, or any pixelated image
The software analyses the design: It automatically maps pixels to the closest available bead colours from your chosen palette
Load your beads: Fill the colour slots with your beads (up to 20 different colours)
Watch it work: The printer precisely places each bead on a pegboard at a rate of 1,000+ beads per hour
Iron as usual: Once the placement is complete, iron your design using your normal process to fuse the beads manually
The “Ammo System” design
allows for interchangeable bead cartridges, making it easy to switch between projects or colour schemes.
The printer works with both mini (2.6mm) and midi bead sizes, giving you flexibility based on your preferred level of detail.
For 3D structures, the system allows you to create each layer separately, which can then be assembled manually after ironing. This approach maintains the precision advantages while enabling complex 3D creations.
Future Versions Could Include
Automated ironing using heat-resistant plates
Support for even larger
designs
Filters to instantly convert regular images into pixel art
…But first, we need to nail the basics and build a strong foundation.
Backer Rewards: What You’ll Get
This is a two-phase project with clear deliverables based on our funding milestones:
MILESTONE 1:
At €10,000 (Initial Goal)...
You’ll receive the “Vision Pack”, a comprehensive PDF explaining how the system works, technical details, features, component breakdowns, and the software architecture.
This gives you a complete understanding of the system we’re building and the tech behind it.
Think of it as detailed blueprints and technical documentation for the enthusiast who wants to understand the inner workings.
MILESTONE 2:
At €50,000 (Full Goal)...
You’ll get everything needed to build your own printer:
The complete software package with colour-matching algorithms
Technical blueprints and STL files for 3D printing all components
Detailed assembly instructions with an illustrated step-by-step guide
Full parts list with sourcing information and estimated costs
Sample projects to get started, including optimised pixel art designs
Access to future software updates as they’re developed
All digital deliverables will be provided via download, with no shipping required.
This approach allows us to focus on creating the best possible documentation and software without the complexities of manufacturing and distribution.
Who This Is For: Pixel Artists, Perler Bead Creators, Educators, DIY Enthusiasts, and More
You’ll love this if:
You create fuse bead art but hate the tedious placement process
You want to tackle bigger, more complex pixel designs that would be impractical by hand
You’re into retro gaming aesthetics and pixel art from classic games
You’re a DIY maker interested in creative applications of technology
You teach STEAM subjects and want a project that combines art, design, and robotics
The satisfaction of making something physical remains… just without the hours of placement fatigue.
The printer is also perfect for creating consistent multiple copies of the same design–ideal for workshops, events, or small batch production of custom pieces.
Who This Is For: Pixel Artists, Perler Bead Creators, Educators, DIY Enthusiasts, and More
You’ll love this if:
You create fuse bead art but hate the tedious placement process
You want to tackle bigger, more complex pixel designs that would be impractical by hand
You’re into retro gaming aesthetics and pixel art from classic games
You’re a DIY maker interested in creative applications of technology
You teach STEAM subjects and want a project that combines art, design, and robotics
The satisfaction of making something physical remains… just without the hours of placement fatigue.
The printer is also perfect for creating consistent multiple copies of the same design–ideal for workshops, events, or small batch production of custom pieces.
Why Back It Now (More Than Just a Cool Machine)
By supporting this project early, you’re:
Getting in at the ground floor of a new creative tool when your influence matters most
Gaining direct input on how the final system develops and what features are prioritised
Joining a community of like-minded creators who share your interests
Receiving early access to all materials and software before public release
Making it possible to develop a tool that might not otherwise
exist
Even though we’re still in the concept phase, your early support is what makes projects like this possible.
Without an initial group of believers, innovative ideas stay as just ideas.
The sooner we reach our funding goals, the sooner everyone can start building–and the sooner you can stop placing beads one by one! Early backers also help shape the project’s direction through feedback and feature requests.
By supporting this project early, you’re:
An automated ironing system using heat-resistant plates that apply even pressure and temperature
Image-to-pixel conversion algorithms to process non-pixelated images and convert them into bead-friendly designs
Larger format support beyond the initial 45x45 cm limit for truly impressive wall pieces
Multi-layer handling for more complex 3D bead structures and sculptures
Advanced pattern generation based on specific bead inventories you already own
Custom colour palette creation to maximise the use of your existing bead collection
Optimisation for different bead brands and sizes beyond the standard options
These are features we’d love to develop, but they depend entirely on community support.
The core functionality comes first: a reliable, accessible system that saves you time and expands what’s possible with bead art.
Each step in development will be guided by user feedback and real-world testing, ensuring the final system meets the actual needs of the community rather than what we think might be useful.
A Personal Note: Why I’m Really Building This…
Hi, I’m Jaime!
Like many of you, I’ve spent countless hours placing beads for pixel art projects, wondering WHY the hell we accept the grind of placing individual beads by hand. As a maker with a background in engineering, I started sketching ideas for an automated system that could handle the placement while keeping the creative and finishing aspects in human hands.
I’m collaborating with Jetzt GmbH, an engineering company in Germany that’s providing technical expertise to make this concept a physical reality. What excites me most is creating a tool that lets people make things they wouldn’t otherwise attempt because of time constraints. Imagine the projects you could tackle if placement weren’t an issue!
I believe in open, collaborative development, especially for creative tools like this one. That’s why this is designed as a DIY project rather than a closed commercial product. By sharing knowledge and technology, we can build something together that evolves based on real community needs. I’d love to hear from artists, developers, and educators who see potential in this project.
Your feedback will directly influence the features and design priorities as we move forward. Whether you’re a pixel art expert, a mechanical engineer, or just someone who loves the idea, your perspective matters!
A Personal Note: Why I’m Really Building This…
Hi, I’m Jaime!
Like many of you, I’ve spent countless hours placing beads for pixel art projects, wondering WHY the hell we accept the grind of placing individual beads by hand. As a maker with a background in engineering, I started sketching ideas for an automated system that could handle the placement while keeping the creative and finishing aspects in human hands.
I’m collaborating with Jetzt GmbH, an engineering company in Germany that’s providing technical expertise to make this concept a physical reality. What excites me most is creating a tool that lets people make things they wouldn’t otherwise attempt because of time constraints. Imagine the projects you could tackle if placement weren’t an issue!
I believe in open, collaborative development, especially for creative tools like this one. That’s why this is designed as a DIY project rather than a closed commercial product. By sharing knowledge and technology, we can build something together that evolves based on real community needs. I’d love to hear from artists, developers, and educators who see potential in this project.
Your feedback will directly influence the features and design priorities as we move forward. Whether you’re a pixel art expert, a mechanical engineer, or just someone who loves the idea, your perspective matters!
Help Me Make This a Reality!
By backing now, you’re not just pre-ordering a tool; you’re helping create something that doesn’t even exist yet but totally should.
Every contribution brings us one step closer to automated bead placement for everyone.
There’s no rush or pressure; I’m 110% committed to doing this right rather than doing it quickly. The goal is to build a reliable, useful tool that actually solves problems for the bead art community.
Join us in building the future of pixel art and bead crafting–one
bead at a time (but much, much faster)!
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