How to use the MARD 221 color chart

Use codes, not color names, when sorting

A generated FuseBeads pattern places the MARD color code inside cells when code view is enabled and repeats the same code in the material list. Sort bead bags by code before starting; names such as red, cream, or blue can describe several nearby colors.

Keep the printed legend beside the board and return unused beads to their labeled container before opening the next color. This prevents similar shades from mixing.

Treat screen colors as an approximation

Displays, photographs, lighting, and plastic batches can all change how a color appears. The on-screen swatch is a planning reference, while the physical code is the purchasing and sorting reference.

For color-critical work, compare a real bead sample under neutral light. Photographing a printed chart or another screen introduces additional color shifts and should not be used as an exact match test.

Read quantities before buying supplies

The material list counts only placed beads. Check the largest color totals first because backgrounds and outlines often consume more beads than small accent colors. Add a modest reserve for spills, manufacturing variation, and later repair.

Simplify a palette when needed

A photo can contain thousands of subtle colors, but a buildable pattern needs a controlled palette. Fewer colors create cleaner regions and faster sorting; more colors can preserve shading at the cost of additional materials and visual noise.

If two neighboring colors look almost identical in your actual bead supply, replace one consistently throughout the pattern instead of switching bead by bead.