Diamond Painting VS Paint with Numbers: What Is Better?

Diamond painting and paint with numbers- these are two different kinds of artistic expressions, but they share some fascinating similarities. If you are in any way artistic, you probably like both kinds of crafts, and you have likely heard of both of them. But how do they compare? Is one better than the other? We are comparing diamond painting VS paint with numbers to give you the answers.

Comparing Diamond Painting VS Paint with Numbers

	Diamond Painting	Paint with Numbers
Easiness	Very simple and very complex options	Very simple and very complex options
Good for Kids?	Yes!	Yes!
What’s Included	Diamond drills, canvas, wax, drill pen, sorting tray, instructions	Paintbrush, canvas, paint selection
Accessories	Additional diamond drills, other kinds of pens, storage containers, tweezers	Professional brushes, easels, additional paints, storage containers
Customization	You can order custom printed diamond painting sets	You can order custom printed paint with numbers sets
Cost	$4-$50	$3-$45
Selection	1000’s to choose from	1000’s to choose from
Messiness	No liquid mess at all	Can be really messy
My Opinion	More rewarding	Might be easier to get started

Diamond Painting Explained

This relatively new kind of art uses diamond drills, which are small, shiny stones made from artificial materials. It is a cross between paint with numbers and cross stitching, and the artist places the diamonds on a canvas in prearranged spots. Each diamond drill is a different color, and where each color should go is already marked out on the canvas.

Using a specialized stylus pen and some adhesive, the artist picks up the diamond drills and places them in appropriate spots on the canvas. Once the colorful diamonds are all in their place, an incredible picture is made. It looks like pixel art, as it is a larger piece made out of much smaller pieces.

A Hobby on Fire

Diamond painting has really taken off the last few years, becoming a choice hobby for many people of all ages and skill levels. It has gained popularity quickly due to how easy it is to pick up and learn. There are an endless number of canvases to chose from, so consumers are free to pick one that they like and express themselves through it. They can even order custom made diamond paintings that use personal photographs.

Everything Is Included

Diamond painting is a very new idea for many people, and most artists would not know where to start with this kind of craft. They would not know what to buy and what it involves putting together a diamond painting. It is fortunate, then, that the diamond painting kits that come with each diamond painting canvas come with everything necessary to create each picture.

The kits will usually have the canvas, of course, as well as all the colored diamond drills to assemble the painting. The kits also come with a diamond drill pen, sticky wax, a sorting tray, and instructions. There are other tools and art paraphernalia that some people might like to get to enhance their diamond painting experiences, but what is included in the diamond painting kit is all that is absolutely necessary.

3D or 5D Diamond Painting?

When you start to look for diamond painting kits and canvases, you may come across a few varieties of diamond paintings. Some will be listed as 3D diamond paintings and others will boast of offering a 5D experience. What’s the difference?

Most diamond paints are 3D, and that simply means that the diamond drills have nine facets or edges, with three facets on each side. The 5D diamond drills are designed with fifteen facets, with five one ach side. This produces a sparkly effect that is even shinier and more spectacular than the 3D diamonds. That’s the only difference, really. They simply have a different appearance from one another, and the incredible sparkly qualities of the 5D diamond paintings can make them more desirable for some hobbyists.

Paint with Numbers Explained

What about paint with numbers? What does that involve?

Like diamond painting, when you use paint with numbers kits, you are following a set of instructions. There are particular spots on the canvas that you are supposed to use specific colors of paint. When comparing diamond painting and paint with numbers, the most striking similarity is how color is applied.

Painting with numbers is a type of craft or painting method that has been around for many years at this point. Most people are familiar with it and have probably completed a paint by numbers picture when they were a child. These are inexpensive kits that are easy to find in retail stores and that come in quite a few varieties.

What’s in the Kit?

If you buy a paint with numbers kit, what is included in it? The kit will typically come with everything required to make a beautiful paint with numbers masterpiece. You get a paintbrush to apply your paint, as well as an uncolored canvas and a set of paints. Those paints are usually acrylic, watercolor, or oil-based.

The paint containers are usually numbered and the spots where paint goes on the canvas are numbered as well. These numbers correspond with one another so that you know exactly where to apply the paint. This is a great starting art project for someone who is an aspiring painter and who wants to to learn some technique and paint application.

Simple or Elaborate

In the last few years, paint with numbers of manufacturers have started offering more choices for enthusiasts, including very intricate, detailed kits that let people paint true works of art. Not all paint with numbers of pictures are simple kid-oriented crafts. Some of them are extremely time consuming and rival classical and professional art for their beauty and detail.

Consumers can choose between very simple paint with numbers options for their kids or for beginners, or they can pick complex kits that will feel like a real challenge to the experienced artist.

So, Diamond Painting or Paint with Numbers?

Should you start with diamond painting or paint with numbers? There are advantages and disadvantages of either one and some good reasons to choose one over the other.

Either way you go, you will enjoy the thrill of opening up your kit, whether it is a diamond painting one or a paint with numbers kit. You’ll love constructing or painting your picture, starting from a nearly bank and colorless canvas to a beautiful designed finished product.

You’ll love picking out your picture as well, either requesting a customized photo or choosing from a varied selection.

One of the joys of diamond painting is how simple it is to get into and how easy it is to do, even if it does take hours to complete one. With paint by numbers, there may be more of a learning curve. You might have to mix colors together to make new colors sometimes, which can be challenging for some people.

The messiness of diamond painting VS paint with numbers should be mentioned as well. If you drop a tray of diamond drills, there will be a mess to clean up. It’s a dry mess, though, and you can sweep them up or pick them up without any problem. Picking up spilled paint can be tougher. You will need to wet the affected area and dry it clean, so it’s more of a hassle to keep the work area clean.

Diamond painting is a very hot hobby right now, with tons of new paintings being released each week, creating a massive library for aspiring artis to pick from. Paint with numbers has been around longer, so there are definitely plenty of canvases to pick from, but it’s not as exciting a hobby at the moment. The interest isn’t there as much as it is for diamond painting.

Which one is best for kids to start with? Placing diamonds into diamond painting can be tricky for smaller kids. You could give them a paint by numbers set, but they will likely make a mess of that. For kids that are about 8 years or older, either one is a good buy, but like I said, the diamond painting won’t be as messy.

Both of these have appeal for adults too, with adult-oriented designs and kits available. There are very detailed, intricate, and complex kits available for both diamond painting and paint with numbers. Whether you are young or old, experienced or inexperienced, there is a painting kit meant for you.

A lot of adults are getting into the diamond painting hobby these days. They like how there is no mess to clean up and how shiny the diamonds look when they are replaced into the canvas, creating a shimmery artwork they are proud to display and show off. As a lot of kids and adults are stuck in lockdown or dealing with restrictions in movement these days, hobbies like diamond painting and paint with numbers have great appeal. They offer them a way to stay entertained when people are at home, and whichever you choose- diamond painting or paint with numbers, I know you will have a good time.