When you first start diamond painting, one of the choices you’ll face is whether to work with full-drill diamond painting designs or partial-drill diamond painting designs. These terms refer to how much of the canvas is covered in sparkling diamond painting drills gems, and the choice can completely change your crafting experience. Full-drill canvases offer complete coverage and stunning detail, while partial-drill kits highlight key areas of the design for a faster, simpler project. This guide will help you understand the differences so you can choose the right style for your next masterpiece.
WHAT ARE FULL-DRILL AND PARTIAL-DRILL DIAMOND PAINTINGS
A full-drill diamond painting kit means that the diamond drills cover the entire canvas. These kits are also called full-coverage diamond painting kits, again describing that when the kit is complete, the diamond drills will cover the entire canvas. The Garden Cat diamond painting kit (above left) is a full-drill design.
A partial-drill diamond painting kit means the diamond drills do not cover the entire canvas. These kits are also called partial-coverage diamond painting kits, because when the kit is complete, the diamond drills only partially cover the canvas. The parts of the canvas that are not covered in drills have a printed background. The Cats Meow diamond painting kit (above right) is a partial-drill design.
Choosing a full-drill versus a partial-drill diamond painting kit is largely a personal preference, although considerations include: skill level, time to complete, and design choice – for example, some subjects are better rendered as a partial-drill kit, while others are not.
FULL-DRILL DIAMOND PAINTING DESIGNS
The biggest feature of full-drill diamond painting designs is that the sparkling gems cover the entire canvas, providing maximum sparkle. Full-drill designs are often highly detailed, with many drill colors and subtle shading that is achieved with frequent color changes within small areas of the canvas, like the Moonlight Magic Black Bear and Neon Rainbow Leopard diamond painting kits.
Other considerations of full-drill diamond painting designs:
- Full-drill designs often take longer to complete because there are more diamond drills to place.
- Full-drill designs may be more challenging because of the color variety and frequent switching of drill colors.
- Full-drill designs may be better suited for intermediate or advanced diamond painters.
PARTIAL-DRILL DIAMOND PAINTING DESIGNS
What’s best about partial-drill diamond painting designs is that they can be quicker to finish because there are fewer diamond drills to place, and a smaller portion of canvas to dot.
But there are plenty of sophisticated partial-drill designs out there, too. Check out the Soul Touch diamond painting kit. It's truly exquisite because it pairs highly detailed printed elements - the facial features and hands - with the sparkling diamonds of the horse.
Other considerations of partial-drill diamond painting designs:
- Partial-drill designs can be stunning and feature finely printed background or design details alongside sparkling diamond drills.
- Partial-drill designs can be geared toward beginner or intermediate dotters because they require less time to complete and use fewer diamond drills.
FULL-DRILL VS. PARTIAL DRILL: KEY DIFFERENCES
The key difference between a full-drill and partial-drill diamond painting kit is the diamond coverage on the canvas. The bottom line is that the choice between a full- versus partial-drill diamond painting kit lies in the finished look you want to achieve – do you desire full coverage sparkle or key elements of sparkle only?
Personal design preference pays a very large role in the type of diamond painting kit you’ll choose. The good news is: there is no wrong choice!
WHICH STYLE IS BEST FOR BEGINNERS
Take a look at our beginner diamond painting kits – many of them are in fact partial-drill kits. But even within this collection, you can see that there is variety. Overall design size and total number of diamond drills comes into play as well.
There are several full-drill kits in the beginner diamond painting collection. Note that they will typically be smaller in size overall and they will use fewer Dotz drills to complete.
POPULAR DESIGN THEMES AND DESIGNS FOR EACH TYPE
The best subjects and design themes for full-drill designs include landscapes, famous artist interpretations and places and travel. These designs tend to sweep across the entire canvas.
Highlighted subjects like florals and animals lend themselves to a partial-drill interpretation, with a complementary printed background. The sparkling flower or animal featured takes center stage on the printed canvas.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT KIT FOR YOUR LEVEL AND STYLE
There are many considerations for choosing the right diamond painting kit – whether it’s your first one, or just the next one on your list. Most frequently, diamond painters choose kits based on a favorite subject matter or design theme first – that is the starting point. From there, skill, coverage and time to complete all come into play, which is why it’s important to be versed on these varied considerations. Again – no such thing as a wrong choice!
Both full-drill diamond paintings and partial drill diamond paintings have their own charm and benefits. Full-drill kits provide maximum sparkle and detail, while partial drills are great for quicker projects or subject matter that is best interpreted as a partial-drill design. Understanding the differences will help you pick the kit that matches your style, time, and skill level. Ready to start your next project? Explore our curated collection of diamond painting kits, as well as our newest arrivals – armed with the tips you’ve just learned, we know you’ll find your perfect match.
