There's a quiet moment most diamond painters know well. The light pad is on, the symbol chart is within reach, and you press one more drill into place — and it catches the lamplight and throws back a tiny ribbon of rainbow. That little flash of color has a name. It's an AB drill, short for Aurora Borealis, and over the last year it has gone from a niche finishing touch to one of the most searched-for details in the whole hobby.
If you've seen "AB drills" in a kit description or floating through your feed and weren't quite sure what the fuss was about, settle in. This is the slow, friendly version of the explanation — what AB drills actually are, why they're having a moment in 2026, and how to use them without overdoing it.
What are AB drills in diamond painting?
AB stands for Aurora Borealis, named after the northern lights. An AB drill is a regular resin drill — the small, faceted "diamond" you place on your canvas — finished with a thin iridescent coating. That coating is what does the magic. Where a standard drill gives you one clean color and a steady sparkle, an AB drill layers a faint rainbow shimmer on top, so the same bead seems to shift between pink, gold, and blue as the light moves around it.
They come in the same shapes you already know. You'll find AB round drills and AB square drills, in the same color range as standard drills, sorted by color and labeled to match your symbol chart. The only real difference is that shimmer on the surface. Think of them less as a different product and more as the same drill wearing a little extra light.
Why AB drills are having a moment in 2026
Diamond painting has been growing steadily for years, but a few things have pushed AB drills to the front of the conversation lately.
The first is simply how they look on camera. Diamond painting lives a lot of its life on social feeds — finished pieces, satisfying close-ups, time-lapse reels — and AB drills photograph beautifully. That rainbow flicker reads as movement on screen, which is part of why "AB drills diamond painting" has become such a common search.
The second is that the kits themselves have gotten better. Across the craft, makers have leaned into higher-quality canvases, more uniform drills, and special finishes like AB and star-shaped drills. Industry write-ups this year have tied that wave of novelty drills to a noticeable lift in repeat purchases — by some estimates around a 20% rise from returning customers — which tells you painters aren't just trying AB drills once. They're coming back for them.
And the third reason is the gentlest one: people are choosing diamond painting as a way to slow down. It keeps coming up in trend reports as a mindfulness hobby — something to do with your hands that lowers the noise and gives you a small, finished thing at the end. AB drills fit that mood. They reward the unhurried part of the craft, the part where you notice the light change as the afternoon goes on.
AB drills vs. regular round drills: what's the difference?
If you're deciding between an AB kit and a standard one, here's the honest comparison.
A standard round drill gives you a consistent, jewel-like sparkle. It's predictable in the best way — the color you see in the packet is the color you get on the canvas, and the shine stays even across the whole piece. For large, calm fields of a single color, that steadiness is lovely.
An AB drill adds a second layer of shimmer that shifts with the light. It's a touch more dramatic, especially under a lamp or near a window. The trade-off is that the iridescence can slightly soften how "true" a color reads, because there's that rainbow film sitting over it. That's not a flaw — it's the whole point — but it does mean AB drills are usually used with intention rather than across an entire canvas.
Neither is better. They're two different moods. A full-AB piece feels festive and alive; a standard piece with a few AB accents feels grounded with sparkle in just the right places.
Where AB drills shine: how to use them well
The most common way painters use AB drills is as highlights — small areas where a little extra light makes sense in the real world. A few places they tend to land beautifully:
- Water and reflections — lakes, oceans, puddles, raindrops. AB drills mimic the way real water scatters light.
- Snow, ice, and frost — winter scenes practically ask for that cool, shifting shimmer.
- Stars and night skies — a handful of AB drills in a dark field reads instantly as twinkle.
- Jewelry, glass, and metal — anywhere the original image would catch a glint.
- Eyes and small focal points — a single AB accent can make a portrait or an animal feel awake.
The gentle rule of thumb: use AB drills where light would naturally gather. If you scatter them everywhere, the eye has nowhere to rest and the effect flattens out. Used sparingly, they guide the gaze exactly where you want it.
If you'd rather not think about placement at all, that's where a pre-designed AB kit earns its keep. The artwork already decides where the shimmer goes, so you can simply follow the symbol chart and enjoy the process.
Round, square, or AB? A simple way to choose
Painters sometimes tangle two separate questions: the shape of the drill and the finish. They're independent choices.
Shape is about feel. Round drills are quick and forgiving to place because they sit the same way no matter how you set them down, and they give a softly sparkling surface. Square drills snap together edge to edge for a crisp, fully tiled look that serious painters love. Pick whichever you find more relaxing to work with.
Finish is about light. Standard gives you even, true-color sparkle; AB adds that rainbow shimmer. You can have round AB drills or square AB drills — the finish rides on top of whichever shape you prefer. So the real question isn't "round or AB," it's "which shape do my hands like, and how much shimmer do I want?"
A calmer way to sparkle
It's easy to talk about AB drills as a trend, but the reason they've stuck around is closer to the heart of why people diamond paint at all. The appeal was never speed. It's the steady rhythm — pick up a drill with the drill pen, touch it to the wax pad, set it into its square on the canvas, repeat — and the quiet that builds up around it.
AB drills add one small pleasure to that rhythm. Because they change with the light, a piece you started on a gray morning looks a little different by golden hour, and different again under a lamp at night. It's a gentle reminder that the project is yours and unrepeatable. You're not just covering a canvas. You're making something that holds the light in its own way.
How to start with AB drills (a beginner-friendly path)
If you're new to the craft, you don't need anything special to enjoy AB drills — a good kit includes everything already. A complete kit typically gives you a pre-printed adhesive canvas, drills sorted by color with extras of every shade, a drill pen, a wax pad, tweezers, a grooved tray, a clear symbol chart, and step-by-step instructions. AB drills simply take the place of, or sit alongside, the standard drills the design calls for.
A few small things make the first session smoother:
- Work in good light. AB drills are most rewarding near a window or under a light pad, and good light also makes the symbol chart easier to read.
- Pour a few drills at a time. Tip a small amount into the grooved tray and give it a gentle shake so they line up face-up.
- Go slow on the highlights. Place your standard areas first, then add the AB accents last so you can see the sparkle land exactly where you want it.
- Roll, don't rush, the finish. When the canvas is full, press the drills down evenly so the whole surface catches light together.
Round drills and a beginner-friendly design are a kind first kit. They're quick to place, forgiving of small gaps, and they let the AB shimmer carry the wow without much effort on your part.
Frequently asked questions about AB drills
Are AB drills worth it for beginners? Yes. They don't take any extra skill to place — they go on exactly like standard drills. If anything, they make a first project more satisfying, because the sparkle does so much of the work.
Can you mix AB and regular drills in one painting? Absolutely, and most painters do. A standard canvas with AB accents in the water, sky, or highlights is one of the most popular looks for a reason.
Do AB drills come in round and square? They do. The Aurora Borealis coating is a finish, so you'll find it on both round and square drills. Choose the shape you enjoy working with and the finish you want.
Will AB drills fade over time? Kept out of harsh direct sunlight, a finished and sealed piece holds its shimmer well. The same care you'd give any diamond painting applies here.
Are AB kits good gifts? They're a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves a slow, hands-on hobby — new painters, longtime crafters, or someone who could use a calm project and a little extra sparkle.
A small invitation
If you've been curious about that rainbow flicker, an AB kit is an easy, low-pressure way to try it — a beautiful design, everything sorted and included, and a few patient evenings ahead of you. However you like to sparkle, there's a kit and a quiet afternoon waiting for it.