Is it free, and are my files uploaded?

It is free, with no sign-up. Everything happens in your browser: the 3D model, the unfolding and the PDF never leave your computer.

How does the unfolding work?

Faces are laid flat one after another, each turned around the edge it shares with a face already on the paper. A part keeps growing while nothing overlaps and it still fits the page; flat areas stay whole, sharp edges become cuts. Every glued edge gets the same number on both parts and a glue tab on one of them.

What do the lines mean?

Solid — cut. Dash-dot — mountain fold (the paper folds away from you, seen from the printed side). Dashed — valley fold (towards you). The grey band along an edge is a glue tab.

My model has too many parts. What can I do?

Lower the number of faces in the Model step — low-poly models are much easier to build. You can also join edges by hand with the scissors tool on the sheet, or print on a bigger sheet.

How do I print it at the right size?

Print the PDF at “Actual size / 100 %”, not “Fit to page”, and measure the 5 × 5 cm test square. For a big sheet, turn on tiles: the sheet is split into A4 or Letter pages with an overlap and crosses to line them up.

Can I cut it on a Cricut, Silhouette or laser?

Yes: export SVG or DXF. Cut lines, mountain and valley folds are on separate colours / layers, so you can set the folds to score instead of cut.

What are stacked slices and waffle frames?

Stacked slices cut the model into layers of card or board glued one on another (each layer numbered, with the outline of the next one as a guide). A waffle frame is two sets of plates that slot into each other — a light, strong frame, for example under papier-mâché.

How much paper and glue do I need for papier-mâché?

The Papier-mâché step takes the surface of your model and the number of layers and gives newspaper pages and glue (flour paste, PVA or wallpaper paste) with recipes; for pulp it uses the volume. The drying timer reminds you when the next layer can go on.

Working…

Papercraft Studio

Unfold a 3D model into a printable paper template (like Pepakura), make boxes, card slices and waffle frames, and plan papier-mâché — all in your browser.

How to use

1Open a 3D model (OBJ, STL, GLB, 3MF, PLY), or pick a shape (cube, cylinder, cone, pyramid, prism, globe of gores, torus) or a box (tuck end, tray with lid, pillow).
2Set the real size — for example 40 cm tall — and the number of faces: fewer faces make a simpler model that is easier to glue.
3Choose how to make it: an unfolded paper model with glue tabs and numbered edges, stacked card slices, or a waffle frame of slotted plates.
4Fix the parts by hand: drag and turn parts on the sheets, cut a fold or glue two edges together; click a part to see where it goes on the 3D model.
5Print the PDF at actual size (check the 5 × 5 cm square), split a big sheet into A4 pieces with alignment marks, or send SVG/DXF to a cutting plotter. For papier-mâché, count paper, glue and pulp and use the drying timer.

FAQ

Is it free, and are my files uploaded?: It is free, with no sign-up. Everything happens in your browser: the 3D model, the unfolding and the PDF never leave your computer.
How does the unfolding work?: Faces are laid flat one after another, each turned around the edge it shares with a face already on the paper. A part keeps growing while nothing overlaps and it still fits the page; flat areas stay whole, sharp edges become cuts. Every glued edge gets the same number on both parts and a glue tab on one of them.
What do the lines mean?: Solid — cut. Dash-dot — mountain fold (the paper folds away from you, seen from the printed side). Dashed — valley fold (towards you). The grey band along an edge is a glue tab.
My model has too many parts. What can I do?: Lower the number of faces in the Model step — low-poly models are much easier to build. You can also join edges by hand with the scissors tool on the sheet, or print on a bigger sheet.
How do I print it at the right size?: Print the PDF at “Actual size / 100 %”, not “Fit to page”, and measure the 5 × 5 cm test square. For a big sheet, turn on tiles: the sheet is split into A4 or Letter pages with an overlap and crosses to line them up.
Can I cut it on a Cricut, Silhouette or laser?: Yes: export SVG or DXF. Cut lines, mountain and valley folds are on separate colours / layers, so you can set the folds to score instead of cut.
What are stacked slices and waffle frames?: Stacked slices cut the model into layers of card or board glued one on another (each layer numbered, with the outline of the next one as a guide). A waffle frame is two sets of plates that slot into each other — a light, strong frame, for example under papier-mâché.
How much paper and glue do I need for papier-mâché?: The Papier-mâché step takes the surface of your model and the number of layers and gives newspaper pages and glue (flour paste, PVA or wallpaper paste) with recipes; for pulp it uses the volume. The drying timer reminds you when the next layer can go on.