Introduction: How to Use Pepakura
Pepakura (often referred to as «Pep») is a program that creates buildable papercraft models. Using 3 dimensional data, Pepakura allows the model to be unfolded to a flat template to be cut, folded, and glued together. Pepakura accepts a range of 3D file extensions, and can save files in its native extension (.pdo).
Step 1: Download Pepakura
To download Pepakura, you will need to visit Pepakura’s website
Select «Download» from the left. Once on the download page, select Pepakura Designer. Follow the download and installation instructions on that page.
Step 2: Download the Armor Files
Step 3: Opening a .pdo File
- Open up the Pepakura Designer program.
- Once Pepakura Designer is open, select «Open» under the «File» tab.
- Find the file that you will be printing out and open it.
- From here you should see two windows. The one on the left is the 3D model you opened. The window on the right is where the unfolded pieces will appear.
Step 4: Remove Face Color
You can save ink by turning off the gray fill color that may be enabled. The color isn’t necessary, as you won’t see it when your piece is finished. Simply click the «BothWindows» tab at the top, and un-check «Use materials for faces». This should turn your model white, as well as all of the pieces shown on the right.
Sometimes the option is already unchecked. If it is, this step is not needed.
Step 5: Changing Paper Size
If you are using a file formatted for A4 paper, then you might need to change it to letter format. To change the page configuration from A4 to letter:
- Select the «File» tab and select «Print and Paper Configuration».
- Change the paper size to letter from A4.
- You should also change the margins as low as possible. 10 is a good number.
If you have an A4 printer this step is not needed.
Step 6: Scale Your Printout
The term Scaling is referring to how big Pepakura will make the finished model. If scaling is off, your finished model could be to big or to small. Most of the newer models are already scaled properly for someone about 6′ tall.
Step 7: The Scaling Formula
You can use this formula to determine how big you should make your armor: The Master Chief is 7’2″ tall (86 inches).
- Find out your height in inches.
- Add 4-6 inches to that(If you don’t,your armor will not fit)
- Divide your height by 86. (xx / 86 = x.xxxxx)
- Take the number you found in step 3, and multiply it by the current scale (usually around 31.9).
- Go to Pepakura Designer, open the .pdo file, and go to the «scale» and then «scale factor».
- Enter the number you found in step 4 in the «scale» box.
Note: Keep in mind: the size of the default scale that’s in use before you edit is from the base of the ground to the top outside of MC’s helmet. You don’t really want the top of your head to be touching the top of the inside of the helmet if you expect it to fit right. So you may want to add two or three inches to your actual height before doing the math. This may help other areas as well, where it could come through a bit tight. After you print, double check that all flaps have numbers on them. Also, print a Bicep with the scaling you have decided for yourself to make sure that it fits properly. It is much easier to make a bicep than it is a helmet.
You could also go to the following link for pepakura file scaling methods;
How To Scale Your Armour-Tutorial
Each method in the above link is desinged to help you scale your pepakura armour with ease and great accuracy.
Step 8: Rearranging Layout
Moving
Since letter and A4 paper are different sizes, the pieces will usually not fit after you change the paper size. You will need to re-align them to fit on the pages.
First, get rid of the 3D window, so that you will have more room to re-arrange the pieces. Select the «Configuration» tab, and click on «Show Only 2DPatternWindow».
To space the patterns out, you’ll need to use the «Select and Move» tool. You can select it in the right-click menu. Now, arrange all of the piece so they all fit on the pages, and don’t overlap. You can put as many pieces on one page as you can without overlap, but some space aids in cutting it out.
Rotating
Using only the «Select and Move» tool, you can arrange all of the pieces. However, if you don’t want to waste paper, you can use the «Rotate Part» tool to arrange the pieces closer, and conserve paper.
To use the «Rotate Part» tool, select it in the right-click menu. Now when you click on a piece, small circles will appear on its vertexes. Select a pivot vertex. There should now be a cross hair on it. Now, click and drag another vertex in order to spin the piece.
Position your parts to your satisfaction.
Step 9: Pepakura Printing Settings
After you have the paper resized, and the patterns re-aligned, you should be able to print. There are a few more things that you may want to change before printing though.
Flaps
You can change whether or not there are flaps (which are used to tape or glue one pattern to the other), color the flaps, or change the width of the flaps.
Edge ID
You can turn on or off the Edge ID- it’s a number that helps you match adjacent edges. From here you can also flip the ID position and change the font size. Size 6 font will reduce the chance of numbers overlapping.
Line Style
Here you can edit appearance of your line, if it is a Cut Line, Mountain Line (outside fold) or Valley Line (inside fold). Knowing the overall look of your Mountain and Valley lines will help you know whether you are folding out or folding in. If you are not satisfied with the line type defaults, you can also change them to your preference.
Step 10: Print
Before you print it, you may want to do the following:
1. Download PrimoPDF and install.
2. This will create a virtual printer that, when printed to, creates PDF files.
3. Print your PEP pages to that printer and create the file.
4. Open the PDF file.
5. Select all tab numbers on page one and copy/paste them to NotePad.
6. Fix the numbers so they show up one tab number per line.
7. copy this list to Excel, or Open Office (Free), so you get something like this:
--------------------------. 1| | | | | | | <--Page Numbers --------------------------| 5| | | | | | | 13| | | | | | | 99| | | | | | | 55| | | | | | | <--- Tabs on that page 43| | | | | | | 12| | | | | | | etc.... | | | | | --------------------------'
8. The first line is the page number, the other numbers are the tab numbers on that page.
9. repeate steps 5 to 7 until you get a spreadsheet with one column per PDF page.
10. When you are locating the tabs, all you have to do is CTRL-F, enter the tab number, and you will know on what page its on.
Check it one last time, and maybe again.. then print it.
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Introduction: How to Use Pepakura
Pepakura (often referred to as «Pep») is a program that creates buildable papercraft models. Using 3 dimensional data, Pepakura allows the model to be unfolded to a flat template to be cut, folded, and glued together. Pepakura accepts a range of 3D file extensions, and can save files in its native extension (.pdo).
Step 1: Download Pepakura
To download Pepakura, you will need to visit Pepakura’s website
Select «Download» from the left. Once on the download page, select Pepakura Designer. Follow the download and installation instructions on that page.
Step 2: Download the Armor Files
Step 3: Opening a .pdo File
- Open up the Pepakura Designer program.
- Once Pepakura Designer is open, select «Open» under the «File» tab.
- Find the file that you will be printing out and open it.
- From here you should see two windows. The one on the left is the 3D model you opened. The window on the right is where the unfolded pieces will appear.
Step 4: Remove Face Color
You can save ink by turning off the gray fill color that may be enabled. The color isn’t necessary, as you won’t see it when your piece is finished. Simply click the «BothWindows» tab at the top, and un-check «Use materials for faces». This should turn your model white, as well as all of the pieces shown on the right.
Sometimes the option is already unchecked. If it is, this step is not needed.
Step 5: Changing Paper Size
If you are using a file formatted for A4 paper, then you might need to change it to letter format. To change the page configuration from A4 to letter:
- Select the «File» tab and select «Print and Paper Configuration».
- Change the paper size to letter from A4.
- You should also change the margins as low as possible. 10 is a good number.
If you have an A4 printer this step is not needed.
Step 6: Scale Your Printout
The term Scaling is referring to how big Pepakura will make the finished model. If scaling is off, your finished model could be to big or to small. Most of the newer models are already scaled properly for someone about 6′ tall.
Step 7: The Scaling Formula
You can use this formula to determine how big you should make your armor: The Master Chief is 7’2″ tall (86 inches).
- Find out your height in inches.
- Add 4-6 inches to that(If you don’t,your armor will not fit)
- Divide your height by 86. (xx / 86 = x.xxxxx)
- Take the number you found in step 3, and multiply it by the current scale (usually around 31.9).
- Go to Pepakura Designer, open the .pdo file, and go to the «scale» and then «scale factor».
- Enter the number you found in step 4 in the «scale» box.
Note: Keep in mind: the size of the default scale that’s in use before you edit is from the base of the ground to the top outside of MC’s helmet. You don’t really want the top of your head to be touching the top of the inside of the helmet if you expect it to fit right. So you may want to add two or three inches to your actual height before doing the math. This may help other areas as well, where it could come through a bit tight. After you print, double check that all flaps have numbers on them. Also, print a Bicep with the scaling you have decided for yourself to make sure that it fits properly. It is much easier to make a bicep than it is a helmet.
You could also go to the following link for pepakura file scaling methods;
How To Scale Your Armour-Tutorial
Each method in the above link is desinged to help you scale your pepakura armour with ease and great accuracy.
Step 8: Rearranging Layout
Moving
Since letter and A4 paper are different sizes, the pieces will usually not fit after you change the paper size. You will need to re-align them to fit on the pages.
First, get rid of the 3D window, so that you will have more room to re-arrange the pieces. Select the «Configuration» tab, and click on «Show Only 2DPatternWindow».
To space the patterns out, you’ll need to use the «Select and Move» tool. You can select it in the right-click menu. Now, arrange all of the piece so they all fit on the pages, and don’t overlap. You can put as many pieces on one page as you can without overlap, but some space aids in cutting it out.
Rotating
Using only the «Select and Move» tool, you can arrange all of the pieces. However, if you don’t want to waste paper, you can use the «Rotate Part» tool to arrange the pieces closer, and conserve paper.
To use the «Rotate Part» tool, select it in the right-click menu. Now when you click on a piece, small circles will appear on its vertexes. Select a pivot vertex. There should now be a cross hair on it. Now, click and drag another vertex in order to spin the piece.
Position your parts to your satisfaction.
Step 9: Pepakura Printing Settings
After you have the paper resized, and the patterns re-aligned, you should be able to print. There are a few more things that you may want to change before printing though.
Flaps
You can change whether or not there are flaps (which are used to tape or glue one pattern to the other), color the flaps, or change the width of the flaps.
Edge ID
You can turn on or off the Edge ID- it’s a number that helps you match adjacent edges. From here you can also flip the ID position and change the font size. Size 6 font will reduce the chance of numbers overlapping.
Line Style
Here you can edit appearance of your line, if it is a Cut Line, Mountain Line (outside fold) or Valley Line (inside fold). Knowing the overall look of your Mountain and Valley lines will help you know whether you are folding out or folding in. If you are not satisfied with the line type defaults, you can also change them to your preference.
Step 10: Print
Before you print it, you may want to do the following:
1. Download PrimoPDF and install.
2. This will create a virtual printer that, when printed to, creates PDF files.
3. Print your PEP pages to that printer and create the file.
4. Open the PDF file.
5. Select all tab numbers on page one and copy/paste them to NotePad.
6. Fix the numbers so they show up one tab number per line.
7. copy this list to Excel, or Open Office (Free), so you get something like this:
--------------------------. 1| | | | | | | <--Page Numbers --------------------------| 5| | | | | | | 13| | | | | | | 99| | | | | | | 55| | | | | | | <--- Tabs on that page 43| | | | | | | 12| | | | | | | etc.... | | | | | --------------------------'
8. The first line is the page number, the other numbers are the tab numbers on that page.
9. repeate steps 5 to 7 until you get a spreadsheet with one column per PDF page.
10. When you are locating the tabs, all you have to do is CTRL-F, enter the tab number, and you will know on what page its on.
Check it one last time, and maybe again.. then print it.
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Как приятно порой бывает вспомнить увлечения и игры из детства. Многим довелось собирать бумажные модели всевозможной техники и сооружений. Сейчас мы создаём объёмные модели в редакторах 3D-графики и получаем реалистичные изображения трёхмерных объектов. Японские разработчики придумали программу Pepakura Designer, предназначенную для создания бумажных моделей из 3D данных. Всё, что нам нужно – предоставить программе 3D-модель любого универсального формата (например 3DS или DXF) и получить схему бумажной развёртки, которую затем можно распечатать, разрезать и склеить.
Мы будем рассматривать английскую версию Pepakura Designer. К сожалению, с программой предоставляется несколько 3D-моделей, хотя для обзора нам этого будет вполне достаточно.
Итак, после запуска программы сразу открываем файл нажатием кнопки [Open File]. Диалог показывает файлы в папке sample, расположенной там же, где установлена программа. Выбираем любой из трёх файлов и видим в левой части окна объёмную модель, а в правой – бумажную развёртку.
Для вращения объёмной модели достаточно зажать правую кнопку и перемещать мышь. Движение мышью вместе с зажатой клавишей Ctrl и правой кнопкой позволяет перемещать объект в любом из трёх измерений, а правая кнопка мыши и зажатая клавиша Shift поможет нам приблизить или отдалить объект (тот же эффект даёт вращение колёсика мыши).
Теперь для работы нам потребуются инструменты, предоставляемые Pepakura Designer:
1. Turn on Light – включение/выключение освещения.
2. Set Materials to Faces – отображение материалов (текстур) граней.
3. Выбор нескольких граней, по которым поверхность будет разрезаться.
4. Pick single edge – выбор одной грани объекта.
5. Specify Open Edges – включение режима выбора граней. Мы можем навести курсор на любую грань (автоматически выделяется параллельная ей грань). Клик на ней указывает программе, в каком месте нужно сделать разрез выкройки.
Обратим внимание, выделив две верхних грани, на развёртке мы получаем отдельные выкройки для частей коробки.
Повторный клик на грани отменяет предыдущее состояние.
6. Split Edges and Make Them Smooth – сглаживание граней у линии разреза.
7. Edit Model – включение режима редактирования модели. Возможности Pepakura Designer в этом плане сильно ограничены, однако можно внести мелкие изменения в 3D-модель. В панели есть несколько дополнительных режимов:
Move Vertex – изменение узла, точки между гранями. Клик на узле отображает три регулятора. Перемещая их, можно добиться изменения положения узла в любой из трёх плоскостей (оси X, Y и Z). Вместе с точкой изменяются и прилегающие грани.
Delete Edge – удаление узла.
Divide Edge – добавляет новый узел точно в середине высвечиваемой грани.
8. Pick Symmetrical Edge – при включённом состоянии автоматически выделяются параллельные грани, соответственно, отключение функции позволяет выделять только одну грань за раз.
9. Reset Model View – сброс изменённых параметров отображения объекта. Если модель была повёрнута или перемещена, при нажатии этой кнопки всё вернётся в исходное состояние.
Инструменты с 3 по 8 работают только в режиме до развёртки. А остальные кнопки Pepakura Designer активны, когда отображается развёртка.
10. Select and Move – перемещение частей модели на выкройке.
11. Rotate Part – вращение выкройки. Кликаем по узлу, потом перемещаем курсор на радиус вращения, кликаем ещё раз и, удерживая кнопку мыши нажатой, вращаем выкройку.
12. Divide/Connect Faces – разделение/объединение граней. Выделяем грань на трёхмерной модели или на выкройке.
Таким образом, мы можем отделить часть модели в отдельную выкройку или указать место разреза.
13. Set Edge Color – настройка цвета выделенных граней и узлов.
14. Edit Flaps – настройка места склейки. Здесь можно задать его высоту и угол среза.
15. Input Texts – ввод текстовой надписи.
16. Place Image – размещение изображения на выкройке. Добавленную картинку можно перемещать по листу и изменять её размеры.
17. Check Corresponding Face – открытие списка выкроек.
18, 19. Undo/Redo – отмена последнего действия и возврат.
20. Reset View – сброс параметров отображения выкройки. Например, если был изменён масштаб отображения листа выкройки, нажав на эту кнопку, можно вернуться к первоначальному состоянию.
21. Recalculate Parts Layout – пересчёт всех выкроек. Размеры Pepakura Designer подбирает автоматически или же можно выставить их самостоятельно.
22. Show Page Number – включение/отключение режима отображения номеров страниц.
Кнопка [Unfold] запускает процесс преобразования 3D-модели в схему выкройки для бумаги. Чтобы вернуться к трёхмерной модели, жмём эту кнопку ещё раз. Готовую развёртку с помеченными областями для разрезания и склейки можно вывести на печать. В программе предусмотрена функция предварительного просмотра
Pepakura Designer не предоставляет инструментов для создания трёхмерных моделей с нуля, однако на сайте разработчика есть заготовки для загрузки.
Характеристики:
Язык интерфейса: английский
ОС: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7
Размер файла: 4,5 Мб
Лицензия: условно-бесплатная с ограничением функций (не работает сохранение и экспорт), регистрация $38