Use Inkscape Extensions to Create 3D Objects From Paper - Paper Tiger

Papercraft is coming back into fashion. Linux users can turn to Inkscape and plugins such as Boxes.py, Paperfold, and Tabgen to create templates from 3D objects for printing.

- By Sirko Kemter

Papercraft is an old form of crafting. It requires nothing more than scissors, paper, and a little glue. Architects use the technique to visualize models quickly and inexpensively, despite digital developments such as virtual reality. Driven by trends such as low-poly modeling and Minecraft, the technique is also experiencing a revival in the hobby sector. In some areas of the world – such as Japan, which has traditionally cultivated origami, another papercraft – there are now many creative people posting their work on the various social media platforms. In Japan, this form is called pepakura, and there is also a software tool of the same name for it.

Unfolding objects and displaying the individual sides as faces is also the basis for other crafts – they usually just require a different node definition for the individual nodes. The templates you need for this can be created with Inkscape in combination with extensions such as Boxes.py [1], Quickjoint [2], Lasercut tabbed box [3], and Paperfold [4]. The tools prepare the objects in such a way that they can be further processed in Joinery [5] without any problems.

More Than Just Boxes