Have you ever wanted to make your own paper art and didn't know how? Or just found the process too difficult from the get go. Well with the Sketchup Unfold Plugin developed by Jim Foltz the process of designing your own paper art is easier then ever.

Why spend all that time and effort manufacturing your model with a 3D printer knowing that it might printout with errors when you can do it cheaply and easily with paper. With a paper design in hand for visualization, moving onto more advanced manufacturing methods would be cost- effective.

So lets get started developing paper art with Google Sketchup.

Visit my blog for other creative ideas!!! OpenHead

Step 1: Materials

Here is what you will need to successfully complete this project.

Software

Download and install a copy of Google Sketchup

Download a copy of the Unfold Plugin

Download a copy of the Buckyball from the 3D Warehouse that we will be unfolding for this project.

Other Materials

Scissors - Something to cut paper with.

Paper - Better to use stiff paper.

Tape - I found that using Scotch tape is easier.

Step 2: Installing the Unfold Plugin and Unfolding the Buckyball

Once you have downloaded and installed a copy of Google Sketchup you are ready to install the plugin. If you haven't already done so go ahead and download the plugin. If you have downloaded a copy of the plugin on your desktop drag and drop it into the plugin folder of Google Sketchup.

C:\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Plugins

That's it the plugin has been installed. You are ready to start the unfolding process.

Download a copy of the Buckyball.skp file. Open it up in Google Sketchup.

To start the unfolding process select the Unfold Tool from the Plugins menu. Then start selecting faces to unfold. Make sure to select surfaces right next to each other. Or else the model will unfolded in pieces. Since this model isn't too big we want to keep it in one whole piece.

Step 3: Printing the Model

Once the model is unfolded you are ready to print the model. There are couple of things to check before printing.

1. Make sure the model your unfolding is laying on a plane.

2. If you wish to print on the entire surface of the paper remember to change the Printer Setup to Landscape or Potrait.

3. Adjust the camera angle so that you capture the entire model when printing.

4. Remember to Print Preview to double check.

After all these steps you are ready to print.

Step 4: Cutting and Taping Your Model

Using a pair of scissors cutout the printout then start folding. Using scotch tape start connecting the edges together. You can use other types of adhesives, I just like scotch tape since its easy to work with.

And that's it you are done. Go ahead and try it with other models and let me know how things turn out.

Visit my blog for other creative ideas!!!!!!!! OpenHead