Tips for folding and drawing papercrafts.

 Here are some tips and tricks I like to use when making papercrafts. Key points will be underlined like this. Here we go.

Tip #1. Use a hot glue gun instead of tape.

Hot glue guns are better than tape for 3 main reasons. 1# Hot glue looks better than tape.  here is a pic of a hot glued papercraft and a taped papercraft. 

Cromedome is glued but Batman is taped.

2# Hot glue lasts longer. papercrafts last longer when hot glued and are sturdier. 

3# Hot glue is practically invisible. you can hardly see hot glue and you can even seal the papercraft with it! Look for bubbles when you push a flap to a surface. You can smooth these with your finger (works better with low temp HGGs) to seal the craft.

And watch out for burns.

Tip 2#. Keep large scraps.

Scrap cardstock and papercraft 

Have you ever run out of cardstock? I have. But after running out of cardstock you can print or draw your papercrafts on paper and then glue them with a glue stick to a folder.

But if you keep scraps you can put multiple papercrafts on one sheet of cardstock!

Tip 3#. Make it your way.

Papercrafts that I made and posed

All papercraft have preset guidelines. but sometimes the finished product looks a little... stiff. so why not pose it yourself?  I do NOT recommend doing this on a papercraft with a specially designed arm or leg piece.    I prefer to pose the arm (hold sword better, point gun, hold up buster, etc.)  

Drawing tips: tip 1#. use a ruler or a similar object.

Pen + ruler

Drawing straight lines for your base freehand is HARD. Use a ruler to make sure the lines are perfectly straight.  this works great for two reasons.  1# There are no lopsided parts. 2# each line goes 100% straight so no screw ups that make your craft look bad.

Drawing tip 2# Have multiple reference images with multiple views.

Reference image and papercraft 

 

It's always wise to have multiple reference images of a character who you are papercrafting. Character encyclopedias and art books are obvious choices. But comic books are also surprisingly good reference images!  

 

I hope you like these tips and tricks and also... look out for T3/\$3R$!