Export Paper Model add-on is a tool for paper model design. It directly converts Mesh objects into PDF documents. The process is widely customizable and has been well tested in several serious projects.
Install
The script is included in Blender 2.79, install is no longer necessary.
In Blender 2.70–2.78, you have to download the script from here (Right click -> Save as). In User Preferences -> Add-Ons, use the Import Add-on tool. Then in the list of available add-ons, look for Export Paper Model and enable it.
How to Use
If you just want to see some action quickly, the export is done from menu File -> Export -> Paper Model.
- Optional: mark cuts. You can use the Mark Seam / Clear Seam operators to mark edges where the model surface will be cut. The Unfold operator will calculate remaining edges that need to be marked, and will preview the resulting parts (islands) in the Toolbox panel and, optionally, in the UV Editor. You can call the Unfold operator repeatedly to fine-tune the unfold.
- Save the document. Use the Export Paper Model button in the Toolbox. A File Browser appears, which also allows you to change the export settings in the bottom-left corner.
- The script saves a PDF file without any further talking. If you have chosen to export a texture (switch No Texture in the settings to something else), Blender’s Bake Render functionality will be exploited to create the textures, and that will take time.
- If you want to edit the net before printing, you can switch the export format from PDF to SVG. There are several vector graphics editors, for example Inkscape.
A humble panel is in the 3d View Toolbox. Currently it gives you an overview of how the net will be split into parts (aka. islands). It can also highlight one of them directly in the 3D view. You can edit the name of each island and give it a three-letter abbreviation that will be used on the sticking tabs.
Official description and a detailed user manual is located at a Blender Wiki page.
More development details may be found in the project at github.org. There is a TODO list and a list of known bugs, but most people prefer to report bugs in this thread directly.
Animate the net
I also wrote an addon for animating the net using bones. You can get it from the repository too (Right click -> Save as). Installation and usage is explained on its own wiki page.
Task list
- Split the code into several files and add a few explanatory unit tests
- Drawing fold lines outside of the net
- Avoiding overlaps of tabs/arrows with the net
- Placing tabs in a comfortable manner
Coding experiments
- Switching tab positions from within Blender
- Packing islands using Gauss-Newton optimization
Bug reports and constructive ideas are appreciated. If the script fails or creates something useless, please, let me know, I will try and fix it. Also, if something feels unnatural to you or you need support for a specific task, this thread is the right one to post to.