Beautiful landing page. I wonder if it uses the OCCT unfolding algorithms or something similar under the hood?
Slightly unrelated: are the OCCT unfolding components a paid add on or included in the open source distribution?
Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
31–40 of 60 posts
Re: Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
#32You can vibe code an app like this, relying on OBJ import (no editing apart from cutting/opening constraints), in possibly half a day. If you doubt me, take, me up on it. Sure, I have 35 years of experiences writing computer graphics code but I am certain I would just need to provide functional description input to Claude or Codex for this. Zero architecture or deep 3D know-how. The only challenge/interesting part is…
I can tell that is not trivial. I like to design papercrafts with my kids, and I use Blender but always wanted something on par with Pepakura but for Linux, so I decided to use Claude to build something similar. Furthermore, I started suggesting the Java/JavaFX stack because it is easier for me than JS, but I couldn't even create an STL viewer, so I let Claude decide the tech stack. It chose web/react/etc. (no surprise), the STL was loaded and presented as expected, the unfolding process was harder, and finally I gave up. Claude couldn't figure out by itself the best algorithm; the results were always wrong, and unfolding was just the first feature I wanted. My conclusion is that this is not the kind of application that can be easily resolved with vibecoding; the approach must be different, maybe AI assisting specific building parts to someone who knows exactly how the result should be with low-level detail.
Re: Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
#33What's the usual production method for the final model?
Do you need cardstock and a cricut machine? Or a laser cutter?
How do you align artwork on the object?
Re: Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
#34It would be cool if this used ModelIO to do the 3D model loading. It supports a ton of formats which would ease the workflow of asset import.
You’d get STL, Alembic, USD, PLY support in addition to the OBJ.
Re: Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
#35For a look at someone solving a harder version of this problem with stretchy fabric deformation, check out pandafold.app
Admittedly an unconventional audience but its a curious problem space. Pepakura as mentioned here does this very well. The author of this software looks to be familiar with it
Re: Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
#36Hmm couldn't find any pictures of actual results from using this?
Re: Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
#37Just a suggestion: have an example obj object, or several, loaded up. It will sound nuts to you, but I probably won't find one and will just unload the app when I need space.
Re: Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
#38I found the idea very interesting but put off a little bit by the various details such as face normals etc (have limited knowledge of the topic). Here are few ideas to increase adoption:
- Sample files
- A video of end-to-end process of creating a basic model (perhaps something more complex than a cube) from 3d design to finished artefact.
- Support for STL
- Built-in option to adjust (reduce) face counts
Re: Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
#39This is lovely and very slick, but you can get equivalent results for $0 with Blender and Export Paper Model. That has the benefit of letting you create/edit/export the model in a single application instance in a single workflow that is easy with practice.
I will explore your suggestion, and I love Blender.
But that "easy with practice." does a lot of lifting here.
Though that practice-with-Blender then opens up so many possibilities in the 3D space it is ridiculous. Take the time to learn Blender people!
Re: Unfolder for Mac – A 3D model unfolding tool for creating papercraft
#40You can vibe code an app like this, relying on OBJ import (no editing apart from cutting/opening constraints), in possibly half a day. If you doubt me, take, me up on it. Sure, I have 35 years of experiences writing computer graphics code but I am certain I would just need to provide functional description input to Claude or Codex for this. Zero architecture or deep 3D know-how. The only challenge/interesting part is…
You should really try vibe coding a nontrivial 3D app before you die on this particular hill. LLMs are still really bad at spatial reasoning and coordinate systems. Like, painfully bad.