Free pop-up card and book tutorials
Learn for free, from your first fold to your own paper story. Start with tools and materials and an A4 SVG sample, then explore artwork, layers, opening checks and assembly.
Learn a fold. Make it your own.
Read the lessons, try the demos and download the supplied SVG practice patterns without a purchase or sign-up. Editing and previewing are free; personalized production exports and additional AI use have their own fees.
Preface: Give your own story a new dimension
Why FoldUStory exists, how handcraft and AI can work together, and the paper-engineering knowledge we hope to build together.
Read the preface ↗Preface: Give your own story a new dimension
Why FoldUStory exists, how handcraft and AI can work together, and the paper-engineering knowledge we hope to build together.
Read preface →PREPTools and materials for your first pop-up book
Prepare your tools, choose paper and adhesive, check print sizes and make a small physical sample.
Read guide →01V-Fold Pop-Up Card Tutorial: Right-Angle Fold with a Printable Pattern
Build a symmetric V-fold with an A4 SVG practice pattern and interactive 3D demo. Learn the paper angles, creases and glue positions step by step.
Read guide →02Acute V-Fold Tutorial: Compare Tilt and Mounting Angles
Change the paper and mounting angles separately, then compare two paper samples to understand tilt and opening range.
Read guide →03Obtuse V-Fold Tutorial: Mounting Angles and Closed-Page Fit
Three 3D comparisons and two patterns explain mounting range, lean and closed-page fit for a 120° sheet.
Read guide →04Which V-Fold Should You Use? Right-Angle, Acute and Obtuse Compared
Choose a symmetric V-fold for an upright or leaning pose. Compare three paper angles in 3D, check opening range and closed-page fit, and find matching A4 SVG patterns.
Read guide →05Turn Your Artwork into a V-Fold Pop-Up: Alignment and Mounting
Use a house image and 3D comparison to align artwork with a V-fold's centre crease, mounting lines and tabs. Learn how outlines differ from real cutout holes.
Read guide →06Halloween Pop-Up Card Tutorial: Make a Layered V-Fold Scene
Open, close and inspect each layer of Midnight Candy Alchemist, then make an independent copy to customize.
Read guide →07How to Layer Artwork for a Pop-Up Book
Separate a backdrop, middle ground and subject, prepare transparent cutouts and replace artwork in the phoenix template while checking depth and motion.
Read guide →08How to Place and Connect Paper Mechanisms
Place a structure from the component library, confirm its mounting faces and connections, then build a scene one mechanism at a time while checking motion.
Read guide →09How to Check Pop-Up Motion and Closed-Page Fit
Inspect closed, intermediate and open states, use side and back views to locate intersections and connection problems, then test the actual paper.
Read guide →10How to Print, Cut and Assemble Pop-Up Patterns
Check print layout and actual scale, identify cuts, fold directions and glue areas, then pre-fold, test placement, glue and inspect the whole motion.
Read guide →Questions you may have
Do I need to pay or sign up for lessons and practice patterns?
No. Public lessons, interactive demos and their SVG practice patterns are free, with no sign-up required. Each lesson states the actual files, paper size and printing requirements. Personalized production exports and cloud AI use have separate fees.
In what order should I learn pop-up book making?
Start with tools and materials and the right-angle V-fold, then compare acute and obtuse folds. Once you can distinguish paper, mounting and page-opening angles, study artwork alignment and layers, try the Halloween case and use the printing and motion guides to make your own sample.
Can I follow the lessons without the 3D demos?
You can read the text, annotated diagrams and assembly instructions and use the practice resources actually supplied by each lesson. The 3D demos help explain motion, alongside the fold definitions and physical test folds.
Will AI image prompts and artwork preparation methods be shared?
We plan to share prompt examples, composition, transparent artwork, character consistency and cutting margins. Start with the published artwork alignment and layering lessons; new prompt resources will appear in the lesson index as they are released.