![0.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmX11pau9QLV8JXXe37sqZ3yWN1Z68mzkN7vuhLpEzNbYW/0.jpg)
[](https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1813?o=1)
 [Pepakura](http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/) is a program for making 3d models from printed out, cut out and folded parts that you glue together. I've been making models using it for a long time and finally decided to learn how to make my own models. The main reason was wanting to make skulls that I learned about in anthropology class, replicas cost a lot since they're usually bought by universities and professors.

After searching around I found a wonderful [site](https://africanfossils.org/search/?destination=search/) that has many fossils of bones and tools including their 3d images. Here's where the problem arises, you can't just insert the stl file into pepakura because it's a very detailed object, this is what happens if you do:

![0.1.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWhp7TAzXnvVZ3yxFMMqPWfmVL1vWYPSB5e9BzAEypvpB/0.1.jpg)

So I decide to look around on forums on how to simplify objects and found out that you can use [Blender](https://www.blender.org/), it's better to show then tell. Here's how I converted this [Paranthropus boisei](https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-406?o=1) 
First of all you can't drag and drop stl files into blender. you have to go to File>import>stl and then chose the file.

On the right press on settings
![1.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYJmah9eUrTcJ7gw8d2uZ7rXCavine2FAcginzggDwANQ/1.jpg)

Add modifier, decimate
![2.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWw5z7CBPsvnVS7CwceL9sXyQ5i1Yos7pbYZkkvBkyLG6/2.jpg)

Now you have to find the perfect balance between the details of the object and how difficult it will be to assemble. I made this one too complicated but I'm learning from my mistakes.
![3.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmagZX6NrgBd6VWWhGf2wWX9xoMXLxxHRwctxPDiDxnU7a/3.jpg)

Now we go File>export>stl
![4.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmctpfUFsfdsvn2cCCPeUvjFqNpgN5fM8fMKL1MNbZJH29/4.jpg)

You'll get to this menu, pick the name, destination and press export in the top right
![5.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPEtWaEywLPTiVKUvxCAidC76VPEexibRXLKuijupWgJa/5.jpg)

Now we're done with blender, time to open Pepakura and drop the stl file in
![6.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXjHhupaUqFUBxtZyExqnifh4ZzXBRTWQ4CBWdHXDfXsa/6.jpg)

Press unfold in the middle top, Now you have a bunch of chunks.
![7.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQh1xiubbR5E1mdPiyH4itxMDUpfhwck7H95PKKwDugyj/7.jpg)

Right click(on the right side of the screen), join/disjoin face. Now you have to half intuitively disjoin parts that are either too big, uncomfortable to cut or fold, have flaps that are too small, this takes some trial and error
![8.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXdq6Z2BHpjuPmFgf2QHnXnFQ8rQT2FQGAUaASUMMk6Sq/8.jpg)

This is how it ends up, make sure no pieces are out of the pages or crossing two pages, go to file, save to pdf ,and pdo if you have a license key and you're done
![10.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQyiWYjzJs4ge6tW9XwkCyk5wKQ7PFFP8j5Uoug5t5yG7/10.jpg)

This is how this turned out, not completely done and had a few issues:
![IMG_20180625_084609.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQT5pqSaXykskbZad6MPTLon8YX882QRnFDZoD7xTLALd/IMG_20180625_084609.jpg)
![IMG_20180625_084624.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZBSYT39sneykZSrgWJBMB6KX5vHB25Subx3evWLJHKoS/IMG_20180625_084624.jpg)

Most noticeably, it's grey, you can change the color before printing here:
![11.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfKzzYFQyxoxpgvBcVLdnDEPX7dfX3jdZXsVvmHTFkqxV/11.jpg)
It's nice to have a color while you're folding the model since it shows you where the flaps are.
 There are too many details and the print office accidentally printed it on glossy paper which is hell to work with. Best paper to work with is 160-200g/m2, using a very sharp scalpel and bad quality liquid glue (so you can fix mistakes). I had a few edges that were going out of the boxes so some parts either appear on the next page or are cut off.

The next model I did was a [Homo habillis](https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1813?o=1). This one was great, easy and fun to fold, if you want to try or check it out here's the pepakura [pdo file](https://www.mediafire.com/file/clebs31wf6vazun/1813.pdo). It's the model on top, here's some pictures from the sides

![14.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmb37PbELgfzzniqyRAZmF6D68WPhUKNDCtSnWU8gma2J5/14.jpg)

![15.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPs1c1zM9gQLsCvLCZBhH1Ppgg6BJZQ5miXi9khqXsk2n/15.jpg)

Here's the leftover paper from this model
![Untitled.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUYVUtBJVqZz7VbbLD9StbEoZxAbwQNNsou9VF6PeQhKu/Untitled.jpg)

Hope this was interesting, it was a hassle but totally worth it in the end. follow if you like my stuff :)