PREPARING THE BACKBOARD FOR PAPER KIT

The backboard is the foundation of your artwork. A well-prepared backboard makes assembly easier, improves alignment, and ensures the final piece looks clean and intentional.

The Paper Kit layout is printed on tough, semi-transparent tracing paper, delivered in 914 mm wide strips. For larger layouts, the design is divided into multiple strips that need to be combined. In these cases, dashed alignment lines are printed to help you position them accurately.

The printed layout can be used as a middle layer between the blocks and the backboard. This removes the need to draw or engrave the grid directly onto the backboard. Using the printed layout as both guide and base is the simplest and most reliable approach.

BACKBOARD MATERIAL CHOICE

The first step is choosing a backboard material.
There is no single best option — different projects require different balances of weight, size, durability, and finish.

For ideas and examples, visit: HOW TO MAKE BACKBOARD

For this tutorial, a stretched linen canvas was used — the same type commonly chosen for painting. Folded paper blocks are lightweight, and linen canvas holds them easily.

We recommend using a backboard that is approximately 10 cm larger than the layout on each side. This gives you tolerance for small inaccuracies during assembly and allows the artwork to spread evenly. Clean margins also give the finished piece a more polished look.
The exact size of each layout is listed on the website and printed directly on the layout itself.

HOW TO MAKE BACKBOARD

HOW TO PREPARE THE LAYOUT FOR A PAPER KIT

01) TRIM THE LAYOUT
• Cut the layout into a clean rectangular shape. Straight cuts are simpler than cutting along hexagonal edges, and the reduced size ensures the layout won’t be visible once the blocks are attached.

• Remove the outer parts of the edge hexagon cells. This preserves the internal geometry while making the layout easier to handle

02) POSITION THE LAYOUT
• Measure the center of the canvas or backboard.

• Place the trimmed layout centrally so all edges are even.

• Use paper tape to hold it in place. Secure one edge thoroughly while keeping it loose enough to lift — like a hinge.

03) MASK THE SURFACE
• Mask the surrounding area of the canvas or backboard

• The offcuts from trimming the layout work perfectly for this step

04) APPLY THE ADHESIVE
• Lift the layout away from the surface

• Apply spray adhesive evenly to both the backboard and the reverse side of the layout

• Wait 1–2 minutes until tacky. Carefully lower the layout back into position and smooth it out evenly.
Once attached, the layout becomes a precise placement guide for every block.

05) LET IT SET
• Allow the adhesive to dry for approximately 30 minutes

• Remove the masking once dry
If the layout gets slightly marked or dirty during this process, don’t worry — it won’t be visible once the artwork is complete.

ASSEMBLING THE BLOCKS ONTO THE BACKBOARD

We recommend assembling the layout first, then gluing the blocks one by one.
Always start from the center and work outward toward the edges.
Small inaccuracies are normal in paper folding. If you start from one edge, these can accumulate and cause the artwork to shift or grow unevenly. Starting from the center allows any variation to spread evenly in all directions, keeping the piece balanced and centered.

Pattex TRANSPARENT was used as the adhesive.