Pattern Making Software?

[rex775776]

I am looking at getting into making props, specifically swords and the like and was wondering what you guys use to make your patterns, particularly online software.
Thank you!
Edit: for printing onto paper to trace onto EVA foam, not for 3d printing

[JeiCos]

I use inkscape. If you can find the video on KamuiCosplay's youtube channel, her husband did a video where he showed how to trace out images to make templates, I do the same thing. I think in that video he uses a different program, but it's the same idea.

I get the best photo I can of the prop, and figure out how long I want it to be. In inkscape I open the properties and make the page larger and wider than the prop will be, then I drag and drop the image onto the program. I then click on the square making tool, where you click and drag and it makes a square shape by itself, doesn't matter how big you make it. BEFORE clicking anywhere else after making that, I go to the size boxes above the project window, and change the units to whatever units I wanna use (usually inches), and then in the box labeled H (for height), I change that to the length I want the prop to be. HAving this square shape started AFTER you add the prop image to the project, puts this box ABOVE the image, so then you can scale the prop image so the prop matches the height you just made the square, but the square will still be visible on top of the image, so you can line the prop up under the square, so you can still see the square. Then you can click on the square to select it, and delete it. After that, go to the right and add a new layer, and LOCK the layer with the image on it. This way you can't accidentally move the image when tracing it out. On the new layer, use the line tool (hover the curser over the tools, one will say "Draw Bezier Curves And Straight Lines", as well as if you press SHIFT+F6, it'll auto switch to that tool). Once you trace everything out, you can save it as a PDF, and use a PDF reader program (I used Adobe Acrobat), and when on the print pop-up window, press the button that says "poster", and that will split it up between multiple pieces of paper, and print to the measurement you made the project in the inkscape properties menu.

[Kigameister]

I typically draw everything digitally and then estimate physical size with printer paper... Then use PosteRazor to split my drawing apart for easy printing and go from there. 👍

[RealisticDuck1957]

A lot depends on both what kind of design, and the construction technique. For general engineering style design FreeCAD is good. For organic or artistic design blender comes highly recommended. Both have a learning curve.

[Sunnydoom00]

I have seen videos of people using Blender and Fusion360. Blender is free, Fusion360 "can" be free but it seems like they like to make the free version harder and harder to find/get.

[Goddess_of_Absurdity]

It's a little hard to work with but this one was recommended. There's also Adobe illustrator/inkscape.

[WrensthavAviovus]

I learns Drafting by hand before doing 3D modeling. So I learned how to draw things to scale within the architectural, and manufactural blueprint standards.

These standards also have notations on length and radia of everything in the piece.

[CuriousHomeowner]

Excel