Pepakura Assistance, Unfolding

[sergeant duck]

My attempt to "motivate" myself back into the costuming gig after my deployment has led me to Pepakura. I've started off small as I really want to learn how to do this right (my office is filled with various papercraft shapes, weapons, and a half built helmet )

I have a friend working on two 3D images for me for possible costumes. The problem I have is that all the things I've built so far were already unfolded files. I think I have a decent handle on how to unfold an image but any help any of you might be able to offer on unfolding would be invaluable. Or as a worse case scenario (if I can't get a grasp of it) do any of you know someone who'd be willing to unfold the designs for me. Again, I want to learn this so having someone else do it for me is a LAST ditch thing. Really just want the help.

The convention I am hoping to wear one of these costumes at is not until fall. So I've got a good chunk of time. But the sooner I get these things started, the better.

[NatsumeRyu]

I can.

Unfolding's super easy.

kay, step one, after importing the 3D mesh and getting your model facing the correct direction and such is probably always gonna just be "unfold" at the top. Pepakura does a quick and dirty unfold of the mesh based on some general rules.

Then, that'll give you all those pieces set up on the paper at right. Then it's time to get your hands dirty. I'll assume you haven't done much messing around in pepakura - the main tools you'll need are available via right click in an empty space in the 2D/paper viewer side of the viewport. That also shows you all the shortcuts for the tools, like ctrl + m and ctrl + n which I use most frequently.

You know what, here, I'll just make a video.
Bam.
That should cover all the major stuff in this impromptu video. Any questions, shoot.

[sergeant duck]

Wow, you really went above and beyond. Thank you! I wasn't expecting an actual tutorial video! You m'dear, are awesome. Anyways, after watching the video (twice) it looks like the thing I'm gonna struggle with most is figuring out which polygons to "fix." You did a lot of clicking, removing, moving, etc like a pro. Once my friend comes through with the first 3D model I'm sure I'll be pestering you with a crapload of questions. The first model will be a LOT easier than the other in regards to details. I'm hoping I will have learned enough from the first one to handle the second when it arrives. But seeing as how I'm in standby mode till it arrives, I'll be taking your advice and playing with the files I already have.

[NatsumeRyu]

No problem.

I think the easiest way to learn this is by practice since a lot of it actually depends on the user's preferences (the Halo ones for instance; I hate the way the original unwrapper unfolded them so I redid all those parts early on when I started Doc).
And there's never a "right" way - I unfolded Brawl based on what I know I generally like, and I'm still cutting several of my pieces apart in person and taping them together in a different pattern before transferring them to the cardstock. Every piece takes that sort of insight to try and figure out what'll work best given it's shape.
And then after I build a piece for real I usually say, "Well, that would've worked better this way..." and then edit it in pepakura in case it ever gets printed again. XD


Anyway, I'm totally up to any questions you end up throwing out there.
And I can do a live video thingy with you if you need anything in real time shown to you or answered or whatever.

[sergeant duck]

Have I mentioned how epically awesome you are?