Pop-Up Tutorial 1 - Introduction – Materials and Basic Theory

The Pop-Up Channel2 minutes read

Duncan Birmingham teaches pop-up design using materials like glue, scissors, and card, with advanced techniques involving complex tools like a craft knife and protractor. Different types of folds, like converging and parallel, are used to create movement and balance in pop-up designs, showcasing various mechanisms and folding techniques by artists like Louisa Roan and Ron van der Meer.

Insights

  • Solvent-based adhesive is recommended over water-based glue for optimal results in pop-up design, as highlighted by Duncan Birmingham.
  • Pop-up designs encompass a wide array of techniques and mechanisms, from converging and parallel creases to counter folds and different types of v-folds, as demonstrated in works by various artists like Louisa Roan and Ron van der Meer detailed in the book "Pop-Up Design and Paper Mechanics."

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Recent questions

  • What materials are essential for pop-up design?

    Glue, scissors, card (160 GSM), solvent-based adhesive.

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Summary

00:00

Mastering Pop-Up Design Techniques with Duncan Birmingham

  • Duncan Birmingham specializes in teaching pop-up design through tutorials.
  • Basic materials needed for pop-up design include glue, scissors, and card (160 GSM recommended).
  • Solvent-based adhesive is preferred over water-based glue for better results.
  • Additional materials for complex pop-ups include a craft knife, ruler, compass, protractor, set square, ballpoint pen, pencil, and rubber.
  • Elementary pop-ups involve folding a small piece of card in half and making converging or parallel creases.
  • Converging creases have all folds meeting at the same point, while parallel creases have folds running parallel to the spine.
  • Counter folds are used to create movement in pop-ups, acting as muscles to lift or sculpt larger pieces.
  • Different types of v-folds include right angle, acute angle, pointy, obtuse angle, and asymmetric v-folds.
  • Parallel folds involve creating folds at the outer edges of the pop-up piece, ensuring tabs are wide enough to handle stress.
  • Pop-ups must span a gully, balance on each side of the gully, and create gullies for sticking additional pop-ups.

19:07

"Exploring Pop-Up Design Techniques and Examples"

  • Pop-up designs can be created using different techniques, such as using the base as a background or having the pop-up rise from it, with examples like Christopher Columbus and The Little Fish Who Cried Shark.
  • Various mechanisms are combined in pop-up designs, like V-folds and parallelograms, as seen in examples such as David Pellom Appleby's Shapes and Chuck Murphy's Black Cat White Cat.
  • A variety of pop-up designs, including those by Louisa Roan and Ron van der Meer, showcase different folding techniques like V-folds and right angle V-folds, all detailed in the book "Pop-Up Design and Paper Mechanics."
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