Understanding Patterns - Foldbook Studio Documentation
The first time I generated a pattern, I stared at the giant table of numbers and thought, "What did I just get myself into?" But don't panic. Once you know how to read them, it becomes second nature.
Breaking Down the Table
If you output your pattern as a table or PDF, every single row is just one physical edge of a page. Here is what a typical row looks like:
| Page Num | Mark 1 (Top) | Mark 2 (Bottom) |
|---|---|---|
| 127 | 4.5 cm | 12.3 cm |
The Two Golden Rules
My golden rule is this: measure everything from the absolute top edge of the book page, going downward.
- Mark 1 (Top): How far down to make the first dot. This is where your fold starts.
- Mark 2 (Bottom): How far down to make the second dot. This is where the fold ends.
Wait, Why Are There 4 Marks? (Multi-Segment Folds)
Eventually, you'll fold a letter with floating holes in it—like a "B", an "R", or an "O". When that happens, the pattern will suddenly give you four, or even six marks for a single page. Don't freak out. It just means you have to fold gaps into the page (usually by cutting the edge and folding the tabs inward). We call these "Multi-segment folds."
My Advice: If you see a bunch of numbers in one row, it means you're doing a multi-segment fold. If it's your first project, stick to patterns that only have two marks per page (like a heart or simple silhouettes) until you're comfortable mapping out the cuts!