The process

From profile sketch
to print-ready template
in four steps.

Every step is fast, visual, and precise. No CAD knowledge needed. No geometry degree required. Just your vessel idea and ten minutes.

1
Draw profile
2
Choose clay
3
Generate
4
Print & build
01
Step one

Draw your vessel profile.

The profile editor is your drawing board. Click to place control points that define the outer silhouette of your vessel. Each point sets the radius at a given height — the engine does the rest.

  • ⊕Click on the canvas to place profile points. Drag any point to adjust it.
  • ↔The X axis is radius (0 = centre axis, 1 = maximum width). The Y axis is height in profile units.
  • ⬡Switch the faces slider to define faceted forms — the profile automatically generates polygon templates instead of curved strips.
  • 📏Set your target finished dimensions: height and maximum width in centimetres.
  • 💾Give your design a name and save it to your library for re-use any time.
Tip: Profiles that widen then narrow (convex then concave) automatically produce separate strips per segment — each geometrically independent. A classic vase with a belly produces 2–3 strips.
1a
Start at base
Place your first point at the base radius. Most vessels start at 0.4–0.6 of max radius.
1b
Build the curve
Add points up through the belly, shoulder, and neck. More points = smoother profile.
1c
Set dimensions
Enter the finished height and width you want after firing. Shrinkage is applied separately.
profile_editor.svg
r y axis h = 28cm w = 16cm r = 1.00 · y = 5.2cm widest point
02
Step two

Choose your clay body.

Every clay body shrinks differently when fired. Select yours from the preset list or enter a custom percentage. SlabStudio applies the compensation to every dimension in every template automatically.

  • 🔥Stoneware (12%), earthenware (8%), porcelain (14%), terracotta (7%), and raku (10%) are available as presets.
  • ✎Enter any custom percentage for specialist clay bodies, cone-specific recipes, or your own tested shrinkage rate.
  • 📐The scale factor is 1 ÷ (1 − shrinkage%). A template built 12% larger fires back to exactly your target size.
  • ↻Change the clay and regenerate instantly — no need to redraw your profile. The math updates in under a second.
How to measure your clay's shrinkage: Make a 10 cm test tile, fire to your usual temperature, and measure the result. Divide the difference by 10 to get your percentage. Enter it directly into the Custom field.
clay_selector.svg
STONEWARE 12% ✓ selected EARTHENWARE 8% PORCELAIN 14% TERRACOTTA 7% CUSTOM SHRINKAGE 11.5% | enter any % SCALE FACTOR ×1.1364 → every template scaled 13.64% larger
03
Step three

Generate your templates.

One button triggers the full geometry pipeline. The engine segments your profile, calculates the frustum development for each strip, generates annotated SVGs, and saves them to your account — all in under a second.

  • ⚙The pipeline log shows each computation step in real time: profile parsing, strip count, shrinkage application, SVG generation.
  • 📦Every vessel generates a full set: all body strips, base panel, top opening (if applicable), and a profile rib for reference.
  • 👁Preview each panel inline before downloading. Zoom in to check annotations and dimensions.
  • ↓Download individual panels or all at once. Files are also saved to your account for re-download any time.
  • ⬡The tiling preview shows how the panels fit on paper sheets, so you can estimate how many sheets to print.
What you get per vessel: body strips (1 per profile segment that changes direction), a base circle or polygon, a top opening if your vessel has one, and a profile rib you can use as a throwing guide or reference template.
generation_log.svg
▸ Pipeline: vase_classic · round… ✓ Profile: 9 control points ✓ Facets: round (0 faces) ✓ Shrinkage: 12% → ×1.1364 ✓ 11 panels computed ✓ SVGs generated (11 files) ✓ Saved to account ✦ Done! 11 templates ready. Strip 1/8 Strip 2/8 Strip 3/8 Base ● PANELS 11 SHRINK 12% STRIPS 8 TIME <1s
04
Step four

Print, cut,
& build your vessel.

Templates are designed to be used directly from a home or studio printer. Print on paper or card, cut along the marked lines, and use them to cut your clay slabs. The assembly sequence is marked on every panel.

  • 🖨️Print at 100% scale (no "fit to page"). Standard A4 printer paper works. 160gsm card gives stiffer, more durable templates.
  • ✂️Cut along the solid lines. Dashed lines indicate score lines or assembly joins — mark these on your clay, don't cut them.
  • 🏺Roll or cut your clay slab. Lay the template flat and cut around it with a needle tool or craft knife.
  • 🔄Assemble from the base up. The panel numbers and arc labels guide the join sequence — outer arcs of one strip match inner arcs of the next.
  • 💧Score and slip all joins. For round forms, the strips roll naturally to meet the radius annotations on each panel.
Arc matching: The inner arc of each body strip is marked with the same measurement as the outer arc of the strip below it. These dimensions are pre-compensated for shrinkage — they will be slightly different from your target dimensions, which is correct.
assembly_guide.svg
Strip 3 · top Strip 2 · belly Strip 1 · base band Base circle arc = 31.2cm arc = 42.8cm cut cut cut cut
Questions

Common questions
about the process.

How many body strips will my vessel generate? +
One strip per profile segment that changes direction. A simple cylinder or cone produces one strip. A classic vase with a belly and shoulder typically produces 2–4 strips depending on how many direction changes are in the profile. Each strip covers the portion of the vessel between two consecutive profile points where the radius changes direction.
What paper should I print on? +
Standard 80gsm printer paper works for one-use templates. For reusable templates, 160–180gsm card stock is ideal — it holds its shape when you're cutting around it and can be wiped clean. Some potters laminate frequently used templates. Always print at 100% scale (not "fit to page" or "shrink to fit").
Do I need to add a seam allowance? +
No. The templates include no seam allowance by default. For butt joins, cut exactly to the template. If you prefer overlapping joins, trim your clay slabs slightly wider than the template and trim back after assembly. The arc length annotations on each panel tell you the exact perimeter of each joint so you can verify your seams close correctly.
Can I use the same profile for both round and faceted forms? +
Yes. The profile defines the vessel's silhouette in both cases. For round forms the engine calculates annular sector strips. For faceted forms it uses the same profile to calculate the height and taper of each flat face, and the base polygon dimensions. The overall form will be the same; only the geometry of the panels changes.
What if my first build doesn't fit perfectly? +
The most common cause is incorrect shrinkage — different firings, kilns, and clay batches can vary slightly. After your first test fire, measure your finished piece and adjust the shrinkage percentage in SlabStudio to match. You can regenerate templates in seconds. Within 2–3 test builds most potters dial in their shrinkage to ±1mm accuracy.
How large can the templates be? +
Templates are generated to A4 size (21×29.7cm). For large vessels whose strips don't fit on a single A4 sheet, the template is still generated at full scale and you can tile-print it across multiple sheets. The tiling preview in the tool shows exactly how many sheets you'll need and where to cut and reassemble them.

See it for yourself
in under a minute.

Free trial, no card needed. Your first template set in 60 seconds.