- STEP 061 > When you get to the round corners is where it becomes a little tricky. Just slow down and move your entire wrist until you reach the end of the curve then continue straight down the next edge.
- STEP 062 > Once you have gone all the way around, flip your foamcore around to see if you are missing any contact points on the back side. If you do see gaps from not having pressed hard enough when cutting, simply do a quick "connect the dots" if you will until you can make out the entire octagonal shape.
- STEP 063 > Your centre should now pop out very easily. You can keep this for later when making your dorito door corners.
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STEP 064 > The following steps are some tricks I discovered to make your frame a little cleaner and smoother looking. Now if there are imperfections in the cut IT IS NORMAL !!! You can NOT get 100% perfection like you would from a Cricut or Laser cutter. That is the fun and beauty of making hand made crafts.
Now to begin, grab a pencil. The width just happens to be the same as your frame's curves. You want to stick it way out and the apply some light pressure onto the foamcore as you pull the pencil inwards (green arrow) as you move it along the edges at the same time (red arrow)
- STEP 065 > So pull the pencil inside as you move it along to the next curve. Repeat this all the way around and as many times as you want untill you are happy with the results.
- STEP 066 > As we did the outside edges, you now want to colour the inside edges of your decals with your black Sharpie. This is not 100% needed but it makes a HUGE difference in the final look.
- STEP 067 > Remember to NOT use the tip like a coloring book, you want to press, make contact using the sides of your pen.
- STEP 068 > Carefully and slowly go all the way around. You will be seing instant blending with the foamcore. Also remember to draw with the decal side facing outwards (or in the direction your pen is pointing towards)
- STEP 069 > Your first octagonal frame is complete, just repeat the same steps on your 2nd frame.
- STEP 070 > Once both frames are done, it's time to make the 2 inner square frames. Align your octaganal frame to a NEW foamcore piece. Make sure the orientation matches up with the 15cm. if you see a gap peeking out, you need to rotate 90 degrees.
- STEP 071 > Once it fits right, make sure the sides are all flush and even, then press down on your octagonal frame as you use your pencil to trace the inside shape onto your 3rd foamcore square.
- STEP 072 > Do the same inner tracing on your 4th foamcore square.
- STEP 073 > If you look at the blueprint, what we want to do next is align our ruler with the octagonal sides and then EXTEND those frame lines towars the square edges so that we will create a square inner shape..
- STEP 074 > Start by placing your ruler against one of the octagonal sides (between the green arrows) and then with your pencil, draw a straight line across. Do this for all 4 sides only (not on the corner angles).
- STEP 075 > You should now have a inside shape that measures 12cm X 12cm square.
- STEP 076 > Don't panic, it is normal for the top (2cm) and the bottom (1cm) to not have the same height.
- STEP 077 > Now to cut out your centre, we want to always start the blade in a corner and move towards the centre of the frame. Start Up towards the bottom like on the left image then start again in the corner but this time right across towards the right. This will give you clean perfect 90 degree corners.
- STEP 078 > So start by raising your X-Acto handle so that your blade's front creates a 90 degree angle with the surface. press down until you poke through. You should hear a popping sound. Now lower your handle (and blade) closer to the foamcore and start cutting towards the centre. STOP JUST SHY BEFORE YOU REACH THE OTHER CORNER.
- STEP 079 > Because the cuts are so close to the edges, sometimes the outside zone (green mat) is not at the same height.
- STEP 080 > Which can cause your ruler to wobble sideways and preventing you from getting a clean cut.

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Did you already build this Diorama ? At home or at our Star Wars Celebration Diorama Builders workshop ? Would you like to show it in the site’s GALLERY VISITORS DIORAMAS section, YES ? That is Awesome !!! You can find out all the details on how to email me your photos on the VISITORS SUBMISSIONS INFO page … When I get your photos, I will create your very own page just like this one. You may not realize it but work does inspire others to join in the fun of making Action Figure Dioramas.
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NOT FOR RESALE ALL Decals, tutorials and artwork are ©FrankDiorio (dioramaworkshop.com) and offered FOR FREE to the fans – that would be you 🙂 so you can build and display my diorama designs in your very own home. I realize I cannot control what one does with my graphics once I place them on the web, I can only ask you as one fan to another, please respect the artist and do not be that jerk who uses my designs and tutorials to build a copy of my work only to sell it on EBAY or trade/sale groups and forums. Thank You. Frank.
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