Test-cut one piece before you commit foam.

Foam Studio checks that its patterns rebuild into the designed shape on a computer. It cannot tell you how your foam, glue and body behave, so test first.

1. Print at actual size

Turn off "fit to page" and print at 100% / Actual Size. Measure the 50 mm ruler on the printout before you trust any other dimension. If it is not 50 mm, fix the print settings first.

2. Pick the smallest useful piece

Choose the piece most likely to go wrong, for example the one that wraps around a joint, such as a bracer. The free one-piece PDF is made for this.

3. Cut it in cheap material

Use thin craft foam, poster board or a spare offcut. Match the seams by their labels. Hold the piece against your body with the straps or tape you plan to use.

4. Compare with the screen

Check clearance at the elbow, shoulder and wherever the design says it is tight. Foam compresses and bevelled edges close up differently from a flat model. Note what is off and adjust the design's measurements or clearance target.

5. Then cut the real foam

Only when the test piece fits do you move to the full set. Allow extra foam for mistakes. We have not cut or fitted these patterns ourselves on a person, so treat the estimates as a starting point.