How to print a slab pottery template at actual size
A template is only useful if the printed dimensions match your plan. This guide walks through one tapered-cup example, from entering measurements to checking and assembling the paper pattern.
This is a calculated example and a paper-testing workflow, not a documented fired-clay test. Clayform does not compensate for clay thickness, joining allowance or shrinkage.
1. Start with dimensions before firing
Use the dimensions you want while making the form. If you only know the desired finished size, first establish suitable working dimensions for your clay and firing process. Do not enter a generic shrinkage percentage and assume it guarantees a fit.
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Top diameter | 100 mm |
| Bottom diameter | 70 mm |
| Vertical height | 95 mm |
Diameters describe an ideal surface with no thickness. Vertical height is measured straight up the center, not along the sloping wall.
Open the slab pottery template generator and use the Tapered cup preset to load these values. The top and bottom circles must be round, and the wall must have a straight profile.
2. Check the calculated pattern
For this example, the slant height is approximately 96.2 mm. The flat cutting outline occupies approximately 301.7 × 122.6 mm. These are the pattern’s bounding dimensions, not the finished vessel’s width and height.
The calculation uses a ring sector. Its outer arc is the 100 mm diameter circumference, approximately 314.2 mm; its inner arc is the 70 mm diameter circumference, approximately 219.9 mm. Equal top and bottom diameters instead produce a rectangular cylinder pattern.
Use the form preview to check your intended proportions. Use the flat preview to check that you have a pattern rather than a drawing of the finished vessel.
3. Choose paper and print at 100%
- Select A4 or US Letter to match the paper loaded in your printer. The example needs two sheets with either selection.
- Click Print actual-size template. In the print dialog, select the same paper size.
- Choose 100% or Actual size. Disable Fit to page, Fit to printable area, and browser headers and footers.
- Print the first sheet and measure its 50 mm calibration line with a physical ruler. If the line is not 50 mm, correct the print settings before using the template.
The SVG download also contains physical millimeter dimensions and a calibration line. SVG applications can change units or scale on import, so check the dimensions again in your chosen editor.
4. Join the tiled sheets
Each print sheet identifies its row and column. Arrange row 1 first, with columns increasing from left to right. Add later rows underneath.
Trim the paper margins to the thin rectangular tile frame. Join adjacent tile frames edge-to-edge; this version does not add an overlap area. Align the cutting outline where it crosses the seam, then tape the sheets together. The dashed center guide is a reference, not a fold line.
Cut along the curved outer outline. The solid straight edges are the joining edges of the side wall. Some final tiles contain blank space because the template does not fill the whole sheet.
5. Make a paper form before cutting clay
Bring the two straight joining edges together and tape them so the edges meet without overlap. Measure the opening and base, and check the height and proportions. Avoid folding or creasing the curved side wall.
For clay, plan your joining method and add any required allowance yourself. This generator provides the side wall only: it does not generate a base, account for wall thickness or promise an exact fired size. A paper mock-up checks geometry, not the behavior of your clay.
Common printing problems
- The whole form is too small: check the calibration line and turn off automatic page fitting.
- Two sheets do not line up: verify their row and column labels, paper size, print scale, and the trimmed tile frames.
- The clay base does not fit: the template has no thickness or joint compensation. Recheck your construction method and test the fit separately.
- The vessel is curved: a ring sector describes a straight-sided cone or frustum. A rounded bowl needs a different template method.
Make your own pottery template →
Further reading
For an independent ceramic artist’s example of using printable geometric templates for slab building, see Ceramic Arts Network’s tar-paper template guide. Its printing workflow and template software differ from Clayform.
Updated October 15, 2026. Calculations are illustrative; no physical printing or pottery trial is claimed.