Geometry, made tangible.
Mathematics describes remarkable forms. Clay gives us a way to hold them.
I built Solids to explore how polyhedra take shape in slab clay. Choose a form, set its dimensions, and print reusable panels with edge-by-edge bevel settings. The geometry gives us a starting point; clay, joins and firing add their own tolerances.
Design printable clay slab panels
Interior up. Exterior down.
Keep the exterior face down throughout cutting and beveling. Cut the full outline, then remove upper waste from the interior face, preserving the exterior edge underneath. Settings are from the slab plane: 90° is perpendicular, 0° is parallel.
Optimized for adjustable wire bevelers such as the Precision Beveler by KellyHoferStudios.
How to use your slab templates
Independent polygon panels, made one at a time. Each reusable template tells you how many clay pieces to make and how to bevel their edges.
Choose a solid
Explore 13 Archimedean and five Platonic solids, or try a recessed or outward-pyramid construction.
Set your clay dimensions
Enter the desired fired base edge, working slab thickness and your clay’s measured linear shrinkage.
Print at 100%
Download actual-size PDF or SVG panels. Disable Fit to Page and measure the calibration marks.
Cut, then bevel
Keep the panel and edge IDs. Follow each edge’s angle and cut-side instruction; test a scrap joint first.
Assemble with care
Match the panel edges and work with your clay’s joining needs. Allow for moisture, compression and drying.
What are bevel angles?
A bevel removes a wedge from a panel’s edge so it can meet its neighbor. Solids calculates a symmetric tool setting from the interior dihedral—the angle between the assembled faces.
The wire setting is measured from the clay surface: 90° is a square cut, normal to the slab; 0° is parallel. A 120° convex joint and a 240° reflex joint both use 60°, with different faces up.
For convex panels, keep the exterior face down throughout cutting and beveling, with the interior up. Recessed constructions may need OUT / exterior-up bevels and extended blanks. Mixed panels need bevels from both sides.
These are ideal geometric targets. Test the printed scale and a scrap joint before making a complete set.
A few practical questions
What comes in the download?
One reusable copy of each unique panel type, with MAKE quantities and bevel labels inside the cutout. PDFs have calibration marks and tile large panels across sheets. Transformed designs also include cut-side labels and an edge-matching assembly reference.
How do thickness and shrinkage change the templates?
Slab thickness is the roller setpoint in working clay. The base edge and apex offsets describe desired fired dimensions, enlarged once for your shrinkage estimate. Thickness changes the bevel offsets. Real shrinkage varies with clay, forming, drying and firing.
Can I make recessed or stellated forms?
The designer supports selected face transformations and seven construction recipes. Recessed and outward-pyramid plans are experimental: surface checks and thick-panel overlap checks help reject invalid plans, but they do not simulate firing or guarantee assembly. Some multi-face corners need additional relief; overlapping panel solids block export.
Is Solids free, and do I need an account?
Solids is free to use and needs no account. Save a project file to keep your dimensions and transformations. Your browser also remembers your last valid settings.