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Paper Cutout / Kirigami

Style example
Best for:
Social media postsGreeting cardsBook illustrationsDesktop wallpapersWedding invitationsPoster printsChildren's content
✨ Sample prompt used to generate the hero image 
3D layered paper-cut illustration of a hot air balloon festival over a mountain valley at sunrise, 16:9 landscape format. Seven colorful balloons at different depths, each cut from a different colored paper — crimson, saffron, teal, coral. Multiple layers of thick textured paper forming mountain ridges, pine trees, and wispy clouds. Deep drop shadows separate each layer creating a pronounced sense of depth. Soft warm directional light from the right, making the paper edges glow.

Prompt Variations

Section titled “Prompt Variations”
Landscape / Nature Scene Desktop Wallpaper, Print 
3D layered paper-cut illustration of [SCENE — e.g., a coastal lighthouse on a rocky cliff with crashing waves below], 16:9 landscape format. Multiple layers of thick textured paper — each layer a different color: [COLORS — e.g., navy for the ocean, white for the waves, warm grey for the cliff, yellow for the lighthouse]. Crisp laser-cut edges on every form. Deep drop shadows between each paper layer creating pronounced depth. Soft warm directional light from the upper right making the paper edges glow. Visible paper fiber texture on each surface.
Character / Portrait Social Media, Greeting Card 
3D layered paper-cut illustration of [SUBJECT — e.g., a girl with an umbrella walking through a paper rain shower], 3:4 vertical format. The figure is constructed from multiple precise paper layers — body, clothing, hair, and accessory are each separate cut sheets stacked for depth. Thick textured colored paper in [PALETTE]. The background is a multi-layered paper [ENVIRONMENT] with deep drop shadows between layers. Softly backlit — light passing through thinner paper sections creates a subtle translucent glow.
Pop-Up Book Style Children's Content, Social Media 
3D layered paper-cut illustration styled as an open pop-up book — [SCENE — e.g., a fairy tale castle with towers, a moat bridge, and paper birds] rising from the book's center fold, 16:9 landscape format. The book pages are visible at the bottom with printed text. Multiple paper layers fold upward at 90-degree angles, creating a miniature stage. Deep drop shadows between each layer. Bright, cheerful color palette — [COLORS]. Soft studio lighting from above. Whimsical, storybook charm.
Seasonal / Holiday Greeting Card, Social Media 
3D layered paper-cut illustration of a [HOLIDAY/SEASON — e.g., winter holiday] scene — [DETAILS — e.g., a snowy village with paper pine trees, a church with a glowing cut-out window, and paper snowflakes hanging from above], 3:4 vertical format. Multiple layers of thick textured paper in [PALETTE — e.g., white, icy blue, silver, and forest green with gold accents]. Deep drop shadows between layers. Soft warm backlighting creating a gentle glow through the thinner paper cuts. Festive, elegant.
Shadow Box / Framed Diorama Art Print, Gift 
3D layered paper-cut shadow box mounted inside a deep wooden frame, depicting [SCENE — e.g., an underwater coral reef with fish, seahorses, and swaying kelp], 1:1 square format. Multiple paper layers recede into the frame — foreground closest to the viewer, background deepest. LED backlight illuminates the scene from behind, creating a warm glow through thinner paper sections. Thick textured paper in [COLORS]. Clean laser-cut details on each layer. The wooden frame edge is visible around the composition. Gallery-quality presentation.

Image-to-Image Transformations

Section titled “Image-to-Image Transformations”
Using the attached photo as reference, recreate the entire scene as a 3D layered paper-cut illustration. Convert every element — subject, objects, background — into layers of thick textured colored paper with crisp cut edges. Separate each layer with deep drop shadows to create depth. Simplify the color palette to [NUMBER] distinct paper colors. Add warm directional lighting making the paper edges glow. Preserve the original composition.

Tips & Best Practices

Section titled “Tips & Best Practices”
  • Shadows are the style: “Deep drop shadows between each layer” is the single most important phrase. Without it, the output looks like a flat illustration rather than a physical paper sculpture.
  • Paper texture sells the craft: “Thick textured paper with visible paper fiber” distinguishes this from digital vector art.
  • Backlighting adds magic: When light passes through thinner paper sections, it creates a beautiful translucent glow — specify “backlit, light glowing through thinner paper sections” for this effect.
  • Limit your palette: Real paper-cut art uses a limited number of paper colors. Specifying “6-8 paper colors” creates more cohesive, authentic results.
  • Common pitfalls: Avoid “paper illustration” (too vague — sounds like drawing on paper). Don’t skip the shadow language — no shadows = no depth = flat illustration.
  • Pairs well with: Stained Glass Windows (similar light-through-material effect), Embroidered / Cross-Stitch (same handcraft aesthetic, different medium)
Section titled “Related Styles”
Stained Glass Windows
Embroidered / Cross-Stitch