instructables

Dungeons and Dragons Paper Miniatures (Pathfinder, Warhammer, Etc.)

by In The Kitchen With Matt

In this instructable I will show you how to make are easy to make if I can make them, you can make
awesome Dungeons and Dragons Paper Miniatures. them, let's get started!
The same idea could be used with Path nder or
Warhammer or any other type of role playing game Don't forget to follow me and check out my other
that uses minis, not just D&D minis. I love playing instructables. :)
Dungeons and Dragons. I grew up playing D&D with
my brothers and still play the popular role playing If you have any questions or comments leave them
game today with friends and family members. There down below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
are some awesome miniatures that you can buy which :)
usually cost anywhere from 3 to 4 dollars to 60 to 100
for dragons, etc. If you are running an adventure with Follow the steps below or watch the video tutorial or
very few monsters, it may not be too expensive to do both. :)
spend some money and buy some. I always have tons
of monsters and characters in my
adventures/campaign so I wanted to create paper
minis so it was lighter on the pocketbook. I have made
//www.yout ube.com/embed/vRHZ_ieH0f8
so many of these now. They do take a little bit of time,
but most of that time can be spent working in front of
the TV, so you can kill two birds with one stone. They

Step 1: Things You Need

Here is a list of items you will need to make these:

Dungeons and Dragons Paper Miniatures (Pathfinder, Warhammer, Etc.): Page 1
 cardboard
paper (thicker stock will hold up a little better, but you need to be able to fold it)
packing tape
scissors or exacto knife
glue stick or spray adhesive
hot glue gun
photo editing program (I use Photoshop)
bingo chips or another type of base
paper mini base holders (I use the one from my Dead of Winter Board Game)

The above links are a liate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Step 2: Artwork Arrangement

First we need to create our paper with the monsters and characters. There are a variety of photo editing programs
you can use. I always use Photoshop for these.

Step 3: Photoshop Tutorial

Dungeons and Dragons Paper Miniatures (Pathfinder, Warhammer, Etc.): Page 2

In Photoshop create a new document. Make the document 8.5 x 11 inches. This will match a full sheet of paper.
Then grab the rulers and add four guides. These will be the bleed areas. We don't want to place any artwork past
these lines, otherwise they may get cut o when printing.

Step 4: Place and Size

Now let's add some artwork and resize it. There are
three di erent methods I use for creating paper minis.
The rst is where you have only a front side and it is
glued to cardboard and then you use a stand, the
next is where you have a front and a back of the
character or creature that look the same and you fold
them over and glue them to a base, the last way and
probably my favorite is where you have a front and a
back, but the back of the creature is blurry and black
and white, so it is obvious it is the back, unless you
happen to have artwork for the back of your
character.
*Caveat about the artwork, for personal use it is
probably ne to grab whatever images you want and
use them, but do not use any images that you don't
have the rights to, if you plan on selling them...lol :)
Now we grab an image and drag it over and place it
on our document. Resize it by holding the shift key
and scale it down. You can use whatever scale you
want, the standard scale for D&D minis is 25/28 mm or
about 1 inch tall for a 6 foot human. Now we have our
artwork placed you can ll up the page with more of
them however you like.

Step 5: Different Style

Dungeons and Dragons Paper Miniatures (Pathfinder, Warhammer, Etc.): Page 3

Now let's do another style. Duplicate the creature, then go to "Edit" "Transform" "Flip Vertical". Then drag the
character up and align it. Now you have a mirror image on top so when you fold it they will match. You have a front
and a back. You can leave it as is or do the next step.

Step 6: Blur It Out

I like to blur the back side out. With the top layer selected go to "Filter" "Blur" "Gaussian Blur" Then select a range of
4 to 5 pixels which is usually pretty good. Again you can leave it like this or do the next step, which I always do.

Dungeons and Dragons Paper Miniatures (Pathfinder, Warhammer, Etc.): Page 4

Step 7: Black and White Back
With the top layer selected go to adjustments and
apply a saturation adjustment, and bring it all the way
down so it is black and white. Now this adjustment
will e ect everything below it, so we need to apply a
clipping mask. Select the adjustment, right click, and
select "Create Clipping Mask". And there you go. Now
ll in the rest of the sheet with monsters and
Step 8: Option 1
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characters, however you want the style to be, by
themselves, front back, etc. Once you have a full sheet
you can print them out. I usually just go to Staples
and have them print them on a thicker paper that
holds color really well. Or you can print them from
home too if you have a nice color printer.
Now I will show you the rst option or style. Cut out one of your creatures that only has a front side. In this case I am
doing the basilisk. Get a piece of cardboard that is roughly the same size as your cut out.

Step 9: Glue It Down

Now let's glue down the cutout with either a glue stick or spray adhesive.

Dungeons and Dragons Paper Miniatures (Pathfinder, Warhammer, Etc.): Page 6

Step 10: Trim and Stand

Now trim it with scissors or an Exacto knife. Then you can put it in its stand. I am using stands that came with my
Dead of Winter board game, but there are stands available that you can buy online like these. Your are done! Look
how cool he is, haha ready for your adventure.

Step 11: Option 2: Cut and Fold

Now let's do the next option. Take one of the characters that you made a front and back for, in this case I am doing
the beholder. Cut around it so you just have that character. Then fold it over.

Dungeons and Dragons Paper Miniatures (Pathfinder, Warhammer, Etc.): Page 7

Step 12: Glue and Tape

Now we use the glue stick and glue the character and fold it back. Now add some packing tape to the front and
back, this will act like a lamination. It will help protect the characters, you know sometimes we get a little messy
when gaming, food spills, etc.

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Step 13: Trim, Glue, Base

Next we need to take one of those bingo chips and
apply some hot glue. BE CAREFUL, hot glue guns are
hot, imagine that, and have caused many a burn. Do
not touch the tip or the glue! Place a dollop of glue in
the center of the bingo chip and then place your
folded and laminated character in the middle,
holding it straight up. Hold it there for a few seconds
for the glue to dry a bit. There you go and awesome
character that has a sturdy base.

Step 14: Option 3

Option three is really just a variation of option two. You don't use glue to glue it together with the fold. You just add

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tape to both sides and then fold it over and hot glue it to a base. It saves a step, but doesn't look as cool in my
opinion.

Step 15: Army of Characters

Now that you have created an army of characters and monsters, time to get playing!! :) Enjoy! Please let me know if
you create these kinds of characters and share pictures I would love to see them! Also let me know if you play D&D,
Path nder, Warhammer, etc.

Step 16: Video Tutorial

Sometimes it is easier to see the steps live, you can check out the video tutorial here. :)

//www.yout ube.com/embed/vRHZ_ieH0f8

Dungeons and Dragons Paper Miniatures (Pathfinder, Warhammer, Etc.): Page 10

Fantastic!

I used to collect lead D&D miniatures back in the 1980s, and spent many fond hours painting them.
Of course back then the miniatures cost a dollar each and were easy to afford, whereas the lead
figures today cost ten dollars or more, and even the plastic figures are four or five dollars. So I
really appreciate your method.

That is so rad! I still have a box of old early 80s lead figures! Yeah they are pretty expensive these
days. While I do like the plastic minis, just can't afford them, not on my DM budget anyways. LOL.
3d print them way cheaper. Most fablabs offer 3d printing services if you don't own a printer.

Of course you have to have a 3D printer for that. I don't have one, and I don't know anyone who
does. :'(
Yeah 3D printing them is a great way to go, but then you need the models for the printer, and
access to a printer. There is a 3D printer at my library that I have access to, will give it a try
sometime. Not sure how the cost will compare to my paper minis, but my minis are pretty darn
cheap to make. lol
I still have my old box too. I lent them to my niece, who plays D&D now.

Green elf needs food badly!

hahahahaha for sure! :)

This is a great way to amass an army of minis for gaming without breaking the bank. I have a
storage tote full of D&D minis and every once in a while I will need to make a paper mini for a
monster that I don't have or don't have enough of for the encounter. The paper minis work great
until I can make a permanent replacement. I am in the process of 3D printing ancient dragons, both
good and bad, in all the colors. I recently finished Bahamut the platinum dragon .. he has a 15 inch
wingspan MUH HA HA HA HA
Wow that is so awesome!! Yeah if I had a 3D printer I think I would have a field day printing up all
kinds of minis. lol :) That is so cool you have a tote full of minis. If I had more money I would go to
the local gaming store like once a week and buy a few packs. haha, but for now, paper minis it is!
lol I do have a set of the original d&d lead figures a long with all the 1st edition books from the 70's
and early 80s.
I got most of them about 16 years ago when D&D minis were sold in variety packs. I didn't mind
getting duplicates since most of the time the party is encountering more than one monster.
I wish they still sold those. buying minis individually is cost prohibitive.

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Yeah they are so expensive these days. It's a shame! haha

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