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How to Turn a 2D Drawing Into a 3D Model in Makers Empire

Looking for a simple way to show younger students how a 2D drawing becomes a 3D object? With the Draw Shape tool in Shaper, students draw an outline, place it on the build area, and give it thickness. It works well as an introduction to 3D design for K-2.

Written by Guilbert Baylon

What students will learn

  • The difference between 2D and 3D shapes

  • How thickness (Z) turns a flat drawing into a 3D object

  • How to view an object from different angles

  • Basic resizing, positioning, and rotation

Step-by-step instructions

Part 1: Draw the 2D shape

  1. Open Shaper and tap the Draw Shape tool (the blue squiggle icon under the shapes grid). A dashed drawing box appears.

  2. Press and hold inside the box, then move to trace your shape. For a hand, start at the wrist, trace the thumb and fingers, and return to your starting point.

  3. Release when your outline is complete.

💡Stay inside the dashed box and move slowly for a cleaner outline.

Part 2: Save and place your drawing

  1. Enter a Title and short Description.

  2. Tap the yellow Done arrow. To start again, tap the red X and redraw.

  3. Your drawing appears as a flat shape. Drag the Resize/Stretch handle to change its size, or drag the shape to move it.

Part 3: Turn the 2D drawing into 3D

  1. Tap Right on the view cube (top right). Your drawing looks like a thin strip because it has almost no thickness.

  2. Open the Precision panel from the shape's menu handle.

  3. Under Size, increase Z, which controls thickness. In the demo it goes to about 0.25".

  4. Use the view cube to see how the shape looks from other angles.

💡For K-2: Decimals can be hard for young students to read. Project your screen, change Z yourself, and ask the class "Thicker or thinner?" as you go.

Part 4: Adjust the size and shape

  1. Switch to Top view.

  2. Change X (width) and Y (length) in Precision, or drag the Resize/Stretch handles. Younger students can just use the handles.

  3. Drag the view cube to a corner angle to see the top, front, and side at once.

Finish your design

Tap the purple Finish button to save. Your model is ready to share or prepare for 3D printing.

Optional: Add a ring to make a keyring

  1. Open the shape category menu, select Basic Shapes, and choose the ring (torus).

  2. In Top view, move and rotate the ring so it overlaps the edge of your design.

  3. In Right view, move the ring up or down until it is level with your drawing and overlapping it.

  4. Back in Top view, check the ring is partly on the design and partly outside it.

Quick troubleshooting

My outline looks messy

Tap the red X to cancel and try drawing again. Encourage students to move more slowly and use smaller movements while tracing.

My shape is too thin to see in 3D

Open Precision and increase the Z measurement. Z controls the thickness of the object.

I made a mistake

Use the red undo arrow to undo an action. The green arrow can redo an action, while the orange bin deletes the selected shape.

My added shape is floating

Switch to Right view and adjust the position of the added shape until it overlaps with the original design.

Teacher checkpoints

Students can:

  • Draw a closed outline inside the drawing area

  • Switch between Top and Right views

  • Explain that Z controls thickness

  • Make their drawing 3D (younger students with teacher support)

  • Save their design with Finish

Ideas for younger students

Draw a 🍃 leaf, 🐟 fish, ✋ hand, ⭐ star, ❤️ heart, 🔤 first letter of their name, or 🐾 footprint. Then change Z and compare how each looks from the side.

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