How to Cut Out Uchiwa Lettering

The steps from printing concert-fan lettering to cutting it out cleanly have a large effect on the finished look and how well it holds up. Which tool to use (craft knife or scissors), how to cut thin strokes and curves, and what to do when a cut fails—once those points are clear, a beginner can still finish a solid fan. Seeing where cutting sits in the whole process, from choosing materials through convenience-store printing to attaching the letters, also makes the pace of the work easier to follow.

Craft knife or scissors. For simple letters with many straight lines (the Latin alphabet, digits, and simple kanji), a metal ruler and a craft knife work best. The blade stays sharp and you can keep a steady pressure, so straight edges come out clean. Do not try to cut through in one deep pass. Light repeated strokes tear the paper less and avoid a jagged edge. Scissors are better when the outline is round or full of curves: you can follow the curve and adjust small sections as you go. The shape of the design decides the tool. Colored board and thick paper are hard to cut with scissors alone, so use both—scissors for details, a knife for the straight runs.

The way to cut thin strokes and curves without tearing them is to go slowly and make several light passes. One deep cut folds the paper or snags the blade. With a knife, stroke lightly back and forth until the piece separates. With scissors, keep the blades from opening too wide and take short snips so tight curves stay accurate. If you keep the letter height at 5 cm or more, as the size guide suggests, thin strokes on thick paper are relatively sturdy. If a thin stroke does tear, stick the broken piece on the fan as it is and patch it with the same shape cut from spare paper. If the piece is a total loss, spare parts from the failure guide still let you finish on the day. To spend less time cutting, download a print PDF that already includes cut lines from the PixHub editor.

Just before you glue, look at the cut edges again. Trim fuzz and jagged bits lightly with the knife or scissors. The same applies to the outline: aim for about 2–3 mm, neither too thick nor too thin. An outline that is too thick makes the letter look swollen and throws off the balance. One that is too thin breaks while you attach it. The attachment guide goes through the rest, but do not glue the moment the letters are cut. Lay them out, check that you are happy, then attach them. Cut after the ink has dried (usually one to two minutes) so the color has set and is less likely to smear or soak into the edge.