Your 40-minute build, preserved
You’ve finished your set. You’ve tucked in the final belt Q designed into its dual slit system. Now, the goal is to make sure that 40 minutes of focused effort stays looking brand new on your shelf.
Because FOLDORI uses premium, acid-free cardstock, you’ve already won half the battle. But even the best engineering needs the right environment. Here is the data on how to protect your FOLDORI shelf art set.
1. Natural light
Natual paper and printed colours are sensitive to high-energy light. Direct sunlight contains UV rays that break down chemical bonds in ink pigments. To prevent unnecessary stress on your FOLDORI set, place it in a spot with indirect light. If it’s near a window, make sure it’s not in the "burn zone" of afternoon sun.
Q’s Tech Note: Our offset printing is colour-enhanced to be more resilient than standard home printing, but physics is physics. Indirect light actually makes the shadows of the Silvia Forest shine through even better.
2. Dusting
Dust is inevitable. Here's a guide to clean your FOLDORI sets whenever you start seeing packets of accumulated particles. One thing to know: cleaning paper is different from cleaning plastic.
Never use a damp cloth: moisture is the enemy of fiber weaving.
Use a soft, dry makeup brush or a compressed air canister (the kind used for keyboards).
Work from the bottom and up. A delicate "flick" with a brush is all it takes to clear the spaces and cuts of the scenery. It takes 20 seconds.
3. Humidity
FOLDORI paper is hygroscopic, meaning it reacts to the environmental air.
A humidity level above 70% can soften the paper fibers, leading to a sagging effect over time. Keep your set in a room with a stable temperature. Avoid placing it directly above a radiator or right next to a bathroom door.
Pro tip: if you live in a very humid climate, a glass display dome isn't just for show, it creates a stable micro-environment that keeps the paper crisp.
4. The no-touch zone
We know you, your family, your guests will want to touch it. Regularly. It's tempting.
There's a risk that natural oils from human skin can leave invisible marks on matte surfaces over time. This is why we recommend that once it’s on the shelf, leave it be. But if you need to hold it, demo it, or move it, no worries! We designed the orange case as a multi-purpose item: the sturdy case protects the delicate scenery.
Quick fixes
"A paper belt popped out!"
This happens if the humidity changes drastically. Simply slide it back in. The friction-fit is designed to be forgiving.
"Can I use glue if I tore a piece?"
Ideally, use a tiny piece of the double-sided tape provided in the kit (Extensions only). It’s cleaner and won't warp the paper fibers like liquid glue does. But if you have no other way, do so! We, as engineers, decided to remove glue to simplify you the assembly and to move faster towards our goal of a 100% recyclable product.
Maintenance shouldn't be a chore. If you follow these three rules: indirect light, dry brushing, and stable air; your FOLDORI set will look exactly like it did the day you built it. If you're unsure of what to do or if you have a specific hurdle I haven't mentioned, check out more of our 'How-to' content, and feel welcome to contact Samwise on WhatsApp.
