Crankies are small moving panoramas. They usually have a long illustrated scroll wound into two spools with cranks that you can turn to display the image through a frame. With this template you can make a laser-cut version with your own dimensions and materials.

How to Use

1. Set the scrollHeight dimension. This is the height of the paper roll, or scroll, where the artwork will go and will also determine the overall height of the frame.

2. Set the windowWidth to determine how wide your viewing window will be. This is the central rectangle that frames the artwork.

3. Set the materialThickness by measuring the material you're cutting with calipers.

4. Set the kerf to compensate for the kerf of your cutter. A value of 0.007" is usually a good starting point. Bigger kerf = tighter fit.

5. The default design can accommodate a Scroll that is 1.6" in height by about 44" long if made from regular printer paper. With the tool below you can upload a single image that will get chopped to fit your printer paper.
   
   Some things to try:

   1. Upload a panoramic photo

   2. Use a level from a side scrolling video game from NES Maps or SNES Maps.

   3. Draw your own digital artwork. Create a long and narrow canvas or art-board, the example below was created in Procreate with a canvas size of 1.6" by 30"

Printable Blank

This component generates a page with divisions based on the scrollHeight. Useful if you want to download a printable PDF with marks for cutting paper strips of the right size.

Upload Your Own Image

This component lets you upload any long (wide) image you like. It automatically divides the image into strips that you can glue together.

Inspiration

Sue Truman's Crankie Factory website has a wealth of information on history, fabrication, unusual ideas for making your own crankies and much more. It's worth checking out for getting inspired and seeing the way other cranksters use these contraptions in their performances.