Shadowbox

A layered cut-paper diorama of {subject}, built inside a lit shadow-box. Render the subject entirely as flat planes of matte coloured cardstock stacked at distinct depths — a background plane, one or more midground planes, and a foreground silhouette — separated by soft real cast shadows that fall in the gaps between the layers. Use {palette} for the cardstock colours on a warm matte paper ground. Light the scene with gentle directional studio light raking from the upper left, raising soft drop shadows between every paper layer so depth reads from layering and shadow alone. Keep silhouettes clean and simple with visible fibrous hand-cut paper edges and a subtle paper grain; absolutely no outlines, no ink lines, no pen strokes — the form is built from stacked cut shapes, not drawn. Tactile, handmade, dimensional, picture-book warmth. NO text, NO letters, NO logos.

Materials

cardstock, paper

Techniques

cut-paper diorama, layer stacking

cut paper, diorama, shadow box, layered depth, cast shadow

• Hero: A wide cut-paper diorama landscape of {subject} with the visual weight on one side and calm open paper negative space on the other for a text overlay; deep receding planes, light from the upper left.
• Feature: A single clear cut-paper subject ({subject}) centred in the shadow-box at three depths, with a few supporting foreground cuts; balanced full-frame.
• Avatar: A simple cut-paper portrait of {subject} at two or three depths: backdrop, face plane, foreground hair or leaves: soft cast shadows, full-frame and centred.
• Empty state: A quiet, sparse cut-paper diorama of {subject} with lots of calm cream paper ground and only a few low planes; gentle and uncluttered.
• Illustration: A staged cut-paper scene of {subject} with a clear foreground, midground and far horizon, each a distinct paper plane casting soft shadows on the one behind.