Protect the staircase while clearing the sheet
Trim the purple sheet to the dotted staircase. Remove material outside that boundary while preserving the horizontal ledges and vertical risers inside it. Start with broad excess away from the target, then work toward the tight step corners.
The tempting mistake is to sweep across the whole sheet as though this were Clean Sweep. Paper Steps measures how the remaining paper matches a stepped outline. A large cut that crosses a stair corner removes part of the answer.
Use smaller, more careful cuts as you approach the dotted edge in Paper Steps.
Read each step as two boundaries
A staircase alternates horizontal and vertical sections. Do not judge the shape from its overall height alone: the correct top ledge still needs the correct side beneath it.
Trace the dotted path before cutting. Identify the broad outside areas, the change in height between steps and the inside corner where one ledge meets the next riser. Decide which character’s edge can approach each region without crossing into the target.
Keep your partner clear of the section you are inspecting. Seeing the outline is more useful than moving both cutters over it at once.
Use a broad-to-narrow cutting route
- Inspect the complete staircase and the surrounding purple sheet.
- Remove accessible excess that is clearly outside the outline.
- Stop before reaching a change in step height.
- Rotate and position for one horizontal or vertical boundary.
- Make a controlled cut, then inspect the corner it leaves.
- Repeat for the remaining ledge and finish with a perimeter check.
Treat the low section and the higher step as separate cutting tasks. Trying to make one large diagonal cut across both replaces the staircase with a slope.
Test a body’s straight boundary against the required line before snipping. If the current shape cannot reach a tight area cleanly, reshape the tool for that section rather than forcing a poorly aligned cut.
Check corners before trimming again
| Visible mismatch | What to inspect |
|---|---|
| Purple remains above a ledge | Height and orientation of the approaching cutting edge |
| Paper remains beside a riser | Side position relative to the vertical dotted line |
| Stair corner becomes diagonal | Whether the cut crossed both boundary sections together |
| A step is missing part of its interior | Stop cutting; inspect the board’s restart control |
| Shape looks close but gauge remains incomplete | Every ledge, riser and outside patch |
Character reforming restores the character. Do not assume it also repairs the separate purple sheet. If you remove necessary target paper, use the board’s current restart control rather than continuing to shave an already damaged staircase.
For a nearly finished sheet, move slowly and inspect the result after each correction. One unnecessary cut can be more damaging than several careful position adjustments.
Distinguish the staircase from other outline boards
Paper Steps rewards straight ledges and right-angle changes in height. Make the Cut uses different target geometry, while Twin Windows adds interior openings. The general habit of preserving the dotted target carries over; the cutting route does not.
The Paper Steps chapter starts at 03:22. Use the current staircase and instruction to choose your cuts if your board differs from the video layout.
FAQ
Do I remove all the purple paper?
No. Keep the paper inside the dotted staircase and remove the excess outside it.
Why does a diagonal cut cause trouble?
The target changes between horizontal ledges and vertical risers. A diagonal cut can cross the interior corner instead of preserving it.
Which parts should I clear first?
Start with broad excess away from the target boundary. Save the step corners for controlled cuts.
Will reforming my character repair the sheet?
Do not assume so. Reform changes your character’s body; inspect the board restart control when the separate target sheet is damaged.
Why is the fit gauge still incomplete?
Check each ledge, riser and remaining outside patch. The overall staircase can look close while a small boundary mismatch remains.