sagoma

Sagoma is a term that, in Italian, denotes the outline or silhouette of a figure as well as a template or pattern used to reproduce a shape. It can refer to a drawn contour, a physical model, or a cut-out used to transfer a shape onto another material. In crafts, fashion design, carpentry, and manufacturing, a sagoma serves as a guide for tracing and cutting, helping to ensure consistent reproduction of a given form.

Etymology: The word derives from sagomare, meaning to shape or contour; sagoma refers to the shaped form or contour produced by shaping.

Applications: In tailoring and dressmaking, sagome (the plural) are patterns used to cut fabric. In woodworking and metalworking, templates—also called sagome—are used to reproduce curves and profiles accurately. In sculpture and graphic design, a sagoma can refer to a silhouette or cut-out used in composition. In contemporary CAD-based workflows, the concept persists as outlines or masks that define shapes.

See also: silhouette, template, pattern, stencil, contour, maquette.