Have you ever started to try and fold origami, but had no idea where to begin or to what kind of paper you should be using. Well, in that case, you are in luck! For today's "how to" will be explaining the do's and don't's of this ancient paper folding art, and should help you get out of that rut you find yourself in upon choosing the right type of paper to use. It is highly important when folding origami that you use the paper you have to its full advantage, because when it comes down to it, your model will depend mainly on the kind of fabric you are using for its overall look and appeal. By the end of this post, you should have a much better understanding of which paper will be most optimal for you and your model, as you learn how your materials come to reflect upon your folding needs.
Here are some kinds of paper that you may want to consider using:
Construction Paper
Construction paper is extremely durable and long-lasting, but is very difficult to crease and is not good for inexperienced folders to use. However, if you feel confident in your origami skills, then you may want to consider graduating onto using construction paper for your models, the choice is totally up to you. Most people will tend not to use construction paper even after they become more experienced in the art, as it is only good for the most simplistic of models (such as the pirate hat, sail boat, or the ever-popular swan.)
Tissue Paper
Gift wrap and tissue paper are light weight, easy to fold, but do not stand the test of time (especial if you plan to be giving your model to children to play with.) Although fragile, tissue paper and other decorative fabrics can create a gorgeous end product when done in the correct matter. I suggest that you first practice folding your model on a separate piece of scrap paper just to get the feel of the model before moving on to the higher quality (and higher cost) paper. It is also important that you 'crease lightly' when using the tissue paper as it may rip or tear on your folding lines. A gentle hand is always needed when folding Origami.
Tin Foil/ Foiled Paper
It is surprising to me how many people don't think of using tin foil as a valid material for folding origami. Tin foil, believe it or not, does come in an assortment of colours (colours other than gray.) Although you could have a hard time trying to find coloured foil at your local Wallmart, you may have better luck finding the right shade at a store that specializes in either scrapbooking or crafts. If you have searched high and low for your precious coloured tin foil, and yet turn up empty, fear not, plain old silver will do quite nicely. Just double your foil up by overlaying in with a fresh sheat of tissue paper. In doing that, you can still view the sparkly, eye-catching foil that lays underneath, but it also gives a lovely burst of colour to it as well. Not only is tinfoil pretty to look at, but it is cheap and abundant. One purchase of tinfoil can last you a year, when used occasionally to make origami! Seeing as it is often times thinner, tin foil can by folded way more times than your average sheet of printer paper, so it preforms much better when used on the more challenging designs. Foil paper also seems to have a more broadened usage as we enter into the more festive season of the year. It's iridescent glow can add a lot of beauty to a room when hung on a Christmas tree, or placed next to a menorah. Reflective decor is very chic.~"Pre-Cut"/ Store-Bought Oriami Paper (kami paper)
Others:
Duo Paper -This paper houses the exact same properties as the kami paper but is coloured on both sides of the sheet. It works brilliantly for the diagrams that specifically require you to use the "white side" of the paper in your designs.
Petal Paper -This paper is specially designed for "flower" origami models as it has colour on both sides, but looks similar to tie-die for its seprat splotches of colour that line the tips and center of the page.
Washi Paper -has a cottony texture to it, and is made up of individual fibers that are glued together and laminated to form a sheet.
Chiyogami Paper -is very similar to "washi" paper, but thinner and without the cottony feel. It is best used with the more intricate models where a more traditional feel is desired. But, be careful with your money and set yourself a budget before you go shopping, as this paper is dangerously addictive to use! Very Lovely~
Photocopying Paper -comes in reams of 500 rectangular sheets, is fairly smooth and durrable, and is cheeper when you buy it in bulk. Although it is plain and white, it doesn't have to be so dull. Many origami designs actually look better when done on photocopying paper. They are great to practice on as you don't have to worry about wasting all your favourite colours and patterns.
Napkins -Yes, napkins! Don't look at me like that? Napkins can be a great choice of origami paper to use for the most simplistic models. It folds in ways that no other fabric can, so it is essential for some designs. It is great to use when you have company coming as it adds a lovely center piece to your table when done correctly. They can be desposable and made of paper, or they can be reusable and made of cotton, both with their own set of properties. Many resturants use origami napkins to add atmostphere to the room. In fact, it can make the whole dining experiance seem that much better. It is a very fashonable and cheap way for resturant owners to add apeal to their meal. It's like eating sliced apples, verces whole apples... see what I mean? So much better!
Money -Medium weight, excellent durability, holds creases well, and is only worth the dollar you used to make it, the folded dollar has its own denomination of origami designs dedicated to it. Unfortunatly this ownly really works with American money, along with a couple of other curancies. (I don't know of many Canadians that would use a five dollar bill just for the sake of folding origami... Pluse, Canadian money does not crease that well for its stip of barcode that lies ot the lefthand side of the bill.)
Scrap Paper -can be anything from old newspapers and magazines, to christmas cards and packaging. It does not cost you anything to buy as you can find scrap paper lying in just about any room of your house (Depending on how neat or messy your home is. For me, there is always at least one sheet of it within arms reach.) Making origami matterials out of pieces of paper you were going to throw away is not only good for the environment, but is fun too! Most people don't even think about using scrap paper for there designs, but when you begin to make models out of fabics lying around the house, strange things start to happen. (First of all, you begin to notice just how descracefully dirty your home is...Secondly) Once you begin to play around with it for a while, you will find that sometimes the heads of famouse people on your magizen will become the heads of the figures in your origami models! I once folded a turtle that had Edward Cullen's head on its shell, weird hun? It lets you become aware of how your square sheet of paper changes from start to finish, and gives you a better understanding of how origami works. It's educational, it's cheap, it's good for the planet and it will suprise you from time to time, so use scrap paper!
How to Form a Square:
Now that you have found the type of paper you wish to use, it is time for you to begin cutting and shaping the paper you are using into a perfect square if you haven't already done so. Not to worry! Most paper that you buy comes in rectangles instead of squares, so to get to that nice and even squared shape, all you need to do is (holding the sheet lengthwise: short end on bottom, long end on top) grab the top right hand corner of the sheet, and pull it diagonally across until meets the left side of the page. Now, before you go to crease the paper, make sure that the top-left corner of the page is in the form of a triangle (90 degrees/half a square) now pinch it, forming a crease and making the triangular shape permanent.
Without opening the the small fold you made on the top-left corner of the rectangle, run your hand down the left edge of the paper to make sure that the two edges (the top edge that now rests on to of the left edge) line-up perfectly with one another. Holding the two aligned edges together, extend your original fold you made in the top-left corner of the sheet down to the right edge of the paper. your paper should now look something like this:
*Folded Sheet Music*Still having trouble in trying to decide which paper to use? I know, all of this can be a little overwhelming at first, but don't fret! Whenever you get stumped in deciding which origami paper to use, just ask yourself these following four questions:
1. To whome are you making this origami model for? It is always good to keep in mind who your audience is and what their prefrances may be. If you are folding something for your little sister, then it is best to use pinks. If you are folding something for an art gallery, then you should better not be stingy. But, if you are just folding something for your own pleasure or just to impress some friends, then use whatever kind of paper you like best.
2. What is your purpose for folding? If you you are planning to build a sailboat or something that could potentially get wet, then using solliable fabric may not be your best plan of action. Instead, try using water-resistant or nonpenitratable materials such as tinfoil or plastics. "Don't use tissue paper unless you intend for your ship to sink!"
3. Which kind of fabric will best benifit your overall design? What looks best on your model? It is good practice to visually picture what you want your end product to be. If you picture it as being colourful and vibrant, then I would sugest you try using paper that best reflects that desire for colour, such as kami, duo, or pettal paper with lots of bright pastel colours. In doing this, you adventually become awair as to which paper works best for each design, and will adimatically know which type you want to use.
4. What is your budget? If you don't feel comfortable spending big bucks on origami paper, then don't! As I mentioned before, some origami fabrics such as "Chiyogami paper" can be dangerously addictive (and exspencive!) So, to save yourself from having some guilt, set yourself a maximum budget when shopping for origami matterials, and do not go past that set price. If you know you are paying to much money for something as simple as origami, or you have a gut feeling that somebody is making a fortune off of you, then trust your instincts by not buying into it. When it's a bad deal, then its a bad deal, regarless of how pretty the paper looks. Don't fall for origami scams!
There, now that you know just what kind of origami paper you want to use, it is time to begin folding! I wish you good luck on your future models, and I hope that you walk away today feeling all that much more informed about the many different kinds of origami paper that you have at your desposale. So, what are you waiting for? Go out there and fold!
nic
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