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What is Origami ?
Origami is originated from Japan and
in Japanese term it means to fold. It is the art of folding
paper. It generally refers to all types of paper folding even
with non-Japanese origin. It was a traditional art for the
amusement of children. The main aim of this art is to create a
given result by using geometric folds and patterns. The folding
is generally started with a square sheet of paper with different
coloured edges and proceeds without cutting the paper. The
Japanese origami which is followed in this manner is less strict
in the sense the folding can even be started with rectangular,
triangular or circular shapes and cutting in between the designs
are allowed.
Types of origami
There are different types of origami which are described as
follows
• Technical origami
• Supercomplex origami
• Modular origami
• Pureland origami
Technical origami Before
knowing about technical origami it is important to know the
mathematics of origami. The art of paper folding has brought in
lot of challenges in mathematical study. The use of paper folds
are used to solve mathematical equations up to fourth degree.
Some problems of geometry like trisecting an arbitrary angle or
doubling the
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volume of an arbitrary cube are
unable to solve using compass but could be solved using paper
folds. The origami study as led to theorems such as Haga theorem
wherein the side of a square could be folded into thirds,
fifths, sevenths and even ninths. The problem of rigid origami
i.e. replacing the paper with sheet metal in place of the crease
lines to see if we could still fold the model has great
practical importance. The Miura map fold is a rigid fold which
is used to deploy solar panel arrays for space satellites.
Technical origami is also known as origami sekkei and is
developed along with the field of mathematical origami. The main
starting point for technical origami is the crease pattern which
is abbreviated as ‘CP’. With advancement in mathematical
origami, basic structure of a new origami model can be plotted
theoretically on paper before the actual folding.
Super complex origami Super
complex origami is a type of origami in which the number of
paper folds exceeds hundred. |
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Modular origami It is also
called as “unit origami”. The historical evidence of modular
origami is from a Japanese book called Ranma Zushiki that
contains a print which shows a list of traditional origami
models out of which one is a modular cube. Modular origami is a
technique of folding paper in which more than a single sheet of
paper is used to create larger complex structures. Each sheet of
paper is folded into a module which are later assembled into a
three dimensional structure by inserting flaps into the pockets
created by the folding process. The insertions create tensions
to hold the models together. Use of threads or glue which is not
a part of paper is not considered as modular origami. One
interesting part of modular origami is that they are always made
from one or more sets of identical modules. Modular origami
forms are either flat or three dimensional. Flat forms include
polygons, stars, rings and rotors whereas three dimensional
forms include regular polyhedra, simple polyhedra and
tesselations. Several other modular origami deisgns include
balls of folded paper flowers known as kuudama or medicine balls
which are strung together with thread and not integrated. Macro
modular origami is a type of origami wherein the finished forms
are used as basic building blocks to create larger integrated
structures.
Pureland origami this is a
kind of origami that is done by creating one fold at a time.
Types of materials used in origami
The choice or the selection of material used in origami depends
greatly on the folding and the final look of the model. Special
origami paper is available in various sizes ranging from 2.5 cm
up to 25 cm which is known as “kiami”. Normally paper with 70-90
g/m2 are used for simple folds and 100 g/m2 are used for complex
structures and can be wet fold which becomes hard and sturdy
after it dries. Kiami’s are coloured on one side and plain on
the other. Other kind of materials such as foil backed paper
which is a sheet of thin foil glued to a sheet of thin paper and
artisan papers such as unryu, lokta, kozo, saa, gampi which are
strong with long fibers are also used.
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Origami
symbols
Following are a list of origami symbols used in designing the
models:
• Rotate
• Sink fold
• Inflate
• Turn over
• Mountain fold
• Valley fold
• Repeat behind
• Unfold
• Reverse fold
Basic skills of origami
There are different kinds of folds involved in origami. Some of them
include:
• Valley fold
• Pleat fold
• Mountain fold
• Blintz fold
• Radial pleat fold |
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Valley fold It is the first basic fold
in which the paper is folded forward onto itself
Pleat fold It is also called as “accordion fold”. It consists of
several evenly spaced parallel mountain and valley folds.
Mountain fold: It is the second basic fold where the paper is folded
behind itself.
Blintz fold: This is made by folding the corners of a square into
the center.
Radial pleat fold: This fold has a focus point on an edge or a
corner and is usually an angled pleat fold.
There are several other folds apart from
the one mentioned above which includes
• Simple compound folds
• Outside reverse fold
• Inside reverse fold
• Squash fold
• Rabbit ear
• Petal fold
Origami bases
The models in origami are created with several bases like:
• The fish base It consists of two radial folds against a diagonal
reference crease on two opposite corners. It consists of two each
side by side rabbit ears.
•The bird base It is also called as “crane base” which consists of a
preliminary fold with both the front and back sides petal folded
upward.
•The preliminary fold It consists of two valley folds down the
center of the squarea nd two mountain folds down the diagonals.
•The waterbomb base It consists of two perpendicular valley folds
down the diagonals of the square and two perpendicular mountain
folds down the center of the sqaure.
•The frog base Its basic is the waterbomb base consisting of four
corners wherein each corner is squash folded, and then petal folded
upward.
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Article Contributed By: Shilpa V
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