Materials for Origami

Get your Modeling tools ready...

Having seen what makes Origami,lets see what it takes to make Origami.

First lets start with the basic tool and the only tool(almost).. The paper.
Though readily available, it takes a right kind of paper for different models to bring out its best... There are various kinds of paper that can be used for Origami. The different kinds are listed below... Go on... Grab the right paper you need for your model..

• Origami paper comes in many grades, types, and sizes. They are usually square in shape, though some are circular or rectangular. The most common type is colored on one side and white on the bottom size.
• Duo paper has one color on the top, and another color on the bottom. This type of paper is great for models where both sides of the paper will be visible.
• Foil paper looks like aluminum foil on one side and white on the bottom side. This paper is a little more difficult to fold because, once folded, it will make a crease mark. In other words, there’s no room for mistakes with this type of paper.
• Washi and chiyogami paper: Washi simply means handmade Japanese paper. Washi is more textured and softer than ordinary office paper. There are lots of different kinds of washi made from different plant fiber. Chiyogami is a kind of washi with traditional Japanese imagery imprinted on it.
• Really big paper: The biggest origami paper we found was from Paper Jade (31” x 22”). If you need even bigger paper, try buying a roll of wrapping paper and cutting it to size with a cutting tool.
• Really small paper: are great for making origami models for greeting cards and origami jewelry.
• Circular Origami Paper There are very few sources of circular origami paper because there are relatively few diagrams starting with a circle.However, circular paper is often used in kirigami.
• Animal print origami paper: for kids, it's sometimes nice to use origami paper with animal prints on it. Be warned though: sometimes the animal patterns look great on a flat sheet of paper, but they don't match up properly when folded. Still... kids are imaginative and would appreciate them.

For those of you, who were unable to get the right size of paper get your second tool ready...
The paper cutter...

How to Cut Paper

The simplest way to cut paper is with a pair of scissors. Alternatively, you can use a sharp knife and slice along the inside of a folded edge. This may leave an undesirable jagged edge.

About Paper Cutters

If you are a serious paper folder, you might consider investing in a paper cutter. There are two kinds of paper cutters: the guillotine type and the razor type.

• The guillotine type has a lever which you can press downwards and it will “chop” the paper. These cutters are good, but when they are well used, the lever may become loose. At this point, it is necessary to manually push the lever close to the cutting edge before you chop.
  

• The razor type has a sharp blade which will “slice” paper as you move the blade up and down. After much use, the blade may become dull and you may wish to buy a replacement blade.
  

• A third option is a self-healing cutting mat often used in quilting. These mats are made of a composite material so that they are not damaged by cutting knives. Cutting mats often have 1” and ¼” grid lines, but you still need a ruler and a hobby knife (such as a rotary cutter) to make the cut.

Once, you have these both... you are ready for the journey to the wonderful world of Origami...