Fly Machine Articles
Choosing Paper for Origami by Jonathan Russell
Origami is the oriental art of paper folding. It is very popular in many countries. People can make many different shapes with paper. You can make a paper spaceship, a paper airplane, a paper table, etc. The Japanese like folding paper cranes.
Origami doesn’t discriminate. Paper folding can be practiced by anybody. Every piece of paper or paper-like material can be used for origami. However, paper is not all alike. Different kinds of paper have different properties. Some papers are really better for origami than others. Find out which paper can make your paper folding masterpieces shine.
Origami paper. The paper meant for paper folding, it is absolutely divine for simple models. It comes in a huge array of colors and patterns. Most origami paper is perfectly square. More importantly, it’s cheap.
Duo paper. Unlike others, this little darling has a different color or pattern on each side.
Harmony paper. This is a type of origami paper that has a unique pattern. They are made of colors that fade into each other. Few use it because it is distracting.
Washi. This paper that originated from Japan is thicker than normal and it some experience is necessary in order to fold properly. However, it can produce masterworks that can last for years. The Japanese word means ‘handmade’
Photocopy paper. It’s greatest asset is that it is a cheap and ubiquitous. It’s not very good paper for origami, but their attributes mean that you can practice with them to your hearts content.
Kraft paper. This paper is usually colored brown and it is packed in huge rolls. It’s marvelous for folding. You’ll find that it is available in many different colors.
Tracing paper. It is a bit too thick. Neat creases are harder to make. But it is ideal for bowls and vases.
Foil paper. White paper on one side, colored foil on the other. It’s a very nice paper but it’s very hard to reverse the direction of a crease.
Canson. This is a high quality art paper. It comes in many different colors. It’s perfect for use in large models.
Wyndstone paper. Despite the name, this paper isn’t did not come from dead elephants. Rather, it has a marbled effect. It is also called Elephant hide.
Money. Paper currency is really great for folding. It is meant to be tough and it shows. Find a cheap currency in your bank and trade your money in for low-denominated bills of that country. Money also comes in many different designs and colors.
About the Author
Jonathan Russell is an artist and blogger that has been writing articles on many different topics for the last 2 years. You can find him contributing articles at http://www.beginningquiltingnow.com, a website dedicated to helping those who are beginning quilting.
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