Origami: Basics

Short: Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding, creating three-dimensional shapes from a single, usually square sheet of paper without cutting or gluing. Basic fold patterns form the foundation for countless more complex models.

In more detail: The restriction to a single uncut sheet is considered a central, though not universally followed, principle in traditional origami practice.

In detail

• Basic folds: Mountain fold and valley fold are the two fundamental fold directions from which all more complex patterns are composed.
• Base shapes: The square base, bird base, and waterbomb base serve as starting points for many traditional models like the paper crane.
• Paper quality: Thin but tear-resistant special paper (kami) makes precise folding significantly easier compared to regular printer paper.
• Reading fold instructions: Standardized arrows and line symbols clearly indicate fold direction, already-made folds, and next steps.
• Modular origami: Several identical folded units are assembled without glue into complex three-dimensional structures.
• Mathematical connections: Origami principles find practical application in aerospace engineering, for instance folding large solar panels for transport.
• Patience as a key skill: More complex models often require hundreds of precise folding steps, which is why beginners should start with simple shapes (typografie-grundlagen, kalligrafie-grundlagen).