KNL Dragon - paper to model size ratio.

[Sadarac]

I think i figured out why its not working. Its a combo of the angle i hold the knife at and the speed i pull it at. what i did do was short sections at a time but it much better looking if i cut it straight down once. and then just touch up the few spots that dont get cut all the way through. hopefully ill finish my cristmas origami project now

[angrydemon]

If you're using factory-made paper, all the corners should be exactly 90 degrees. I normally mark a set distance (the width of the paper) on two sides with a pencil and a ruler, and fold across the marked intersections. This is like folding a square in half across the diagonal. Now you should have an isosceles triangle, which is actually a square folded in half. draw around the border of this triangle, and unfold. You should have the shape of a square drawn onto the paper. Cut out this shape with a pair of scissors, and you should have a sheet of square paper. This technique is used to turn a rectangle into a square. It is obviously easier to just fold the entire rectangle along the diagonal at a 45 degree angle, provided the paper isn't too large for your needs.

At this point, you probably have no idea what the hell I'm trying to tell you, so forget everything I just said.

i find scissors or knives to be very innacurate when cutting paper to square. I fold back and forth along the crease multiple times, then lick both sides of the crease. This makes it really easy to tear. it leaves a 'fuzzy' edge, but that usually isnt a problem in models that can be made with copy paper.

Yes, I too, enjoy licking paper. I find the starchy taste to be quite pleasing to the taste buds. You should try dipping it in hot, melted cheese, or sprinkle it on salads and soups to give it some extra flavour.

[OrigamiGianluca]

I quite hate the result coming from tearing paper after having creased it.
I consider scissors the very worst way to cut paper for origami. You can't cut precisely all the sheets larger than the scissor blades (scissors can't work continuously and can't give a straight cut)

I usually take my measures and cut the paper with a metal ruler and this kind of knife:


If I am sure/satisfy of the accurancy of the 90° angle of the paper I fold it in half and with a single cut I get my square.

[ahudson]

That may be the worst possible way to "cut" paper.

uhhh I guess somebody should've told me two years ago... I didn't start using scissors until a couple monthe ago

Really, it doesn't matter that much. The method I prefer is to fold as if you're going to tear, then just cut along the line with scissors. GOOD scissors, not the awful plastic ones I used in kindergarten.

[ahudson]

I should add, scissors will give a perfectly straight cut-- but only if you're very very VERY careful (can't emphasize that enough!)

[HankSimon]

If you have an exacto knife, with a square, like OrigamiGianLuco, I believe that gives a precise cut.

For relatively large paper, I have used a trick from my grandfather the tailor. With cloth, there is grain, so you can can hold the scissors open and slice through the cloth forever.

Paper doesn't have the same grain, so you still need a good line or guide.
However, if you can borrow a friend or two to hold the paper tight, you won't have to continually cut, but can use the scissors to slice more like a blade. It still takes a steady hand, it is not as good as a razor, but it is much better than a snip, snip, snip...

- Hank Simon

[Sadarac]

hmm i think ive got it figured out. the foil is hard to cut but the other two cut just fine now.