The Origami Forum

Hello every one,

I was searching for methods and techniques of designing a model / crease pattern and I found that there are some major tools, techniques and theories in this field. here are the results/list I came up with:

1. a software called Treemaker for designing uni-axial bases.
2. Tree theory which I believe Treemaker is based on this theory. ( I am not sure whether it implies to non-uni-axial bases or not)
3. Origamaizer (software) for designing polyhedrons.
4. a technique called Box pleating.
5. 22.5 degree folding.

I wanted to know if the list goes on or it's all just that.

Moreover I think the last one is the most intuitive way for designing a CP by hand.also I need information on the last technique. how does this works and people design their model based on 22.5 degree?

Thanks

so this probably belongs in general origami talk, but

if you are serious about looking into approaches to designing your own models just pick up origami design secrets by robert lang. At 60 dollars it seems expensive, and it is not the beginning and end of design, but it is the most complete book on design theory going. It is a full on text book with descriptions, exercises to practice on, and completed models using the techniques.

major items missing form your list are grafting, and circle packing, but there are numerous approaches to design that go by many names.

the problem is for some reasons in my country ( Iran ) I am not able to buy this book and I have just looked at some major Ideas in this book in different web pages and his website(langorigami.com) and I believe it really worth the price.

as I know tree theory and circle packing are not different techniques. You abstract the final model and draw the tree of the base and then the TreeMaker or the designer packs the circles ( which turns into flaps) into the sheet. after packing calculation of the creases begins and the process goes on.

secondly as I konw all the bases discussed in the book is uni-axial. Jason Ku and Komatsu's Designs are obviously mostly non-uniaxial. take a look at the komatsus works. they are simple in nature and elegant. (http://www.origami.gr.jp/~komatsu/about/index.html)

I would be thankful if you name some of those approaches you mentioned. so that I can search and learn more. some different approaches than what discussed in Lang's book.

Thought I'd elaborate on some of the things said already.

Yes, Treemaker is used to uniaxial bases, but I doubt it can be used to make non-uniaxial models. This, incidentally, is where grafting comes in--it's another design technique where a strip of paper is inserted into the original crease pattern. It can be used for extra points, a body, anything.
I'm not familiar with Origamizer, so I can't really say anything on that.
Box-pleating and 22.5 degree structures are only two of the design methods out there, along with hex-pleating, 15-degree structures, and irregular. Personally, I've never used HP, 15deg, or irregular structures, but I find BP and 22.5deg to be about equal as far as potential and ease of use.
Circle packing is nothing more than a way to utilize the different design methods using tree theory. Simply draw out the structure of what you want to design, allocating a circle for every flap and rivers for the gaps between bundles of flaps. The lengths will be fudged somewhat once the angles are fixed to 22.5 degrees, but it shouldn't matter much.

Thank u Baltorigamist.

I think I have to give more attention to grafting and I should try it.

well for an extra thing : I would like to see the models you designed ( if there is a picture uploaded somewhere) and maybe some CP's.