Most complex model from 1 sheet of standard copy paper?

maddoghoek100 · Post by **maddoghoek100** » July 7th, 2010, 7:48 pm

New to the forum but there is so much great info here I thought I would ask a question that has been on my mind. What are some of the most complex models that can reliably be made from a single sheet of regular copy paper?

Obviously it is a matter of skill and opinion, so I will stress the word reliably, but would love some suggestions, as copy paper is so abundant. At the moment one of my favorites is Peter Engel's Knight on Horseback from Angelfish to Zen

origamimasterjared · Post by **origamimasterjared** » July 8th, 2010, 1:46 am

I did a pretty good Kamiya Satoshi Bahamut from an 8 1/2 inch square last year. Also a Hojyo Takashi Stag Beetle vs. Samurai Helmet Beetle. These are not the kind of things I would recommend, but they are possible.

viewtopic.php?p=22618&highlight=hojyo+beetle#22618

viewtopic.php?p=62674&highlight=bahamut ... aper#62674

Honestly copy paper isn't very good for much. Tracing paper or even notebook paper is much thinner and crisper.

InsomniacFolder · Post by **InsomniacFolder** » July 8th, 2010, 9:45 am

With a maximal square from everday A4 copy paper, you can fold everything in "Origami Insects & their Kin".

I say you can, because I can (and have - oh, the butterfly excepted), and objectively, I'm rubbish at origami.

Initial results will be very dissapointing, but refolding will improve the quality, and with copy paper if I want a quite complex model to look particularly good in the end, then I often have to fold the paper very slowly & gently, and leave certain stages between heavy books.

This mitigates against the natural propensity of cheap copy paper to fatally burst, tear, fray and weaken along crease lines.

Definitions of complexity in origami differ so widely now; what I call complex many others consider simple, prosaic even.

From my personal experience - for models I consider complex, and that can be repeatedly and satisfactorily folded from standard cheap copy paper try:
Robert Lang - Black Devil Angler Fish ("Origami Sea Life")
Mario Adrados Netto - Medusa ("Dragons, Witches, and Other Fantasy Creatures in Origami")
J. Anibal Voyer - Witch ("Dragons, Witches, and Other Fantasy Creatures in Origami")
John Montroll - Weevil ("Origami Sculptures")
Jun Maekawa - Peacock (simpler version), Tyrannosaurus (Both: "Genuine Origami")

maddoghoek100 · Post by **maddoghoek100** » July 13th, 2010, 10:27 pm

Thanks for the good list. I may revisit insects, I had largely written it off as I was getting terrible results. I will definitely give a few of these others a try as well. Looks like i need to pick up a copy of Dragons, Witches, and Other Fantasy Creatures in Origami

By the way, origamimasterjared I dug your display at the convention in NYC towelie is an eye catcher.

origamimasterjared · Post by **origamimasterjared** » July 14th, 2010, 1:25 am

Thanks Maddoghoek! You were there? Good to know he was appreciated. Towelie is one of my favorite designs. I worked hard on that exhibit! I even finished the Bunny God during late night folding Friday night. I wanted to fold a new Flying Monkey for it too, but I did a horrible job at cutting a square of Origamido, and was not about to try fixing it at 4 AM any of those nights!

My Bear 2 can be folded very well from copy paper actually. I've definitely done that one while sitting around at jury duty.

I'd like to offer more, but I only fold with copy paper when I don't have access to anything better. Or for folding challenges a la Bahamut, and beetles battle. I also folded Hojyo's stag beetle form copy paper, but it wasn't as good, (and it was really really tough).

maddoghoek100 · Post by **maddoghoek100** » July 14th, 2010, 5:02 pm

I was there, but was only able to make it ot the public expo. It was quite a show though. If the CP for your bear is available I may give it a shot, the fur around the neck is a nice touch.

I do most of my folding on subways and trains, so i am alawys looking to strech what I can do with my limited time and materials.

There is also the inevitable quesiton from people...can you make a "_______", and they usualy mean right now with whatever is handy. It is always interesting to me, you have to do something pretty amazing to one up a simple crane, but I suppose that is why it is a classic.

bethnor · Post by **bethnor** » July 14th, 2010, 5:24 pm

imho, this question is too broad.

it's essentially asking, "what is the most complex model that can be folded from an 8.5" square?"

it's far more interesting to ask, "what is the most complex model that can be folded from a legal size rectangle?"

InsomniacFolder · Post by **InsomniacFolder** » July 15th, 2010, 1:15 pm

bethnor wrote:it's essentially asking, "what is the most complex model that can be folded from an 8.5" square?"

I disagree, slightly.
The stipulation that standard copy paper, because of its ease of availability, was to be the medium makes this a different question. For me that criteria vastly reduces the number of models that can successfully be folded.
An 8.5" square of origamido or, any hypothetically infinitely "fold-perfect", paper will allow the folder to successfully complete more easily and satisfactorily many more complex models.
I have no doubt that talented folders will have folded Ancient Dragon's, Attack of the Kraken's, Housemaid's etc from 8.5" squares.
I doubt that any have had happy results attempting the same with standard copy paper.
I am defining success as not simply finishing the folding sequence, but also arriving at a pleasing and worthwhile end result - not a frayed and mis-shapen blob of paper.

I must admit though that I had made the assumptions that the copy paper was A4, and that the models were to be folded from a maximally sized square therefrom.
The thought to use the entire rectangle never even occured to me!
That might change the list somewhat, but I don't have much breadth of experience folding A4 rectangles.

maddoghoek100 · Post by **maddoghoek100** » July 15th, 2010, 2:25 pm

When I asked the question I was realy looking to identify models or CPs that I could pick up and attempt, master, and build on. There is an impressive design challenge in maximizing the use of any entire rectangle, be it A4, Legal, or 8.5x11 though, and one that I am deffinitly not up to (at least at the moment)

In my experience the complex models that have worked best with copy paper are ones that are not overly reliant on color changes, do not require significant thinning of key setions (i.e. insect legs), evenly distribute thickness (or at least do not concentrate signficant thickness in one area)and lock in key elements.

Kafar · Post by **Kafar** » July 15th, 2010, 3:15 pm

I suggest Hideo Komatsu sheep and wolf, both are semi complex models, and can be accurately and nicely folded from the square from a4

here's Ancient Dragon folded from tissue paper (green one) and from regular xero paper (red one, square from a3)

Dave Brill · Post by **Dave Brill** » July 15th, 2010, 3:35 pm

Standard A4 printer or copy paper offers great possibilities for the folder.
Try these; not particlularly complex, but I hope rewarding:
http://www.brilliantorigami.com/dolphin.pdf
http://www.brilliantorigami.com/dsf.pdf
http://www.webfilms.ca/masu.pdf

Trekker_1983 · Post by **Trekker_1983** » July 15th, 2010, 9:05 pm

Some of T.P. Kong's models use A4 size paper.

Greyhound, Horse, Wolf

legionzilla · Post by **legionzilla** » July 17th, 2010, 4:15 pm

Andrew Hudson has folded an Ancient dragon from a 5" square of treated tissue and Satoshi's tanuki from a 10cm square of kami.

joshuaorigami · Post by **joshuaorigami** » July 17th, 2010, 4:21 pm

where did andrew get the tanuki diagrams??
and where is the photo of his fold?

legionzilla · Post by **legionzilla** » July 17th, 2010, 4:26 pm

Oh today at 5OSME, Satoshi taught us his tanuki and gave us diagrams not only to teach us, but to test them. Diagrams would be released to the public sometimes this or next year.