source : Oru magazine #7 by ???


The choice of the paper is very important in origami in the way that it contributes to the realism of the model.
You'll find below the description of different kinds of papers that may be used in origami.



Standard paper

Standard paper gathers lots of different papers : writing paper, printing paper, gift wrapping paper, drawing paper, ...
Very easy to find (everybody should have a sheet of paper at home :)), you must take care of the weight and the size of the paper sheet before starting folding a model. Indeed, some papers, too thick, won't let you finish the model because of the thickness of the creases. Some others, not enough strong, will tear because of the numerous folds / unfolds necessary to create the model.



Dual color paper

This kind of paper has a different color on each side. A very important number of origami models use this color difference to improve the display of the model. For example, there are many models of Santa Claus (white beard and red coat) or zebras, giraffes, clowns, ... that may be fold with dual color paper.



Craft paper

This kind of paper is particularly recommended when folding a model for the first time : very cheap, very strong and very thin, it lets you do lots of folds / unfolds without tearing.



Foil paper

There are several foil papers :

1) The aluminium foil that is used when cooking but may be also used in origami :))

2) Some kinds of gift wrapping paper (foil-backed paper) :
This papers consist of a thin layer of foil bonded to a thicker layer of paper; the metal maintains its shape over time and furthermore allows the model to be shaped, which lets you add some three-dimensional character to the model. There are, however, significant drawbacks to foil paper. Any model folded from foil-backed paper is quite fragile, and its appendages are easy to bend and distort. They may be bent back into place, but any creases made in foil-backed paper are usually indelible. And after several cycles of being bent and straightenend, the paper weakens and will no longer hold its shape. Also, the color range is somewhat limited : the paper side is always white,n while the foil side may be gold, silver, green, or red - but that's about all.

3) Tissue-foiled paper :
This paper is homemade. It's especially suitable for folding small, intricate models.
To make it, you spray a sheet of ordinary kitchen aluminium foil with an artist's spray adhesive, and carefully lay down a sheet of colored tissue paper over it; then repeat on the other side. The result is a three-layer laminate that has all the malleability of foil-backed paper, but the colors and surface texture of the two sheets of tissue.

Still, the results of tissue foil -especially with insects and other arthropods- can be impressive. The colored tissue paper is slightly translucent, and the reflection of the foil through the tissue gives the appearance of depth.



Washi



And many others ... (for example, yuzen, chiyogami, or kingi paper).