Origami paper can come cut as large as 30”x20”, and as small as a mere 1”x1” for challenging miniature pieces.
Different colors will suit different projects. For instance, an origami strawberry can be fashioned from red and green duo paper, while a lotus may look best in one tasteful pastel sheet.
Other types of textured paper-like momigami (a leathery paper made from the bark of the mulberry tree) and foil paper highlight surface detail while also manipulating the way light hits the contours of the design.
Some techniques may be altered drastically when using oddly shaped papers, as there may be more or fewer precise edges and corners to aid in folding.
Washi is the most common type of origami paper and will be the go-to choice for most projects.
Care must be taken to fold duo paper correctly, as misalignments will be made more visible by the contrast in color.
There are many traditional origami papers bearing classic Japanese aesthetics. In addition to basic chiyogami, there is yuzen, a particular variation of chiyogami that features prints inspired by popular fabrics from ancient Japan; momigami, fashioned from mulberry bark and known for its leathery texture; and shinwazome, a thick, brilliantly adorned paper with embossed patterns that is often used for more extravagant projects.
Another additional benefit of working with foil paper is that it allows the handler to fashion smooth curves in their designs that easily maintain their shape. It will be hard to hide mistakes made with foil paper, as the paper will remain crinkled even after it is smoothed out. [4] X Research source
Working with found paper reinforces the original spirit of origami, which is a form of art that can be practiced anywhere at any time with most any materials. Not all found paper types will fold with the same degree of success. Copy paper can be found anywhere, is sturdy and holds a crease well, but is too thick for more detailed designs, while newsprint and other similar materials is thin enough to allow for more complex folds but creases stubbornly, and is usually quite weak and therefore prone to tearing.
Because patterned papers are printed in a certain directional configuration, they may be best for simpler designs. In complex shapes, the print may run together and be disorienting to the eye.
Vary the dimensions of the paper you use to have many different sizes of origami to put on display. You can also cut found paper to whatever specifications you prefer if the size of a premade paper won’t do.
The number of ways you can design your own origami paper is limited only by the depth of your imagination. Try composing a note or holiday card to a loved one and giving it to them in the form of origami.
