Origami can be simply defined as an art in which paper (generally square is shape) is folded in order to make it look like varied recognizable objects.
Neither scissors, nor glue and nor tape are used in origami.
Origami is all about following basic instructions, being precise in folding and continuously pressing your finger along folds to make them crisp and your final product look well finished.
There are some basic, universally recognized symbols in origami which serve as a guide to its folds.
These symbols are generally the same in all origami books, diagrams and literature.
Familiarity with these symbols and basic folds equips one to handle origami with great easy and to understand comprehensively and follow efficiently, any guide of ones choice.
Some of the basic and important symbols are as follows: oA dashed line indicates a valley fold.
It can be formed by folding the paper towards itself oAn alternating dashed and dotted line indicates a mountain fold, which is formed by folding the paper away from itself.
oA solid line represents the crease.
oA single line arrow needs one to fold in the direction of the arrow which is shown in a curved manner.
oA double line arrow can be formed by folding along the crease and then unfolding it.
Petal Fold: The petal fold lifts a point and brings it upwards so that the two edges of the paper lie together.
It is best to pre-fold both layers of paper along the valley and mountain folds before making the petal fold.
Rabbit Ear Fold: Pre-fold along the three valley folds first.
Then fold the two sides down to the baseline.
Fold the top point to one side to make the mountain fold.
(Take care that you fold the top point to the right side where the mountain fold is set.
) Squash Fold: Pre-fold both sheets of paper along the valley and mountain fold.
Then open the paper.
Fold one layer of paper along the valley fold and flatten the model using the mountain fold.
Reverse (Inside) Fold: Pre-fold both sheets of paper in both directions (mountain and valley).
Then open the model a little bit and bring the top point down so that the mountain fold edge becomes a valley fold edge.
Reverse (Outside) Fold: A crimp is used as a way of incorporating two reverse folds to change the direction of a flap or point.
In most cases it is easiest just to make two reverse folds one after the other (pre-crease both folds before).
Sink Fold: The sink fold is a method of blunting a point that has no open edges.
The fold should first be pre-creased.
Then carefully open the model and tuck the point inside.
Then, flatten the model along existing creases.
Origami is extremely easy to follow with the help of simple diagrams which are given well in all origami help books, websites, etc.
One can get an elementary hold of origami by practicing the basic steps mentioned above.