Techniques
Many Origami books begin with a description of basic origami techniques which are used to construct the models. This includes simple diagrams of basic folds like valley and mountain folds, pleats, reverse folds, squash folds, and links. There are also standard named based which are used in a wide variety of models, for instance the bird base is an intermediate stage in the construction of flapping bird. Additional bases are the preliminary base (square base), fish base, waterbomb base, and the frog base.
Origami paper
Almost any laminar (flat) can be used for folding; the only requirement is that should hold a crease.
Origami paper, often referred to as “kami” (Japanese paper), is sold in prepackaged squares various sizes ranging from 2.5 cm (1 in) to 25 cm 910 in) or more.It is commonly colored on one side and white on the other; however dual colored and patterned version exists can be used effectively color-changes models. Origami paper weighs slightly less than copy paper, making a suitable for a wider range of models.
Normal copy paper with weights of 10-90 g/m2 can be used simple folds such as the crane and waterbomb. Heavier weight of papers of (19-24&100 g/m2 approx. 25 lb) or more can be wet-folded. This techniques allows for a more rounded sculpting of the model, which becomes a rigid and sturdy when it is dry.
Foil-backed paper, as its name implies, is a sheet of thin foil glued to a sheet of thin paper. Related to this is tissue foil, which is made by gluing a thin piece of tissue paper to kitchen aluminium foil. A second piece of tissue can be glued onto the reverse side to produce a tissue/foil/tissue sandwich. Foil-backed paper is available commercially, but not tissue foil; it must be handmade. Both types of foil materials are suitable for complex models.
Washi is the traditional origami paper used in Japan. Washi is generally tougher than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, and is used in many traditional arts. Washi is commonly made using fibres from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub (Edgeworthia papyrifera), or the paper mulberry but can also be made using bamboo hemp , rice, and wheat.
Artisan papers such as unryu, lokta, hanji, gampi, kozo, saa, and abaca have long fibers and are often extremely strong. As these papers are floppy to start with, they are often backcoated or resized with methylcellulose or wheat paste before folding. Also, these papers are extremely thin and compressible, allowing for thin, narrowed limbs as in the case of insect models.
Paper money from various countries is also popular to create origami with; this is known variously as Dollar Origami, Orikane, and Money Origami.
Tools
Bone folders
It is common to fold using a flat surface, but some folders like doing it in the air with no tools, especially when displaying the folding. Many folders believe that no tool should be used when folding. However a couple of tools can help especially with the more complex models. For instance a bone folder allows sharp creases to be made in the paper easily, paper clips can act as extra pairs of fingers, and tweezers can be used to make small folds. When making complex models from origami crease patterns it can help to use a ruler and ballpoint embrosser to score the creases. Completed models can be sprayed so they keep their shape better, and a spray is needed when wet folding.
Origami 