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Origami Design Secrets
Mathematical Methods for an Ancient Art
By Robert J. Lang
Published: 1993 by AK Peters
Pages: 585
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
ISBN: 1568811942
Buy from: Amazon.com
| Skill Level : | From low intermediate to super complex |
|---|---|
| Clear diagrams? | Yes |
| Tinted diagrams (to show 2 sides of paper)? | Yes |
| Photos of completed models? | Yes |
|
Is there indication to the model size resulting from size of starting paper? |
No |
| Are the models "Pure" origami (From square - no cuts)? | A couple are from rectangles |
Overall Impression
Wow. This is a fabulous book. Even if you only use it as a regular origami instruction book, it has diagrams
for amazing models, such as the Western pond turtle with a patterned shell, and, of course, the detailed Black
Forest Cuckoo clock. However, this is not a conventional origami book. It's much more than that.
This book gives us insights into "technical" origami design.
The object of this approach to design is basically how to get a certain number of appendages of certain sizes
out of a piece of paper, in correct relations to each other, and in the most efficient way.
Lang presents several methods, starting with more abstract ones, such as basic point-splitting, modifying
existing bases, grafting and tiling, and advances to more "scientific" tools, using circle packing and tree
theory to achieve more accurate results.
Each technique is illustrated with many examples, exercises to the reader,
and fully diagrammed models.
Lang's writing is flowing and entertaining. No mathematical
skills are needed to understand the methods presented.
This book has become a classic as soon as it was published.
The Models
| Model | Notes | Photo (Click for a larger image) |
|---|---|---|
| Stealth fighter |
|
|
| Snail |
|
|
| Valentine | With color-changed arrow |
|
| Ruby throated hummingbird | Excellent |
|
| Baby | Very good. Also published in Origami USA 1990 convention book |
|
| Pteranodon | With flapping action | |
| Goatfish | Vary good |
 Folded by Origami Okiba |
| KNL dragon | A combination of Neal's dragon body with Kasahara's dragon head. Also published in The Millenium Origami Dragon Challenge |
|
| Lizard | Excellent |
|
| Tree frog | Excellent |
|
| Songbird 1 | Excellent |
|
| Turtle |
Also published in A Arte dos Mestres de Origami and
in Paper Animals |
|
| Western pond turtle | Fantastic - with patterned shell |
 Folded by Sebastian Curvers |
| Koi |
The exercise of adding scales to the koi's body is left for the reader to figure out... |
|
| Pegasus | Also published in Origami USA 1996 convention book |
|
| Emu |
|
|
| Songbird 2 | With color-changed wings |
 Folded by Philip West |
| Orchid blossom | Very good |
 Folded by Nicolas Terry |
| Alamo stallion | Also published in Origami USA 2002 convention book |
|
| Mooser's train | By Emmanuel Mooser - Crease pattern only for an excellent train. From a rectangle |
 Folded by Grzegorz Bubniak |
| Bull moose | Excellent |
 Folded by Sebastian Curvers |
| Black forest cuckoo clock |
From a long strip - an amazingly detailed model, that I will gather the courage to fold one day! |
 Folded by Sebastian Curvers |
| African elephant | Very nice and 3D |
 Folded by Herman Mariano |
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