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Origami Design Secrets - 2nd edition
Mathematical Methods for an Ancient Art
By Robert J. Lang
Published: 2011 by A.K Peters
Pages: 770
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
ISBN: 1568814364
Buy from: Amazon.com
Buy from: Origami-shop.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 few 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.
Notes about the 2nd edition:
Even you already own the first edition, you may consider investing in the new edition. It has some major
changes (extending the original book by a whooping close to 200 pages!), which include:
* Updates and corrections throughout the book.
* 4 new models: Dancing Crane, Silverfish, Roosevelt Elk & Organist. All previously published in other
publications, but not always easy to find.
* More details about folding the koi's scales.
* 12 complex insect/arachnid crease-patterns added.
* The illustrations and diagrams' color-scheme has been modified for clarity.
* An expanded Box-pleating chapter, including uniaxial box-pleating methods.
* A new chapter on polygon packing.
* If you're interested in the mathematical algortihms behind the methods described, keep your
first edition as this section has been cut from the new one.
The Models
| Model | Notes | Photo (click for a larger image) |
|---|---|---|
| Stealth Fighter |
|
|
| Snail |
|
|
| Valentine | With color-changed arrow |
|
| Ruby-Throated Hummingbird |
|
|
| Baby | Also published in Origami USA 1990 convention book |
|
| Pteranodon | With flapping action |
 Folded by Gadi Vishne |
| Goatfish |
 Folded by Origami Okiba |
|
| Songbird 1 |
|
|
| KNL Dragon | A combination of Neal's dragon body with Kasahara's dragon head. Also published in The Millennium Origami Dragon Challenge |
|
| Lizard |
|
|
| Tree Frog |
|
|
| Dancing Crane | Also published in Origami Tanteidan magazine #90 |
 Folded by Gabriel Vong |
| 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 2nd edition goes into more detail about folding the koi's scales |
|
| Pegasus | Also published in Origami USA 1996 convention book |
|
| Emu |
|
|
| Songbird 2 |
 Folded by Phillip West |
|
| Orchid Blossom |
 Folded by Nicolas Terry |
|
| Silverfish | Also published in Origami Tanteidan 10th convention book and in Origami USA 2005 convention book |
|
| Alamo Stallion | Also published in Origami USA 2002 convention book |
|
| Roosevelt Elk |
 Folded by Eyal Reuveni |
|
| Train | By Emmanuel Mooser - Crease pattern only for an excellent train. From a rectangle |
 Folded by Grzegorz Bubniak |
| Organist | From a rectangle. Also published in Origami USA 1999 convention book |
 Folded by Jake Crowley |
| Black-Forest Cuckoo Clock | From a long strip |
 Folded by Sebastian Curvers |
| Bull Moose |
 Folded by Eyal Reuveni |
|
| Flying Walking Stick | Crease pattern only | |
| Salt Creek Tiger Beetle | Crease pattern only | |
| Longhorn Beetle | Crease pattern only | |
| Camel Spider | Crease pattern only | |
| Water Strider | Crease pattern only | |
| Scarab Beetle | Crease pattern only | |
| Cicada Nymph | Crease pattern only | |
| Scarab Beetle HP | Crease pattern only | |
| Cyclomatus Metallifer | Crease pattern only | |
| Scorpion HP | Crease pattern only | |
| Euthysanius Beetle | Crease pattern only | |
| Spur-Legged Dung Beetle | Crease pattern only | |
| African Elephant |
 Folded by Herman Mariano |
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