How to Draw Origami Diagrams page 5

You have a couple of options here;

1. Rub-down dry transfer lettering. This is obtainable in any art supplier, Letraset and Meccanorma are 2 makes that I know of and I'm sure there are many others. If using dry transfer lettering always read the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

2. Use a computer and printer, yours or someone else's. Type out the title and, of course, the creator and after you have chosen a font from the computer's available range, print it out and cut and paste (that's with real scissors and real glue!).

You may have noticed that I do not make any mention of writing instructions within the diagrams. This is a purely personal choice on my part for the following reasons;

1. Origami is an internationally practised artform. If you include written instructions in your own native language, you are liable to restrict your audience to speakers of that language, which would be a pity.
2. I have noticed that by deliberately ommitting written instructions I am forced to break the folding sequence down into smaller, simpler steps. This has the beneficial effect of making the diagrams easier to follow for less experienced folders.
3. From an aesthetic and, admittedly, purely subjective point of view, I feel that a page consisting only of drawings looks much more attractive than one with writing dotted about here and there.

To write or not to write is, of course, entirely your own decision. Remember though, if you are going to include written instructions you want them to be as neat and attractive as the drawings...

You may have occasions that you need to draw a 3-dimensional picture of the model, either part way through the process or at the endfor the finished view.

Do not despair! Even this can be done simply.

Take a photograph of the model. If it is part of the folding process and you are demonstrating a "how to" move, get someone else to take the photo from over your shoulder. That way you will be showing the end reader of your diagram what they will see when they try the step.

Then all you need do is to trace around the edges of the model, and your hands if neccessary. When you do the tracing try to do it larger than you need, it can easily be reduced on a photocopier.

Try to resist the temptation to put in a load of cross hatching or shading. If you don't know how to do this with enough restraint it will make the drawing dirty looking. Remember - LESS IS MORE!

Once you are happy with your 3D drawing in both size and look, cut and paste.

In conclusion this is not the only way to diagram. Other people use other methods with great success. It is, however, a method that I have found to be both simple and capable of producing accurate and clear diagrams.

It may, at first, seem to be a time consuming and labour intensive process. Rest assured that with practice you will get to be quite proficient.

If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well