Origami Design Secrets : Mathematical Methods for an Ancient Art

Robert J. Lang, one of the world's foremost origami artists and scientists, presents the never-before-described mathematical and geometric principles that allow anyone to design original origami, something once restricted to an elite few. From the theoretical underpinnings to detailed step-by-step folding sequences, this book takes a modern look at the heart of the centuries-old art of origami. Origami novices will appreciate the organization of the book, which begins with easy techniques and progresses to deep and powerful tools for design, all based on simple, intuitive concepts like grafting, circle packing, and assembly of tiles. Both novices and aficionados will find detailed, step-by-step instructions for previously unpublished models, including the famous "Black Forest Cuckoo Clock." Front cover ......Page 1 Short title ......Page 2 Title page ......Page 4 Date-line ......Page 5 Table of Contents ......Page 6 Acknowledgements ......Page 8 1. Introduction ......Page 10 2. The Building Blocks of Origami ......Page 20 3. Elephant Design ......Page 48 4. Traditional Bases ......Page 60 Folding Instructions ......Page 80 Stealth Fighter ......Page 81 Snail ......Page 83 Valentine ......Page 85 Ruby-Throated Hummingbird ......Page 89 Baby ......Page 94 5. Splitting Points ......Page 100 Folding Instructions ......Page 124 Pteranodon ......Page 125 Goatfish ......Page 130 6. Grafting ......Page 136 Folding Instructions ......Page 168 Songbird 1 ......Page 169 KNL Dragon ......Page 175 Lizard ......Page 181 Tree Frog ......Page 186 7. Pattern Grafting ......Page 196 Folding Instructions ......Page 216 Turtle ......Page 217 Western Pond Turtle ......Page 220 Koi ......Page 232 8. Tiling ......Page 236 Folding Instructions ......Page 276 Pegasus ......Page 277 9. Circle Packing ......Page 286 Folding Instructions ......Page 330 Emu ......Page 331 Songbird 2 ......Page 334 10. Molecules ......Page 340 Folding Instructions ......Page 378 Orchid Blossom ......Page 379 11. Tree Theory ......Page 384 Folding Instructions ......Page 418 Alamo Stallion ......Page 419 12. Box Pleating ......Page 428 Folding Instructions ......Page 484 Bull Moose ......Page 485 Black Forest Cuckoo Clock ......Page 498 13. Hybrid Bases ......Page 528 Folding Instructions ......Page 546 African Elephant ......Page 547 14. Algorithms ......Page 556 References ......Page 566 Glossary of Terms ......Page 582 Index ......Page 590 Back cover ......Page 595 The Book Contains Detailed Step-by-step Instructions For 25 Original Figures And Structural Blueprints For Many More. Origami Novices Will Find Directions For A Variety Of Simple And Charming Figures, A Hummingbird, An Elephant, A Baby. Origami Aficionados Will Find Such Challenging Masterpieces As A Moose With A Full Set Of Antlers, A Complete Train, And The Legendary (and Never-before-published) Black Forest Cuckoo Clock. What Sets This Book Apart From Other Origami Books Is That In Addition To The Folding Instructions, It Presents - For The First Time - Comprehensive Methods That Allow One To Design Original Origami Figures.--jacket. The Building Blocks Of Origami -- Elephant Design -- Traditional Bases : Stealth Fighter, Snail, Valentine, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Baby -- Splitting Points : Pteranodon, Goatfish -- Grafting : Songbird 1, Knl Dragon, Lizard, Tree Frog -- Pattern Grafting : Turtle, Western Pond Turtle, Koi -- Tiling : Pegasus -- Circle Packing : Emu, Songbird 2 -- Molecules : Orchid Blossom -- Tree Theory : Alamo Stallion -- Box Pleating : Bull Moose, Black Forest Cuckoo Clock -- Hybrid Bases : African Elephant -- Algorithms. Robert J. Lang. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 557-571) And Index. The magnum opus of one of the world's leading origami artists, the second edition of 'Origami Design Secrets' reveals the underlying concepts of origami and how to create original origami designs. Containing step-by-step instructions for 26 models, this book is not just an origami cookbook or list of instructions - it introduces the fundamental building blocks of origami, building up to advanced methods such as the combination of uniaxial bases, the circle/river method and tree theory. "In 1988, a French artist named Alain Georgeot prepared an exhibition of 88 elephants."