Where to get the best quality paper?

OrigamiKnowHow · Post by **OrigamiKnowHow** » October 10th, 2009, 5:28 pm

I'm not quite sure where all you live or whatever..

but if anyone else lives in the Unites States, where do you get your origami paper?

I get mine from Michaels, I am not sure if it's good, quality paper, because I've never tried anything different because I couldn't find it available.

pereze · Post by **pereze** » October 10th, 2009, 5:46 pm

It depends on what kind of paper that you're after. If you want really nice handmade papers, you should look for an artist store. Michaels is sort of like an artist store but is really a craft store. You will know the difference when you see it. Otherwise, you may be lucky and have a paper store nearby which carries all sorts of stationery and handmade paper.

FrumiousBandersnatch · October 10th, 2009, 5:57 pm

I usually find paper at large art supply stores. Now, don't confuse this with craft supply, as they usually don't have much that is worth folding. Also, two of the best places to find paper online are http://www.paperjade.com and http://www.kimscrane.com. Both have an excellent collection of papers. Both have Elephant Hide, one has really nice plain kozo, and paper jade has this amazing paper called Red Hot Chitose.

OrigamiKnowHow · Post by **OrigamiKnowHow** » October 10th, 2009, 7:48 pm

Thanks a bunch guys!

Also, has someone just changed the site's sub forums or am I just going crazy?

soneblees · Post by **soneblees** » October 13th, 2009, 3:06 am

just use printer paper. it works 90 percent of the time

Post by **TheRealChris** » October 13th, 2009, 12:46 pm

printer paper doesn't work for most of the models I fold. yesterday I folded the brian chan newt from printer paper and it turned out horrible. copy paper is too thick and too small for most complex models. and there's no way to shape the finished model in a good way. it may be good for boxes and modular stuff but nearly useless for complex models.

FrumiousBandersnatch · October 13th, 2009, 4:33 pm

Printer paper is also fairly useless for the first couple of runs through any new model, complex or not. The folding and unfolding of mistakes really takes it's toll on the short fibers.

Didée · Post by **Didée** » October 13th, 2009, 4:59 pm

While we're at printer/copy paper ...

For me, a better alternative to copy paper is "letter" or "writing" paper (usually sold in pads - those with a lined/checkered sheet meant to lay under while writing). This paper usually is 70 gsm, while copy paper usually is 80gsm.

But, there's more to it than just the "weight". Another point is "volumen". Paper volumen usually is in range of 1.0 to 1.4, seldom 1.6, few specialised papers go up to 2.0.

Some weeks ago, I made these measurements:

Thickness of 10 layers of ...

Code: Select all

- tissue paper (20g):       ~0.31 mm
- baking paper (??g):       ~0.50 mm
- florist tissue (30~35g):  ~0.50 mm
- double-tissue(20+20g):    ~0.62 mm
- writing paper (70g):      ~0.70 mm
- copy paper (80g):         ~1.00 mm

Compare e.g. writing paper to copy paper: it has 12.5% less weight, but 30% less thickness. That's a difference.

Another example: I tried some modelspan paper (used for covering the wings of model aircrafts): while its weight is only 12 gsm, it's noticeably thicker than 20gsm tissue ... 40% less weight, but 40% more thickness. Heheh.

It's a bit like with PCs or digicams: The big talk is always about GHz and MegaPixels, despite these numbers being not that important ...

OrigamiKnowHow · Post by **OrigamiKnowHow** » October 13th, 2009, 11:19 pm

thanks for the posts and information guys.

helps a lot.

soneblees · Post by **soneblees** » October 14th, 2009, 12:42 am

i was mostly kidding, but i do use printer paper a lot mainly because of its availibility and the fact that most models i fold aren't that complex.

CinCin · Post by **CinCin** » October 14th, 2009, 7:56 am

I live in Canada

I find Michael's kinda expensive as it's just kami, unless you go to the scrapbook paper section but it's over $.50 a sheet

Aside from kami for simplier projects, I find that these papers are great and inexpensive. Usually 50 to 100 sheets per pack. downside that they are rectangles but I cut them into squares

Tempura Paper - yes the type that soaks oil.
Chinese / Japanese Calligraphy Paper

Easy to find here but I've also found them in 'China Towns when I travelled down the West Coast of the USA

BigFIFan · Post by **BigFIFan** » October 25th, 2009, 1:43 am

Robert Lang speaks very highly of airmail paper but for the life of me I can't find the stuff. Does anyone here know where to get the stuff?

legionzilla · Post by **legionzilla** » October 25th, 2009, 6:05 am

Robert Lang speaks very highly of airmail paper but for the life of me I can't find the stuff. Does anyone here know where to get the stuff?

Unryuu, Gampi, Lokta and such are the paper Lang usually uses.
Though of course, if you want the real deal, go to origamido studios and get some of their handmade paper.

origamimasterjared · October 25th, 2009, 7:55 am

Okay, "the best paper" is really impossible to tell you. I mean, the best paper is the kind you custom order from a papermill that exactly fits your current project, but failing that there's a lot of variety...

Are you looking for thick paper or thin paper? 5 gsm gampi is not going to be any good, and a waste of that $15 sheet, if you're making something that demands thick paper. Likewise, Elephant hide won't help you with miniatures and skinny insect legs.

Some questions to ask yourself:

What am I making?
Do I want thick or thin paper?
How much extra work or preparation am I willing to do?
What is my price range/ceiling?
How important is availability in nearby stores/am I willing to order online from a faraway location?
What size do I need?
What color?
Do I need it to be archival?
What about back-coating?

I'm more knowledgeable about thin papers, so depending on what it's for, I can recommend anything from double tissue, unryu (especially the splatter green), lokta, and even $15 kozo. Apart from packaged origami paper and foil, copy paper, and tissue-foil, this is where most of my experience lies. I still use these, and glassine, for practice, but I wouldn't consider them the best in most circumstances.

And Legionzilla, Robert mainly uses (at least for the nice things on his website) lokta, Korean hanji, and paper made by Origamido. Doesn't mean those were the best papers for the designs, or the best he could find. He bought a ton of hanji cheap once, and is still working his way through it. Lokta has great colors for mammals (pretty much the only way to find a variety of browns in a decent quality paper), but is very inconsistent in quality and thickness, even across an individual sheet! Origamido makes custom paper for you, so you should be able to get the perfect paper for your work if you figure out what recipe makes your perfect paper!

Joseph Wu uses Elephant Hide almost exclusively (and colors it himself with ink). Sipho Mabona uses a specific kozo that comes in a variety of colors. It all depends on what you fold and what you like.

If anyone wants more information, I'd be glad to talk more.

topsu · Post by **topsu** » October 25th, 2009, 9:36 am

If you feel extreme, you can even make your own paper. With correct fibers, good information and the additional stuff you need, (there's loads of stuff you need btw

) you can create the perfect paper for yourself!

though.. It really costs a lot. And is probably hard to do. And yes, it takes a lot of space. And of course, creates a huge amount of dirt and water on your floor.