The Origami Forum

I love the way my models look right after folding...I keep them on a shelf over my fireplace; as the weeks go by though...they just..unfold...what do you do to keep your models fresh and crisp looking?

For one thing, I don't put them above the fireplace or anywhere near fire, water, dogs, direct sunlight...

A lot of it is going to have to do with the type of paper you're folding out of and how sharp the creases are. I like to fold with some kind of foil paper, which will hold it's shape forever. You just have to be carefuly though, because any bad accident is going to be nearly permanent.

And isn't wet-folding supposed to be good for maintaining shape? I've tried it on only a few occasions but that's the impression I've recieved.

Why the heck would you keep your models over the fireplace? The heat would cause the paper to expand and unfold by itself. Try putting them in the fridge.

A lof of people have fireplaces but don't actually use them. The mantles on top of fireplaces are usually meant for displaying things aren't they? I'd assume they're designed to be unaffected by the heat.

Well, I wouldn't know. I've never actually seen a real fire place before.

Well, my family has a fireplace, but we never really use it since the vent to outside is broken . But I know people who use their fireplaces in the Winter, so I don't think it is that uncommon. Anyway, the heat and dryness would probably affect the longevity of the models.

JeossMayhem wrote:And isn't wet-folding supposed to be good for maintaining shape? I've tried it on only a few occasions but that's the impression I've recieved.

It is supposed to be the best-when the paper dries, the MC rehardens and makes the folded shape of the paper the new natural state for the paper to be in (rather than being flat (at least that is my impression of it)).

What means "fireplace" in this case?

If you would like to have your models always fresh, fold they again...

I have model in the box, when is the box full, I trash all models and again start with empty box...

I keep some of my models over the fireplace...

Like any normal person, I leave my models all over my desk.

I know how that is... my desk in my dorm is pretty small. If I ever want to scan or print something I have to remove the heap of half-completed/developed models .

Ondrej.Cibulka fire place means an area in your house where you can safely light a fire

my early folding was done out of small squares of colored paper and lined paper i cut into squares, infact, i've folded everything in langs insects and their kin book out of lined paper. when i discovered forums, like this one, i learned about tissue paper, which i've been folding with, which has much better results.

when i folded out of paper the models would slightly unfold after a month or two and lose their finishing details, out of tissue paper they keep their finishing details, my oldest tissue model is about a year old and hasn't changed a bit.

I use a clear acrylic spray. It is cheap and works well. The spray does not detract from the design. In fact you can barely tell that it is there.

Thanks zxop9, so it is:
http://www.perfekt-krby.cz/pictures/realizace/1_1.jpg

We live in block of flats ( http://www.bytyhradec.cz/_images/dum6.jpg ) where is not so common to have fire place.