Page 2 of 3

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: November 13th, 2017, 11:13 pm
by OriGenes
NeverCeaseToCrease wrote:It's been 12 years but if anybody still cares I would say Oripa is the best software for crease patterns. Oripa is free, in English, and it can:
1.Draw grids
2.bisect angles
3.Turn three points into a triangular molecule
4.Draw perpendicular lines
5.reflect segments across lines
And, it's claim to fame, it can fold the model from a crease pattern. Personally I don't find this feature too helpful for complex models, because you have to have every crease included, including hinge creases which are a pain on box pleating models. Also, if you diagram an axial base it doesn't end up looking very helpful.
If you have an Android smartphone, you will be pleased to learn from this other thread that Michelle Fung has ported Oripa to Android.

If you are on iOS, either iPhone or iPad, you may be interested to know that I am creating an app to draw and verify CPs. It is not on the App Store yet but it is fully functional and I am looking for beta testers. I think it is easier to use than Oripa but I would like to have other people’s opinion. It works differently than Oripa, so it may be surprising at first but once you get the hang of it, you will find it very speedy.

It has all the functions listed by NeverCeaseToCrease above, many improved, and some more:
  1. Grids up to 64x64 on an iPad, with zooming
  2. Angle bisection, trisection, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-section
    Segment bisection, trisection, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-section
  3. Fundamental bases: rabbit ear (triangular molecule), fish base, bird base, frog base
  4. Perpendicular lines, parallel lines, line extension
  5. Segment reflection (repeated as long as there is no ambiguity or the edge of the paper is reached)
  6. Squash: find the missing fold to flatten a node
  7. Huzita–Hatori axiom #5: fold a node to a line with another node as a pivot
  8. Undo and Redo
  9. Completely handles overlapping folds – no “duplicating segment”
It doesn’t simulate (yet) the actual folding like Oripa does but it can check Maekawa and Kawasaki’s theorems and tell you what problems it finds (missing folds, incorrect angles,…). Once all errors are corrected, you can export the file to Oripa through an e-mail and try to fold it there.

Here is a screenshot of the app:

Image

I also have a video demonstrating all the functions on an actual CP (Saku Saku’s Penguin) but it is only in French. If you are interested, I can send you a link (I cannot post it here because it is not a permanent link.) If you have an iOS device (iOS 9.0 and above), send me a PM (private message) with your e-mail address and I can send you an evaluation copy.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 12:00 pm
by Splunge
Hello OriGenes,

Looks promising!
Any plans (maybe in the far future) to port the app to Android or even Windows?

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: November 16th, 2017, 4:27 pm
by OriGenes
Windows, probably not but Android maybe, as people keep asking me! But why, oh why, are there so few origami creators with an iPhone or an iPad???

In any case, my main goal is ease of use, and I am still developing the necessary concepts to make the drawing of CPs intuitive and speedy. I prefer to do that on the iOS platform before porting to another one.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: April 14th, 2018, 12:17 am
by OriGenes
My app is on the App Store!

It took a little bit longer than expected but it is finally there. I named it Origami Draw, as it is truly a drawing app tailored for origami CPs. Check it out:

Image

Since my initial post, the functionalities haven’t changed much (I just added segment and angle 8-section) but I spent some time polishing the interface and squashing some bugs. Most importantly, I have included a user manual in PDF, as well as an interactive tutorial. They are available in English or in French, depending on your device’s settings.

As part of the submission process, I also had to create a support website where I can be contacted. I will try to use that site to publish some case studies and other discussions on origami design. I already put some additional explanations on how the app works. Here is a link.

There is a little bit of a learning curve for users accustomed to Oripa because the input method is different. However, I think it makes better use of the peculiarities of a touch interface. When you get used to it, you will see that it is very easy to use, intuitive and fast. It is a very satisfying experience for origami folders because we can use all our fingers to interact with the menu and point at lines and nodes. Instead of only using one finger on a mouse while looking elsewhere (on the screen), we can finally draw a CP like we fold a piece of paper. I hope you will enjoy it.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: August 27th, 2018, 9:32 pm
by OriGenes
New functionalities!

I have added the last two basic folds to Origami Draw. So, it has become the first app to integrate all seven Huzita-Hatori/Justin axioms!

If you don’t know these axioms, here they are:

Axiom 1: Fold between two reference points

Image

Axiom 2: Fold a point onto a point

Image

Axiom 3: Fold a fold onto a fold

Image

Axiom 4: Fold a perpendicular to a fold, passing through a reference point

Image

Axiom 5: Fold a point onto a fold, around a pivot point

Image

Axiom 6: Fold two points respectively onto two folds

Image

Axiom 7: Fold a point onto a fold, perpendicularly to another fold

Image

With this complete set, you can now draw your most complex CPs without having to perform any calculations. You can even solve cubic equations, as shown in this thread.

Enjoy!

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: April 6th, 2019, 11:53 pm
by OriGenes
Dear all,

I have published a few new articles on my Origami Draw website. They are of course about CPs. Each article focuses on an existing model that I found the CP interesting.

If you are a beginner at deciphering CPs, you should start with my latest entry. The CP I am studying there, the seahorse by Hideo Komatsu, is not very complex but most beginners don’t see where the reference points are. Using Origami Draw, I show how to look for them step by step.

If you like Hideo Komatsu’s creations (and you should if you like an elegant CP), I analyze in another entry the design process of his horse. It is an amazing example where he manages to modify the size of the hind part of his model without changing the front half. It may sound easy for box-pleaters, but not so on a 22.5-degree model.

Finally, there is a series on finding some difficult reference points on CPs from Robert Lang and John Szinger. It is pretty high-level stuff, definitely not for beginners. But if you are somewhat versed in the art of reading CPs, you should have no problem understanding the 4-step process I propose. Each of the three CPs I study has some unique mathematical challenge you will enjoy solving with me. I've tried to be as clear as possible, using origami techniques to substitute for the math, especially for John Szinger’s octahedron. I actually propose an exact solution where his original design uses an approximation.

As an aside, if you have never encountered Axiom 5, you will see how useful this construction can be.

Whatever your level, I hope you will enjoy these articles.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: May 29th, 2019, 1:08 am
by seoking
To the non-origami person, the sequence that transforms a sheet of paper into a beautiful folded object can seem miraculous. Even to the origami aficionado, however, the idea that a single drawing of the creases conveys the full folding sequence can seem equally miraculous. But in fact, a crease pattern can sometimes be more illuminating than a detailed folding sequence, conveying not just "how to fold," but also how the figure was originally designed. And thus, it can actually give the folder insight into the thought processes of the origami composer in a way that a step-by-step folding sequence cannot.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: June 1st, 2019, 12:43 am
by OriGenes
Hi seoking,

I absolutely agree. Ever since I have been able to understand (some) CPs, I have come to appreciate the design work of certain origami creators, especially those who have introduced new techniques or structures. Sometimes, I have also discovered some approximations that explain why certain diagrams are impossible to fold perfectly, no matter how accurate you are. It is truly fascinating!

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: June 1st, 2019, 2:34 am
by Baltorigamist
OriGenes, I think that post was taken straight from Robert Lang’s website. It seems very familiar, at least.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: June 1st, 2019, 8:04 am
by Folderp
Baltorigamist wrote:OriGenes, I think that post was taken straight from Robert Lang’s website. It seems very familiar, at least.
I can second that. It is most definitely copy-pasted from Lang's website.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: June 1st, 2019, 10:43 am
by OriGenes
Indeed, it is from CREASE PATTERNS FOR FOLDERS. I should have known since I've read that post many times (but not to the point of learning it by heart). Also because "aficionado" seems to be one of his favorite words :wink: .

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: June 7th, 2019, 5:09 pm
by Baltorigamist
As far as I'm aware, ORIPA can't bisect a straight angle (i.e., make a perpendicular at a given point along a crease with nowhere to drop it). This is similar to Axiom 4 except that the given point is on the crease in question.
Is there a way to do it in your app? It's possible to make an extra crease and just delete it later, but that seems like unnecessary work.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: June 25th, 2019, 3:17 pm
by OriGenes
Indeed. I had never noticed that! Oripa quietly ignores any attempt to draw a perpendicular to a line from a point that belongs to the line. It behaves even more curiously if you try to bisect a flat angle. I am not sure what it does but it is certainly wrong.

Actually, I don't know how you could work around this limitation, short of using the angle/length tool or making some elaborate construction (e.g., a symmetrical segment followed by an angle bisector).

OrigamiDraw has no problem drawing a perpendicular to a line regardless of whether the point is external to the line or sits on it. Check it here. The new version I am preparing will even be easier to use.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: July 5th, 2019, 3:26 am
by Baltorigamist
It sounds like there’s a bit of a learning curve, but I look forward to trying it at some point.

Re: The best software to draw a crease pattern

Posted: September 15th, 2019, 10:02 pm
by OriGenes
The new version I mentioned two months ago is finally out!

If you have already been using OrigamiDraw, you will see a startup window warning you that I have changed the order of entry for the Mirror function. I apologize for making you change your habits but I think you will feel it more natural. You will also appreciate that the Mirror function and the Angle N-Section now work with parallel folds.

If you install it for the first time, you will be led through the learning process a little bit better than before. If you miss it, just go in Settings and see all the help options, including a link to some tutorial pages on my website.

The site was improved as well. Most importantly, it is now ad-free! Then, I can now add videos that you can pause, rewind, skip, or change the speed at will, so it is easier to follow long demos like the frog on the front page. And I added a Privacy Policy, in case you were worried.

For more details and some demos, see my blog entry.

Check it all out! And let me know if you like it.