PaperTori

Origami Symbols and Folds

Every diagram on this site uses the standard origami notation. These are the symbols you will meet, each shown in a real step from one of the models.

Valley fold symbol — **Valley fold**A dashed line. Fold the paper toward you, so the crease sinks like a valley. The arrow has a solid head.

Mountain fold symbol — **Mountain fold**A dash-dot line. Fold the paper away from you, behind, so the crease stands up like a mountain. The arrow has an open head.

Fold and unfold symbol — **Fold and unfold**An arrow with a head at both ends: fold, crease well, then open it again. It leaves a crease to use later.

Turn over symbol — **Turn over**The looping arrow means flip the whole model over, left to right.

Rotate symbol — **Rotate**The circular arrow with an angle: turn the model on the table by that many degrees.

Inside reverse fold symbol — **Inside reverse fold**A point is pushed in between its own layers, so it changes direction. Used for necks, tails and heads.

Petal fold symbol — **Petal fold**The bottom point of a layer lifts up while its sides fold in along creases made beforehand.

CollapseSeveral creases fold at once. Push where the arrows show and flatten the paper into the new shape.

Colours in the diagrams

The coloured side of the paper is shown in colour and the back in white, so you can always see which side is facing you. The finished model is shown at the end of each set of steps.