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      3. A square

      Sheets of 8¹/₂"x 11" copy and other printing papers can be cut into two sizes:

      • With one cut: into squares with 8¹/₂ sides.

      • With two cuts: into two squares with 5¹/₂" sides.

      Copy shops will usually cut a whole ream for a small fee. A ream will provide five hundred 8¹/₂" squares or one thousand 5¹/₂ " squares.

      HELPFUL TIPS

      If you are having trouble with a step check the following:

      1. Make sure you distinguish carefully between a valley fold (dashed line) and a mountain fold (dash-dot-dash line).

      2. Be sure to observe the curly arrow asking you to turn the paper over.

      3. Compare your paper to the illustrations for:

      • The step you are working on

      • The previous step

      • The next step, which is your goal

      4. Read the directions out loud.

      Drawings

      For the sake of clarity, the illustrations may increase in size from the beginning of the project to the end. But the angles are always consistent, and you can test your own paper against them.

      Measurements

      Measurements are given in inches and centimeters, but the conversion may not always be exact in order to avoid awkward fractions. In some cases specific sizes are recommended, but in most cases you may use smaller or larger pieces of paper.

      ABOUT PAPER

      Most fairly thin, uncoated papers with a crisp surface are suitable for origami. Check out "origami" on the Internet for suppliers of specialty papers. Once you know how to fold an origami, you may want to reproduce it with a paper in a more appropriate color or design, which can make a big difference to the end result.

      The following is an overview of the papers most popular with experienced paperfolders.

      Origami Paper

      Ready-cut squares in varying sizes and colors are available in some art, museum, and gift stores and from catalogs. They are usually colored on one side and white on the other. I recommend 6" (15 cm) as the most versatile all-purpose size. From there you can go on to smaller and larger squares as appropriate for a particular design.