Den 11/10/12 07.09, Chris Lott skrev:
That would also be a good definition, though that can be treated with
a few cold beverages :)
I don't know what over folding might be called, but I noticed the last
few times I've taught people that they tend to:
1) want to crease way, way too hard and
2) when folding, say, edges to a center crease they try for perfection
and end up with a fold that is "too tight" or even a little
overlapped, which comes back to haunt them when they are doing a
reverse fold later, etc. In my admittedly limited experience, I find
it's better to purposefully be a little imperfect and err on the side
of a small gap and carefully making a good "point" than over
folding...
These are both something folders need to learn. Though usually I have
the opposite problem of (1), i.e. beginners make too soft creases and
fold too casually, too eagerly, faster than they can manage.
In particular for models like the traditional masu box you should make
sharp creases, as this will make the assembly step much easier, and also
I find that the model is nicer when the resulting box edges are well
defined.
The case of too sharp creases are more common with more advanced models
like masks, though I often tell people folding a traditional jumping
frog that they should not make the springy folds of the jumping back
legs too sharp.
You might call this "fold control" or "don't overdo the folds", or "do
not commit a fold until needed".
I also agree about (2) which is prominent in the traditional crane. Here
I often explicity tell students to leave up to a millimeter in the tail
and neck thinning (but still to the point) so that the reverse folds
come out easily and nicely.
I see this as a different problem, namely that of "anticipating the
folding sequence" and/or "compensating for the thickness of paper"
(which is a general issue).
"Anticipation" maybe the more generic term. Understanding what role a
fold will have later in the folding sequence and in the final model.
Another example, again from the masu box, is the initial book folds:
a) Realise that you only need 1/4 of the fold in each side, so that the
box ends up with a clean bottom (or lid).
b) Realise that when you assemble the box, these book folds end up as
mountain folds, so you should turn over the paper before you do them.
This will also make the assembly easier.
All such issues is not something to pour in at once while folding the
first model with someone, but to be added gradually as the learners are
ready.
And back to your original question, yes, a "folding school" vocabulary
with illustrated exercises would be nice. Also difficult as you would
have to decide on the folding level and prioritize what order to tell this.
I do believe that if you look around, much of it does exist in different
places. In my own beginner's book I've tried to include "technique
boxes" in appropriate places along with the models, starting with the
elementary "how to make a diagonal fold". And, by the way, instructing
people in doing careful, sharp creases (as I said above, in my
experience beginners, at least in Denmark, have more problems failing to
make sharp creases than the opposite).
Best regards,
Hans
Hans Dybkjær
papirfoldning.dk
society: foldning.dk
