"Kimegami" Origami Crane Base Crease Embosser

"Kimegami" Origami Crane Base Crease Embosser

A set of plates for pre-creasing the crane base onto 70mm square origami paper. Useful for completing one thousand origami cranes.

These may be scaled by 107.143% for use with more common 75mm square origami paper, but that use case is currently untested. Let me know if it works for you!

Directions for use

This design features two embossing plates: 

• A larger bottom plate, with hemispherical registration marks protruding outwards.
• A smaller top plate, with indentations matching the registration marks on the bottom plate.

To use:

1. Lay the 70mm origami paper within the registration marks on the bottom plate. The registration bumps will align the paper by its edges. You may use the tip of your finger to gently rub the paper into the registration marks.
2. Place the top plate over the bottom plate, aligning the indentations against the registration marks.
3. Apply firm pressure onto the top plate, making sure to force the pattern into all four corners and the center of the paper. A solid smooth object such as a glass jar of paper cranes can accelerate the process: Rub the smooth glass bottom against the smooth surface of the top plate in a circular motion.
4. Remove the top plate and inspect the paper. You should see the four-sided star of mountain and valley creases imprinted into the paper. If necessary, repeat steps 2-3 to ensure the pattern is fully imprinted.
5. Collapse the paper along the creases to form the crane base.
6. Unfurl the crane wings from the base and proceed to fold the rest of the crane as normal.

Acknowledgements

“Kimedashi”, meaning “push out”, is an embossing technique originating from Japan: Paper is pushed down into the carved spaces of a block. The term “kimegami” is a coined portmanteau of “kimedashi” and “origami” to refer to combining the two practices to fold paper with the aid of embossed creases. As I am not a native Japanese speaker, please let me know if there is a more suitable word for this process, or if the portmanteau may have unintended meaning.

My model's geometry was created independently in Blender using Geometry Nodes. However, the wedge shapes used to form the individual creases draw inspiration from @mathgrrl's butterfly origami press. In this model I introduce the use of hemispherical registration marks to align the plates and the paper, and implement the pattern of edge brakes needed to pre-form the folds of the crane base.

This model would never have been made without my fiancée: We are currently attempting to complete one thousand origami cranes for our wedding celebration, and this model was made to facilitate those efforts. If you are trying to fold a thousand origami cranes, I hope this model helps your wishes come true!