Origami Symbols and Techniques

Leaf Piece Origami

Valley fold.
Fold towards you
(used with a
valley fold line).
Mountain fold.
Fold away from
you (used with a
mountain fold
line).
A dotted line
shows a
hidden edge.

Fold and then

unfold.
Indicates a
crease.
Used to show
general direction
or movement of
paper when more
than one fold is
involved. May also
indicate where
paper is to be
pulled out, or
moved from one
position to
another.
Indicates where a
fold line is hidden
and should not
include the layer
above.

Flip the entire

model over to its
other side.
Leaf Piece Origami

Repeat action or
step(s) on a different
side. Repeat once,
twice, or three times.

1/3

Fold at measured
distances.

Rotate the model

clockwise or counterclockwise. The
number inside this
symbol indicates
degrees to rotate
(e.g. 90, pictured
right).

90

A hollow arrow may

refer to a push,
flatten, squash or
sink fold (e.g. sink
fold pictured right).
A hollow chevron
shows where a
model is to be
opened. Typically
used with a hollow
arrow to indicate a
squash fold (e.g.
open and squash,
pictured right).

Pleat the paper by

alternating valley
and mountain folds.

Leaf Piece Origami

Crimp folds. Arrows

indicate the final
orientation of the
paper in cross-

Next image is
enlarged.

Next image is
reduced.

Designates a point
of interest, such as
a fold from point to
point.

3-D

Inflate the model.

3-D

Indicates that the

model is threedimensional and
should not be
flattened.

3-D
Provides an
alternative point of
view from the
direction of the
dotted line.

3-D

Leaf Piece Origami

An inside
reverse fold
inverts a flap
towards the
inside of a
model.
An outside
reverse fold
inverts a flap
towards the
outside of a
model.

A rabbit ear
collapses the
edges of a flap
towards each
other and then
flattens it to one
side.

In a petal fold, a
corner or edge is
pulled upward as
the sides are
opened and
squashed towards
the center.

3-D

3-D

Leaf Piece Origami