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The Japanese art of folding paper, or Origami, was said to have started in Japan and China around the 6^th century, when both countries exchanged messages through writing on pieces of paper. Today, the art of paper-folding is widely practiced around the world, particularly in the Western countries, where many people have developed a penchant for making models out of paper.

Paper preparation is important in making origami models since the paper can really affect the result of each. The best type of paper to use is the Washi, a paper made in Japan from the fibers of mitsumata shrub, gampi tree, bamboo, wheat, and rice. It is also important to know how to backcoat and wetfold a paper because these techniques help you prepare your own origami paper.

To backcoat a paper, you will need paper of mulberry fiber, some paste, and a brush. Then, do the following:

• Cut a couple of pieces of paper and lay them on a flat surface such as a table.
• Put a sufficient amount of paste on them, using a brush.
• Place a sheet of paper on top of the other and flatten it carefully.
• Leave to dry and then resize according to preference.

For wetfolding, a thicker type of paper is used. The idea is to moisten the paper to give it better form. A water spray or wet cloth will be used for this process. Then, dampen the paper, fold quickly, and let it dry.

Since origami has become very popular over the last few decades, many individuals and organizations have provided many resources and information on origami. These are especially helpful for those who are new to the art of paper-folding:

• Information on how to make origami dinosaurs and insects.
• Origami gallery of paper models. Includes insects, plants, humans, and others.
• Easy paper folding for kids by Tammy Yee.
• Fun and easy learning through animated origami.
• Paper folding for Star Wars models.
• Paper Mosaics with step-by-step procedures on tessellations.
• Plenty of origami diagrams for almost all models.
• Free origami information by Origami Club. Origami instruction books and diagrams as guides to paper-folding.
• Videos of paper-folding instructions on various models.
• Step-by-step instructions on how to make the original paper crane.
• Tips on how to make an origami cube.
• Toilegami, the art of origami using toilet paper.
• Lessons on Modular Origami.
• Origami lessons used as guides for teachers.
• Clay's money origami with more than a dozen models.
• British Origami Society with 700 members supporting origami fans.
• OrigamiUSA, an educational organization dedicated to sharing origami information world-wide.

As more and more people share their crafts and ideas on the internet, the possibilities and forms of origami have increased tremendously. In the past, most origami fans had to refer to books or friends for instructions. Now, it's so easy to learn this fun and rewarding art form.