Reading and collapsing Boxpleated Crease patterns from the perspective of paperforger

All models in origami consist of flaps; appendages which are used as the main features and details in
a model. These flaps are able to be manipulated independently from the base in order to make into
specific features in a model. There are 3 types of flaps: Corner, middle and edge. In boxpleating,
these flaps are easy to identify and collapse due to there only being 45 degree angles. This makes the
CP less convoluted and simple compared to 22.5 CP’s. The simplest of cases of the 3 flaps are shown
in figure 1. The names come from where the tip of the flap is positioned; the corner, edge or the
middle.

In addition to flaps, there are splits. These splits are similar with flaps where they can be placed on
the edges and the middle of the paper. At the end of a split, there will always be a flap. Obviously
because of this, there is always a split in between 2 flaps connecting them.

Most people can read crease patterns by looking at the flaps and by using other techniques such as
polygon packing and rivers. This is good when trying to imagine how the collapsed base will look, as
rivers can help determine how far away flaps are from each other and the packing can help
determine how long each flap is. This method is also extremely effective when designing straight
onto a CP, as allocating paper to flaps becomes a simple task. The only negative to this method is that
it does not help with actually collapsing the base.

Reading the CP with splits can give a more intuitive sense of how a base can be collapsed, as flaps are
mostly collapsed via splitting larger flaps into smaller ones.

Corner flap Edge flap- will look like a “V” Middle flap- will have an
“X” shape

Edge split Middle Split-

If you have keen eyes, you would have noticed that flaps and splits use the exact same lines. On a CP,
they kind of look exactly the same. However, collapsing them is a completely different story. When
collapsing, flaps interact with each other. You cannot collapse 1 flap and not affect the rest of the
paper somehow. Most of the time, the paper will not lie flat, making other areas needing to be
collapsed as well, making a big mess. Therefore, you do not collapse a “flap”, but a “stretch” instead.
Fully collapsing a stretch does indeed affect multiple flaps, as well as the rest of the paper, however it
will collapse flat most of the time.

For example, say you want to collapse the cp in figure 123:

If you attempt to collapse the edge flaps first, you will have issues with trying to get the paper to lie
flat. the only way to fully flatten it would be to extend the diagonal to the other side of the paper.
This is not ideal when folding actual models, as this extended diagonal line will interrupt the entire
paper when youre trying to collapse 1 small part of it. Because of this issue, collapsing flaps first is
not viable when doing cps. This is where stretches come in.

The 1 core technique in boxpleated models is the “elias stretch”. It is a simple collapse which can be
applied in almost all situations in BP models. To do this, an accordion fold perpendicular to the split
needs to be made first. The accordion is “fanned out” and is collapsed accordingly. Using this elias
stretch, we can collapse 1 small part of the cp without extending any diagonal lines, making it
independent of the rest of the paper.

Figure 123

cp: collapse flap first collapse splits first

you’ll need to extend the focus on 1 split at a time. it will

diagonal line to get it to lie flat lie flat without needing to
modify the cp at all.

Then you can collapse the repeat on 2nd one

 corners. (has unnecessary
creases now)

This is basically how edge split and corner flaps are collapsed, but what about middle split? Within a
cp, middle splits are commonly seen as diamonds. These diamonds can be easily collapsed by doing 2
Elias stretches at the same time. (figure 3)

(accordion
with a
mountain
in the
middle)

As seen, doing 1 of these stretches will yield 2 flaps. This is why I call them dichotomous splits.

This is the case for the most basic of cases, however, these are practically useless within the context
of a full cp. Within a cp, these 3 types of Flaps are modified and combined in order to position and
lengthen the flaps properly. Because of the limitations of boxpleating, the number of ways a corner,
middle and edge flap is limited and will fall into certain categories: main, branched and complex.
These categories are purely based on my method of collapsing BP CP’s and not on any specific design
theory. They can help name different kinds of flaps and how they would be collapsed, but does not
help much when designing from a packing and river approach.

Firstly, a “main” flap for now can simply be thought of as a flap where branches emerge from.
(branches will be discussed soon) These main flaps should be collapsed first when doing a cp.
Normally, they will look like edge flaps when collapsed, as they will have the “V” shape. but when
collapsing the branches, they will change and have an “X” shape instead. These X’s is what is seen in
the full cp.
 full cp collapsing the main flap. (looks Collapsing the branch. (main
like an edge flap) flap is now a middle flap)

[simulation] [simulation]

A branched flap is made from splitting a main flap into 2 or more flaps. They are collapsed by elias
stretching a main flap, splitting the main flap into 2 flaps; main and branch. Because of this, it could
be more useful to recognise branches as “splits” instead of “flaps”, as it is impossible to have a
branch flap which does not originate from a main flap. A branched split will look like a diamond
shape and will normally be attached to a main flap.

Because branches “originate” from an existing main flap, it can be said that branched flaps are a
“shaping feature” of a main flap. This means that the base of a CP is basically complete when all the
main flaps are collapsed. Branches are an “add on” to main flaps and are done last.

A main flap can have multiple branches coming out of it. To keep naming simple, the closest branch
to the main flap is the 1st branch, the 2nd closest the 2nd and so on. to collapse this, the main flap is
collapsed first, then the 1st branch, then the 2nd and so on.

cp tree simulation

A branch flap can also be branched as many times as necessary as well, making double or triple
branched flaps. I will call these “nestled” flaps; a subcategory of branches which have more branches
within one another. This can get especially confusing with middle flaps in particular. For example in
figure 5, a main middle flap has many branches coming out. These kinds of triple nestled flaps are
used a lot in my personal designs, and can sometimes be annoying to collapse.

The best way to collapse them is to first collapse the main flaps before doing the branches.

This is much simpler than trying to collapse everything at once.

[figure 5]

CP - main flap>branch>first Fan out the Fan out the 1st branch in order to Repeat until all branches
nestled>2nd nestled MM flap and collapse the 2nd branch are done.
collapse.

[simulation] [simulation] [simulation]

A complex flap is the same as a branched flap, however I would say that these branches are
“irregular”. Flaps with only 1 unit long branches aren’t used much as actual flaps (maybe for fingers
or small spikes) but instead as level shifters, transitions, pleats for detailing and other similar devices.
Instead of calling these branches, I created the complex flap category. An example of this “complex
flap” can be seen in the scorpion tail in figure 6. I know that to call this an elias stretch is a stretch,
but the main technique of collapsing remains the same.

The circled bit is actually 1 main flap, but it is shaped into plates.

Now is the fun part; actually reading the cp and figuring out how to collapse it. For this example I will
be using Bodo’s Pteranodon skeleton. It does look scary at first, however when broken down into
MM and BM flaps, it should be relatively simple to collapse.
The main steps in collapsing which are used in almost all BP models are:
1. Accordion
2. Collapse complex flaps. (if any) It may not lie flat and will need to be connected to other main flaps
for it to collapse fully.
3. Collapse main flaps. Should lie flat at this step. This should be the main base complete.
4. Collapse the branched flaps. Full base is complete.

Full CP from @bodo_ori instagram

The first step is to read the CP and find all of the complex, main and branched flaps. Then, figure out
how to collapse the complex main flaps by themselves. This CP does not have any complex flaps, so
the main focus will be on main flaps.

For your convenience I redrew the CP with only the MM and BM flaps.

MM and BM flaps.

green = main
brown = branched
pink = nestled

Main flaps only. This form of the CP is what makes

Up the main base.

Now, decide the direction of accordion fold. This will be done by seeing which direction has the most
creases. In this cp, it is vertical, so the accordion fold will be done using the vertical creases.

Now, the main flaps can be collapsed. Begin elias stretching each of the MM flaps and turning the
necessary vertical accordions into horizontal accordions.

accordion collapsing main flaps more collapsing

Collapsing top more collapsing done

From here, the BM flaps can be collapsed by fanning out one of the MM flaps and elias stretching
once again, similar to figure 4 shown before. This is repeated for all of the MM flaps which have
those branches. After this, there are also the nestled flaps which need to be collapsed as well.

This should result in a completed base. This cp in particular does not have any flaps which I would
call “complex”, but in cps which do, complex flaps would be collapsed first since they have the
smallest and difficult details.

This method makes it relatively simple to read boxpleated cps and will be able to collapse the
majority of models. Understanding this method fully can help with designing models as well.
However, there is a downside of neglecting important and basic design theory such as rivers and
packing if this method is used exclusively. (something which I have done) Good luck for those who
attempt to use this method and I hope it helped those who are attempting to collapse boxpleated
models for the first time.

IN PROGRESS INTRO ____________________________________________________

One of the rules in boxpleating is that a 45 degree line must continue until it “runs off” the paper. It
cannot stop suddenly in the middle of the paper, otherwise it cannot be collapsed into a flat base.
Most of the time when highlighting main flaps issues with lines stopping in the middle of the paper
will not happen.

Boxpleating is a style of design which is used to design custom bases with a high precision of length,
number and position of appendages. It is commonly used for more complex subjects with high
amounts of detail and numerous appendages such as beetles and humanoids.

My method for reading and collapsing BP has been developed through intuition and freefolding, and
as a result is not based on much theory.

In simpler boxpleat models, you only require 1 core technique to collapse crease patterns; the Elias
stretch. The elias stretch is a simple type of collapse, however it can be applied in many different
situations. The example situation of the stretch is seen in figure 2 where 1 flap is split into 2. To do
this, an accordion fold perpendicular to the split needs to be made first. The accordion is “fanned
out” and is collapsed accordingly. This collapse in particular is an edge split.

The idea of “main”, “branched” and “complex” can be applied to splits if needed. I explained using
flaps, as most people think of a model being made of “flaps” than “splits”, making it more intuitive to
use flaps. I may use either term from now, just as a warning for those people.

MEF / ME flap / Main Edge flap MMF / MM flap / Main Middle flap
BEF / BE flap / Branched Edge Flap BMF / BM flap / Branched Middle Flap
CEF / CE flap / Complex Edge Flap CMF / CM flap / Complex Middle Flap

MES / ME split / Main Edge Split MMS / MM split / Main Middle Split
BES / BE split / Branched Edge Split BMS / BM split / Branched Middle Split
CES / CE split / Complex Edge Split CMS / CM split / Complex Middle Split

Corner Flap