[Oa] Looking for paper for large OA project

[Andrew Crawford]

Eric Broekhuis wrote:
> "art" worthy. What type of paper does everyone else use for their work?
> For this particullar project i'm going to need a piece that is 5 feet
> long. I have seen rolls of paper online but I'm not sure if it would
> work for an OA project.

> Eric Broekhuis

Hi Eric,

There was a brief discussion of OA paper here a few years back:

http://www.origamicarchitecture.com/pipermail/oa/2007-January/000137.html

I still use the Aquabee Super Deluxe 808 sketchbook paper when
prototyping by hand but, since I do a lot more with a plotting cutter
these days, I mostly use standard white cover stock.  I have been
playing with some interesting vellum recently but, it's probably not
what you would want for your project.

Personally, I think that having a little "tooth" to the paper helps with
the "artistic feel."  That's part of what attracted me to the Aquabee
(along with it being relatively stiff for its weight).

I'm less familiar with what's available in sheets that measure 5 feet in
any dimension.  I did several cards with some art board from a local art
supply place that measured 4 feet wide.

I know there are some very nice high-quality art papers sold for
high-end inkjet photo printing.  It is not inexpensive, especially in
the poster-size rolls.  I am not sure how difficult it would be to
remove the curl, either.

Depending on the specific engineering details of your design, at that
size, I would worry about rigidity.

Professor Kihara and some others have used corrugated plastic board for
giant OA.  That is commonly available at office and art supply stores
(as well as online).  That doesn't really have the "artistic feel" you
are describing but, you need that much rigidity for some designs at that
scale.

If you have a local art supply place that carries a selection of
hand-made paper, it might be worth looking there, too.  Usually, I see
those in 4 foot by 3 foot sheets but, there might be something larger
and, stiff enough to turn into an OA.

If you wanted to get really crazy, you could make your own paper for it. :)

Perhaps someone else will have better suggestions.

Let us know what you come up with.

Best,

-- 
Andrew Crawford