Make a Reverse Fold
In many origami folding projects, you have to make a reverse fold. It's a basic skill that, when mastered, will make your origami look sharp and symmetrical.
Steps
- Begin with a folded tip.
- Make a guiding crease. Fold the point so that the tip lines up with the existing folded edge, as shown, then unfold. For more advanced reverse folds, see the "Variations" section below.
- Open the the sheet and make the reverse fold along the crease lines. If your crease was made with the tip along the edge, a reverse fold will be simple. Just fold the sheet so that the tip lines up with the center line. No matter what, a fold should only be made along the creases made in the previous step.
- For an inside reverse fold, bring the tip towards the inside.
- For an outside reverse fold, bring the tip towards the outside.
- Fold the sheet again as it was in the beginning, but keep the reverse fold intact.
- Press down on the reverse fold to make sure it stays put and you're done!
Variations
- Make a reverse fold that "sticks out" by creasing so that the tip extends beyond the existing folded edge. This is a very common use of the reverse fold.
- An inside reverse fold that sticks out is often used to create beaks or tails.
- The part that sticks out can be adjusted. Just gently pull it further out or push it further in, then press down so that the interior folds are set.
- An outside reverse fold done this way can create the appearance of a "hood".
- An inside reverse fold that sticks out is often used to create beaks or tails.
- A more subtle reverse fold can be made by creasing so that the tip doesn't reach the existing folded edge.
