Origami came from the Japanese words "Oru" meaning "to fold" and "kami" meaning "paper".http://www.origami-instructions.com/ Origami has been passed on from one generation to another. The paper used for origami is specially manufactured to resist tears and produce clean lines and crisp folds. Most paper is colored on one side and white on the other. This allows for making the folding process easier by providing the visual line of the cut. When various folds are made on specially designed origami paper, a neat and clean cut line enhances the finished product.

Origami paper can be purchased from most art shops and some origami websites. It is also possible to simply use an ordinary piece of paper. The options can be limitless, as there are many different colors, styles, textures, and durabilities.

The most common paper used is white 40 g/m sq. printer paper.http://www.fishgoth.com/origami/essay_tools.html The reason for its popularity is its ease in access, as printer paper can be found at most any retail supply store. Printer paper specifically designed for origami will be white on one side and colored on the other.

Foil backing paper is suggested for more detailed and more difficult projects. This paper is very thin and durable, but can be more expensive and more difficult to work with.http://www.fishgoth.com/origami/essay_tools.html It is also not as easy to find as is regular printer paper.