Read a crease pattern
See this course’s project requirements
An original accordion fold study with three SVG variants, checked geometry, target-angle comparisons and an honest simulation or paper-model record.
Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.
What to include
- An original four-panel pattern with M/V assignments and checked dimensions.
- A three-state partial-fold log or labeled paper-state sketches.
- A comparison of 90-degree and 45-degree targets.
- A width revision from 120 to 160 coordinate units.
- Original input files, comparison notes and simulation exports or paper-model descriptions.
Review and revise
Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.
- Crease assignments and panel geometry match the specifications.
- Target-angle calculations are correct.
- Controlled comparisons identify what changed.
- The method and limits are stated accurately.
Want more background?
The idea in everyday life
Original pattern A is a 120×60 unit rectangle with vertical creases at x 30, 60, 90. Creases 1 and 3 are mountains; crease 2 is a valley. All target changes from flat are 90 degrees. No cut, glue, blade or load test is needed.
A crease pattern records where a sheet bends and in which direction; it is different from a sequence of hand-folding steps.
Read a crease pattern — guided practice
Interpret a flat drawing as panels and fold instructions.
Original pattern A is a 120×60 unit rectangle with vertical creases at x 30, 60, 90. Creases 1 and 3 are mountains; crease 2 is a valley. All target changes from flat are 90 degrees. No cut, glue, blade or load test is needed.
1. Preview the supplied fixture
Open accordion-fixture.html in a browser. Keep Pattern A selected. Read the black rectangle and three colored lines. If local HTML is blocked, draw the same rectangle and three equally spaced lines on scrap paper.
You should see: The flat design contains four equal rectangular panels.
A preview lets you inspect the pattern before a simulation moves it.
2. Label direction without relying on color
In fold-notes.txt record x 30: M, x60: V, x90: M. Define a mountain as a ridge and valley as a trough when viewed from the chosen front of the sheet.
You should see: The pattern has two mountains and one valley.
Letter labels preserve the assignments when color is unavailable.
3. Check the panel geometry
Calculate 120/4=30 units per panel and 120×60=7200 square units of sheet area. Record that the units are a design coordinate system, not a promise of physical millimeters.
You should see: Panel widths are 30 and the flat area is 7200 square units.
Geometry can be checked without manufacturing anything.
4. State the experiment
Write: compare fold targets and panel widths while keeping three creases. If using paper, fold a rectangular sheet into quarters across its width and alternate crease directions; use any available sheet without cutting it. Record its proportions as approximate.
You should see: The study has a digital route and an equipment-free paper route.
A physical approximation can illustrate folding without pretending to be a precise simulation.
What to finish
A labeled pattern and checked panel geometry.
Watch for this
Treating display units as established physical dimensions.
How can I tell I understand it?
Explain the result, reproduce the procedure, and complete the changed-input check.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.
Pass the check. We’ll save the progress.
Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video
Class 1: Overview for MIT 6.849 Geometric Folding Algorithms: Linkages, Origami, Polyhedra
From MIT OpenCourseWare. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
Optional course overview. Follow the written steps below at your own pace.Tools, templates, and lesson sources
Tools and templates
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Sources and further reading
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Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Read Fold Percent, SVG stroke/opacity rules, import, pattern view, strain explanation and export controls. WebGL simulation was not operated.
Access: Public reading without a paid account; reviewed September 12, 2026.
Reuse: Link only. Lessons and practice assets are original; free access does not grant permission to copy the provider's material.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Read original project description, simultaneous-fold solver, constraints, SVG/FOLD input and GPU method.
Access: Public reading without a paid account; reviewed September 12, 2026.
Reuse: Link only. Lessons and practice assets are original; free access does not grant permission to copy the provider's material.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Read authors, research abstract and publication metadata. No claim of validating the numerical solver.
Access: Public reading without a paid account; reviewed September 12, 2026.
Reuse: Link only. Lessons and practice assets are original; free access does not grant permission to copy the provider's material.
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