When pigs fly: a study of computer generated paper folding

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a system for folding an origami model using computer generated, or virtual, paper. This research is detailed according to both the creative and technical aspects of that process, with particular attention given to formulating a solution for animating the paper in a way that is physically realistic. The project is executed in Autodesk Maya, a 3D computer graphics program, and rendered with mental ray, a production quality rendering software. The final results are illustrated via excerpts from When Pigs Fly…, an original 3D short which uses the developed methodology to give life to an origami-based narrative. The techniques employed in this thesis can provide a valuable framework for other artists embarking on similar productions and supply a foundation for more advanced problems related to folding and computer graphics.