The next lesson in your Origami journey is to learn the different types of creases. By now you should have mastered the Mountain fold and Valley fold.
Creasing and dividing is pretty straightforward and you will use these techniques almost as frequently as the two basic folds.
Pre-Creases
When you need to make a fold later on, you can fold and unfold the paper to leave a crease which you can use later on. This is known as a pre-crease.


Pinch Crease
Sometimes folding a crease across the paper is not needed or can even be counterproductive by making too many creases which becomes confusing. In these instances, we use the pinch crease. Instead of flattening the crease across the paper, you simply make a small pinch and then unfold the paper. This leaves a tiny crease that you can use as a landmark later on.
Dividing into Thirds

A lot of the time you will need three equal parts of paper.
- Get a rectangular sheet of paper and place it with the shorter sides vertical and the longer sides horizontal.
- Now guestimate one-third from the bottom edge and make a pinch crease but do not unfold.
- Now fold the upper edge over the folded bottom edge and make another pinch crease or a soft fold.
- Unfold the paper to see if the existing creases are equidistant from each other. If they are not you will have to make the bottom crease higher or lower.
- Once the creases are perfectly even, you can make a hard fold.
Pleat fold
You can think of the pleat fold as a way of giving the paper an accordion effect.
- Make two parallel valley folds.
- Flip the paper over, so the creases are facing your workspace i.e. they now become mountain folds.
- Pinch the lower crease together, creating a mountain.
- While still pinching the lower crease, fold over until you meet the upper crease.
- Flatten the newly formed (third) crease.
- Now you have a pleat fold.
Okay, so this covered the last of the basic techniques that you will use in almost every Origami design if not all. Next up, we will go over some special moves that you consistently come across in various models. The first one that we will cover will be the Inside Reverse Fold variations.

Kevin Pang is a graduate of The University of California, Berkeley, with a BA in Fine Arts. His journey into the world of arts and crafts began during his early years when he discovered a deep fascination for the intricate beauty of origami as a child. His unique blend of artistic talent and analytical thinking allows him to provide creative insights and guidance on a wide range of artistic and craft-related topics.
Kevin has spent years immersing himself in the study of various art forms, from the delicate folds of origami to the patient artistry of bonsai cultivation. Over time, Kevin honed his expertise through extensive practice, experimentation, and a deep appreciation for the zen-like qualities inherent in these art forms.
When he’s not engrossed in the world of arts and crafts and crafting engaging content for Zenfolds, Kevin enjoys spending quality time outdoors, going on hikes and walking his dog. He also relishes connecting with like-minded individuals who share his passion for the arts and the meditative joy they bring.