Paper material guide
Foil paper
Foil Paper: read the 40 gsm examples and handling notes. Folding, cutting and glue tips. Find craft uses, sheet sizes and weight equivalents.
40 gsmFolds: Holds creasesBest for: Metallic models
Foil paper combines a reflective metal layer with a paper backing. Flexible folding foil differs from foil board, where a stiff backing supports the shiny surface.
- Typical weight
- 40 gsm
- US lb · calculated at the named basis
- 27 lb text equivalent (25 × 38 in, 500 sheets)
Weights to look for
Origami-Shop’s tissue foil is 40 gsm. Backing and metal thickness vary across foil products; a foil-board weight does not describe thin folding foil.
Folding, creasing, cutting and gluing
- Fold
- Useful when narrow points need to stay in place. It holds accidental wrinkles as well as intended folds.
- Crease
- Start with a light crease and sharpen it only after checking the edges. Repeatedly unfolding can mark or split the metallic surface.
- Cut
- Cut with sharp scissors and keep the paper supported. Avoid dragging a blunt blade across the metal face.
- Glue
- Glue a paper-backed foil on its paper side. For a shiny-to-shiny join, use a small piece of suitable double-sided tape and check its grip.
What to make
Use it for a decorative crane or a shiny cut star after learning the sequence on ordinary paper.
Common sheet and pack sizes
Folding packs include 15, 20 and 30 cm squares. Grafix flexible foil also comes in 26 inch × 6 foot rolls.