PGF/TikZ Manual

The TikZ and PGF Packages
Manual for version 3.1.9a

Libraries

61 Paper-Folding Diagrams Library

TikZ Library folding

\usetikzlibrary{folding} % and plain
\usetikzlibrary[folding] % Cont

This library defines pic types for creating paper-folding diagrams. Many thanks to Nico van Cleemput for providing most of the code.

Here is a big example that produces a diagram for a calendar:

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {calendar,folding}
\sffamily\scriptsize
\tikz\pic [
  transform shape,
  every calendar/.style={
    at={(-8ex,4ex)},
    week list,
    month label above centered,
    month text=\bfseries\textcolor{red}{\%mt} \%y0,
    if={(Sunday) [black!50]}
  }
,
  folding line length=2.5cm,
  face 1={ \calendar [dates=\the\year-01-01 to \the\year-01-last];},
  face 2={ \calendar [dates=\the\year-02-01 to \the\year-02-last];},
  face 3={ \calendar [dates=\the\year-03-01 to \the\year-03-last];},
  face 4={ \calendar [dates=\the\year-04-01 to \the\year-04-last];},
  face 5={ \calendar [dates=\the\year-05-01 to \the\year-05-last];},
  face 6={ \calendar [dates=\the\year-06-01 to \the\year-06-last];},
  face 7={ \calendar [dates=\the\year-07-01 to \the\year-07-last];},
  face 8={ \calendar [dates=\the\year-08-01 to \the\year-08-last];},
  face 9={ \calendar [dates=\the\year-09-01 to \the\year-09-last];},
  face 10={\calendar [dates=\the\year-10-01 to \the\year-10-last];},
  face 11={\calendar [dates=\the\year-11-01 to \the\year-11-last];},
  face 12={\calendar [dates=\the\year-12-01 to \the\year-12-last];}
] {dodecahedron folding};

The foldings are sorted by number of faces.

Pic type tetrahedron folding

This pic type draws a folding diagram for a tetrahedron. The following keys influence the pic:

/tikz/folding line length=dimension(no default)

Sets the length of the base line for folding. For the dodecahedron this is the length of all the sides of the pentagons.

/tikz/face 1=code(no default)

The code is executed for the first face of the dodecahedron. When it is executed, the coordinate system will have been shifted and rotated such that it lies at the middle of the first face of the dodecahedron.

/tikz/face 2=code(no default)

Same as face 1, but for the second face.

/tikz/face 3=code(no default)

/tikz/face 4=code(no default)

There are further similar options for more faces (for commands shown later).

Here is a simple example:

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [
  transform shape,
  folding line length=6mm,
  face 1={ \node[red] {1};},
  face 2={ \node      {2};},
  face 3={ \node      {3};},
  face 4={ \node      {4};}
] {tetrahedron folding};

The appearance of the cut and folding lines can be influenced using the following styles:

/tikz/every cut(style, initially empty)

Executed for every line that should be cut using scissors.

/tikz/every fold(style, initially help lines)

Executed for every line that should be folded.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic[
  every cut/.style=red,
  every fold/.style=dotted,
  folding line length=6mm
] { tetrahedron folding };

There is one style that is mainly useful for the present documentation:

/tikz/numbered faces(style, no value)

Sets face i to \node {i}; for all \(i\).

Pic type tetrahedron truncated folding

A folding of a truncated tetrahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { tetrahedron truncated folding };

Pic type cube folding

A folding of a cube.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { cube folding };

Pic type cube truncated folding

A folding of a truncated cube.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { cube truncated folding };

Pic type octahedron folding

A folding of an octahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { octahedron folding };

Pic type octahedron folding

A folding of a truncated octahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { octahedron truncated folding };

Pic type dodecahedron folding

A folding of a dodecahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { dodecahedron folding };

Pic type dodecahedron' folding

This is an alternative folding of a dodecahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { dodecahedron' folding };

Pic type cuboctahedron folding

A folding of a cuboctahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { cuboctahedron folding };

Pic type cuboctahedron truncated folding

A folding of a truncated cuboctahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { cuboctahedron truncated folding };

Pic type icosahedron folding

A folding of an icosahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { icosahedron folding };

Pic type rhombicuboctahedron folding

A folding of an rhombicuboctahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { rhombicuboctahedron folding };

Pic type snub cube folding

A folding of a snub cube.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { snub cube folding };

Pic type icosidodecahedron folding

A folding of an icosidodecahedron.

(-tikz- diagram)

\usetikzlibrary {folding}
\tikz\pic [folding line length=6mm, numbered faces, transform shape]
  { icosidodecahedron folding };