Paper Weight Selector Calculator

Wet folding needs heavier, more absorbent paper (90-200gsm) regardless of how complex the model is, because the technique relies on the paper holding a methylcellulose sizing solution and staying stiff enough to sculpt curves once dry — a requirement that has nothing to do with how many layers or points the model has. That's why the calculator replaces the complexity-tier range entirely rather than adjusting it, and the same applies to tissue-foil/backcoated technique at the opposite extreme (10-30gsm).

Not much on its own — it's a flat ±5gsm adjustment to the ideal value within your complexity range: models over 25cm get +5gsm since the layers spread across more surface area and can support a bit more weight, while models under 10cm get −5gsm to keep small proportions crisp. It's a minor tweak compared to complexity level or folding technique, which each shift the baseline range far more substantially.

The layer penalty only kicks in once maxLayers exceeds 20, subtracting up to 15gsm as layers climb further (0.3gsm per layer past 20, capped at 15). More overlapping layers at the model's thickest point compound paper thickness fast, so lighter stock keeps that stack foldable — the calculator is trading some crease stiffness for the ability to physically fold through that many layers at all.

It uses a rough approximation of gsm ÷ 800 to estimate single-sheet thickness in millimeters, which holds reasonably well for typical cellulose-fiber papers but will be off for unusual stocks like foils, coated papers, or very textured handmade sheets. Use maxThicknessMm (single-sheet thickness × your layer count) as a sanity check on whether your paper choice will physically stack without becoming unmanageable, not as a precise engineering figure.