Books on the Subject of Paper Engineering

The Elements of Pop-Up

The Elements of Pop-Up, by David Carter and James Diaz

From the back of the book:

_Here at last is the definitive book on how to make a pop-up. Every aspect of the creation of a pop-up, known as paper engineering, is clearly and thoroughly covered. All types of parallel folds, angle folds, wheels, and pull tabs are accurately detailed verbally and visually, flat and in dimension. Also included is a history of pop-ups and a step-by-step photographic essay on how a pop-up is made from start to finish. This guided tour is perfect for aspiring pop-up creators, paper engineers, students, and appreciators of this unique art form.

David A. Carter is a paper engineer, author, and illustrator. He has created more than forty pop-up books including Bugs in a Box(R) Books with combined sales of over four million copies. He is also the author and illustrator of the critically acclaimed One Red Dot, among others. Carter lives in Auburn, California, with his family.

James Diaz has created hundreds of pop-up books and has won several awards for his paper engineering, including the Bronze, Silver, and Gold 3-Dimensional Illustration awards. He resides with his family in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he is the owner of a company that promotes and explores the science of interactive pop-up books.

If you want to see how the mechanisms in this book are made, you can view the die patterns of all the mechanisms in The Elements of Pop-Up here: http://www.popupbooks.com/surprise.html.

The Pop-Up Book

The Pop-Up Book, by Paul Jackson

The magical qualities of three-dimensional and moving books have universal appeal. The Pop-Up Book offers a clear and practical guide to the pop-up papercrafts for all levels of artist, from home hobbyists to professional graphic designers and architects.

Illustrated with specially comissioned photography, it includes specific projects with easy-to-follow steps, general techniques for greater personal experimentation and creativity, and a gallery of designs created by some of today's best pop-up artists for an inspirational finish.

Cut and Fold Techniques for Pop-Up Designs

Please note that the link below is to a full PDF version of the book. Cut and Fold Techniques for Pop-Up Designs, by Paul Jackson.

Playing with Pop-ups: The Art of Dimensional, Moving Paper Designs

Playing with Pop-ups: The Art of Dimensional, Moving Paper Designs, by Hiebert, Helen

Enter the enchanting world of pop-ups! Throughout the chapters in this book, I will guide you through choosing the materials and tools you need to make pop-ups. Learn the basics – parallel folds, angle folds, and layered pop-ups – while creating six basic pop-up structures within the first few pages of the book! Enjoy creating 15 projects to play with designed by renowned paper engineers from around the world: a pair of pop up paper earrings, clever cards featuring pop-up dragons and flowers, a doll house and other interactive pieces that everyone will enjoy. A gallery section at the back of the book features contemporary pop-up artists, whose beautiful work will inspire you to make your own amazing paper art.

Making Books That Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Twist, and Turn

Making Books That Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Twist, and Turn. by Gwen Diehn

Robert Sabuda How-To Books

If you wish to explore more resources, check out this excellent list of resources compiled by the paper engineer Robert Sabuda: http://www.robertsabuda.com/how-to-books.html