BY TISH WELLS

McCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

There's more to origami than cranes.

It started centuries years ago, likely in Japan, and has had widespread appeal ever since.

Traditionalists will enjoy "Amazing Origami, Traditional Japanese Folding Papers and Projects."

Pop-culture enthusiasts can try their hand at folding Darth Vader's black helmet.

Chris Alexander, author of "Star Wars Origami, 6 Amazing Paper-folding Projects from a Galaxy Far, Far Away " had been enthralled by "Star Wars" since the movie entered theaters in 1977.

"I have been a fan ever since. I started doing origami when I was 4," he said, "so that would be 1969, so I have been an origami fan since then. Everyone always wants to put their hobbies together, this is my result."

Alexander, a Los Angeles air traffic controller, says, "The Internet made it really accessible it's just getting more and more popular."

"Amazing Origami" takes a more traditional look at paper folding. The introduction points out that "in Japanese 'ori' means to fold and 'gami' means paper."

With 144 beautifully patterned sheets of paper, you can make 17 origami models including a Luna moth, swan and goldfish Koi. Diagrams are by Michael G. LaFosse or Gay Merrill Gross.

The authors point out that you need to practice before trying the enclosed papers.

Alexander fell into making "Star Wars" origami. He was teaching children to fold a penguin, turned it on its side, and realized "you have a B-wing starfighter" from "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi."

A friend told him to write a book about them.

Fifteen years later, his book has been published. It has 36 designs including lightsabers, R2-D2 and Chewbacca.

He's made extensive origami sets for the stars of the movies including "an elaborate display" for George Lucas, who "said it was amazing."