Abstract: Realism of the mass-spring model based simulations remains questionable. In this paper, we develop the relationship between the material properties of a continuum plate and the values of the static parameters for its mass-spring model. The result indicates the necessity to use nonzero preload for the springs. Then we apply the linear approximation of the result to assign parameters for the mass-spring model of a rectangular plate. The simulation shows that the mass-spring system with this set of parameter values has much more resistance against lateral force and thus the realism of the simulation for rigid cloth is greatly improved.