Folding Your Printing

Folding a Brochure: Common Types of Folding

Part of a well designed marketing piece with folds is deciding where and how you want it to fold.

Folding a brochure or other marketing design is an art, and part of an effective brochure design is how it unfolds. Although not as complicated as Japanese Origami, there are many ways to fold a piece of paper, as the folding is an integral part of the presentation of your products and services in your brochure.

Single (half) Fold

a single fold brochure
made by folding
the paper in half
making four panels:
(2-front + 2-back)
Tri-fold Brochure

made by folding the paper
in thirds. After folding
it consists of six panels
(3-front + 3-back) with
the right panel tucked
inside of the panels
created by the first fold
Z Fold Brochures

are made by folding the paper in
thirds in “zig zags”

It opens like an accordion
in the shape of a “Z”
Double Parallel Brochure

made by folding a sheet
of paper in half twice
in the same direction
making eight panels
(2-front + 2-back).
The last two panels need
to be slightly smaller than
the outer panels
to fold properly inside
the outer two panels
Accordion (”M”) Fold

three zigzag folds with
8 panels (3 parallel folds
that go in opposite
directions). Each panel
of the accordion fold
are the same size

Single Gate Fold

The left and right panels fold
inwards to meet in the middle
resulting in six panels:

(3-fronts + 3-backs)
Double Gate Fold
The left and right panels fold
inwards to meet in the middle
and then folding at the center
making eight panels:
(4-fronts + 4-backs)
Panels on each end need
to be slightly smaller
than the outer panels
Roll (Barrel) Fold
the piece is folded inward
multiple times as if you are
“rolling up” the paper with
folds. The outside two panels
must be the largest, and each
successive panel beginning with
the 3rd must be about 1/16”
smaller than the previous
panel to fold properly.
Right Angle
(French) Fold
folding a page in half in one
direction and then folding it
in half again in the opposite
direction.
After folding it
makes of eight panels:
(4-fronts + 4-backs)
Half Fold
& Tri Fold Brochure

Folding a sheet of paper
(often 17” x 11”) in half,
and then tri-folded
in the opposite direction

Paper Grains

The fibers in a sheet paper have a grain direction similar to like the muscle fibers in the human body. Paper folds best “with the grain,” parallel to the paper’s grain direction. Sometimes a paper needs to be folded against the grain, which results in a more irregular fold with cracks along the crease. This effect is more noticeable as the paper thickness increases and “scoring” the paper becomes a requirement for a smooth looking fold.

Scoring

Scoring paper is the creation of a crease along the sheet of paper where it needs to be folded to achieve a crisp fold. With thick paper (card stock), scoring is a necessary to get a professional-looking and crisp fold without cracks in it. The best scoring is performed on an old-fashioned letterpress, although they are slower and thus a more expensive than alternative processes. Fast, modern scoring machines are also used, as well as folding machines with in-line scoring devices.

Graphic Connection is a freelance graphic design studio based in Lee's Summit, Missouri. We make creative ideas "come to life" in print and on the world wide web.

The first step in the design process is to discuss what your project goals are and the audience you are trying to reach. Once I have a feel for who you are and what you do, we can begin looking for ways to communicate your message visually.

As a freelance graphic designer with "on hands" experience in a commercial printing facility, I offer many advantages which can save your company both time and money when it comes to printing a graphic design project.

To see some of sample websites or graphic designs in my portfolio click here.
For a price quote on a design project click here.

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