PrintPlace.com Blog

For the business about to engage in brochure printing there are many options available for controlling when and what the customer will see. While you could put all of your sales presentation on a single page, consider that a folded brochure gives you the opportunity to tell a story one page at a time. Here are some of the different fold styles and ideas for how to use the folds to tell your product’s story:

Brochure Folding Types

• Tri-Fold – Typically this is an 8.5 x 11 folded first from the right and then from the left, so the customer opens the brochure like a book. The last page unfolds to reveal a large inner presentation. This folding style lets you tell a little bit at a time and then gives an opportunity for a big presentation.

• Z-Fold – Also called an accordion-fold, this format creates three panels on the front and three panels on the back. The customer opens the first page and has two panels visible with a third that can be opened. This fold style can be used to guide the customer through the first three panels and then turn the brochure around for the next three panels.

• Double Parallel-Fold – This style is created by first folding the sheet of paper in half and then in half again. Eight separate panels are created giving a great deal of segregated sections of information. Use this fold style to present several different products or services as the customer could open the brochure in any number of ways. It is difficult to direct the customer with this fold unless you use page numbers or other methods for telling the customer where to look next. This fold is very compact so it can be mailed in a smaller envelope.

• Half-Fold – Also known as a book-fold, this style is simply paper folded in half once. The customer intuitively opens the brochure like a book, so you can predict what the customer will perceive to be the front of the brochure. Only four panels are available, but these are large and can be sub-divided using careful layout techniques. Use this fold to catch the customer’s eye with the front cover and then give them the rest of the story with the inside two panels.