9 Stylish Folders & Brochures for Print Designers

9 Stylish Folders & Brochures for Print Designers

Paper has the ability to transform into something entirely different, which is what makes it such a versatile medium. Paper folding techniques seemed to allow you to make airplanes, mini footballs, and fortune tellers as a child. One sheet of paper can convert into a fancy multi-page brochure, a cool tri-panel folder or practically any other form of print marketing through a wide variety of folder and brochure folds. When designing marketing media, designers have a wide selection of printing folds to choose from. Web designing brochures provides a unique opportunity to express your creative ideas.

2. Accordion Fold As you look down on accordion brochure folds from above, you can see that they zig-zag back and forth as they divide the page into thirds. Accordion folds are commonly used for brochures, as they pack down small but can accommodate much information. Accordion-folded sheets are usually created with two folds, providing six panels of design space. They can be used to design two-page spreads on the interior panels. If your sheet is larger, you may wish to create more accordion folds.

2. Basic Fold There are four panels in a basic folder and brochure fold, so opening the sheet vertically or horizontally creates a total of four panels. This is the most commonly used folding style in print media because it's easy to design and inexpensive to manufacture. Some types of small brochures also fold into two panels, though two-panel folders are much more common.

3. Tri-Fold They are commonly used for web designing brochures, however, they can also be used for three-panel folders. Although tri-fold is an incorrect term, it is actually a total of two folds (technically, it is referred to as a bi-fold). Tri-fold folds are also called letter folds. They fold the paper into thirds the same way an accordion fold would, however, the panels overlap instead of folding down like an accordion. Because your design is a tri-fold, it gives the audience a sense of timing and order, since the different panels will be revealed in a sequential fashion.

4. Gate Fold Panels that are folded into gate folds create six panels, but the center panels of each side are the same size as the left and right panels combined. Gate folds create a total of six panels. Both presentation folders and brochures can be folded in this manner; they offer plenty of creative opportunities, evoking an inviting feeling upon opening to the reader.

5. Map Fold Map folds are pretty familiar to anyone who's handled a road map: a sheet is layered over multiple times to produce a compact piece of media that expands to a much larger one. Normally limited to lighter stocks and requiring special equipment, this fold style is a result of its complex nature. The folding of maps is commonly used when a large amount of vital data has to fit into a small space, such as pharmaceutical information, product instructions, equipment specifications, etc.

6. Parallel Fold Two parallel folds aligned "parallel" to one another produce a similar effect as two basic folds.

With a parallel brochure fold, the first two interior panels of design space are revealed before the fourth panel is shown. Since all four panels are adjacent when the paper is fully opened, you have the space to design a large scale design.

7. Poster Fold Folded into poster-sized sheets, poster-style folders and brochures combine multiple methods for folding paper. The basic folding is followed by two further folds in half, thirds, or even fourths.

Because you have a large area to work with, you can create creative design options; for example, you might design a poster that doubles as a brochure, or design a piece of literature that can be posted on a wall and folded into a map, chart, or diagram.

8. Roll Fold Spiral designs are formed by rolling the paper into a roll fold. As the panels get smaller, they are tucked inside each other. The interior panels can create one large four-panel design, When unrolled. Roll folds can be difficult to execute accurately, but they offer a unique design opportunity for brochures.

9. Exotic Fold

The exotic fold is a non-standard, highly customized brochure fold; each is created by the designer to meet their specifications. Using exotic fold ideas, even if they can be costly when they require special equipment or hand folding, can give your print materials an attractive, luxurious look. This can be a great way to increase the perceived value of your folders and Web designing brochures.

Do you happen to know of any special brochure folds or specialty folders that you found inspiring or intriguing? Would you like to share your experiences with printing folds and fold ideas below? Share your questions and experiences below.