The larger your paper is the more difficult it will be to keep your folds straight.

This is a particularly good fold for people who want to print a “surprise message” in the center panel, as it stays covered by the outside flaps until fully opened. It’s also a good idea to keep the designs on the 2 outer flap covers consistent with one another. For example, it would look odd if the colors clashed in these two panels as they are directly on top of each other. [4] X Research source

This is a good structure for a brochure that needs to contain a large amount of information. It also allows for some flexibility of reading, as a person can start with that first interior fold or move around to the back panels directly from the cover.

Double-gate brochures are often used when a company needs to present a large amount of information. They can use the outer covers for a catchy design and still have plenty of room for details in the interior panels. This type of fold also goes by the name, “three-parallel gate. ”

Many people use this fold when they have a large design that needs to be shown in its entirety. When a reader opens up that initial fold, they will be presented with a full page of space that can be used for this purpose. Since there are clear back and front covers, you can also put less critical information on the back panel without losing precious space.

Some people design French fold brochures with an image on 1 side of the sheet and the information on the other side. You can also just include content on the interior panels and leave the outside ones blank to serve as a total cover.

The panels are the right side of the page initially must be a little smaller or they will not fit smoothly inside the other ones. This panel format is great if you want readers to be able to quickly move between different sections of your brochure.

If you are having your brochures professionally printed and then doing the folding yourself, make sure to order extra test copies.

If you try a fold and you notice that the panels just don’t sit right, it may be a matter of the panel sizes being slightly off. Try to refold these areas slightly more in one direction or another. [14] X Research source When you make these adjustments you’ll also have to keep in mind how these might alter the printing window or computer format for your brochure.

Make sure to give yourself plenty of time between placing your order and the deadline.