Brochures are one of the most versatile and prolific marketing media in print today, but often times when we go about creating a brochure for our product our thinking can be a bit limited. Many of us tend to jump immediately to the popular Letter Fold (Tri-Fold) format. Although this is a great format, there are many others that may just be a better fit for your message. So what are the different kinds of brochures? Let's have a look.
Half Fold
This fold generally takes the long end of the sheet and folds it in half. This type of fold works well for basic presentations or infosheets, and has a very basic sort of booklet appearance.
Letter Fold (Tri-Fold)
In this fold, one slightly shorter panel tucks inside the fold of the other two panels. This brochure is generally considered one of the most commonly used and versatile folds. Letter Fold brochures are commonly used for business or product marketing. You can learn some tips on how to design this brochure, along with a free downloadable template on our post How to Create a Tri-Fold Brochure in InDesign.
Z Fold
The Z Fold is similar to the Letter Fold brochure, but instead of one panel tucking inside, the three panels are folded evenly in opposite directions. This is a great choice for a mailed piece or designs that span panels. You can follow some tips about designing this brochure, and download a free template, on our post How to Create a Z Fold Brochure in Illustrator CC.
Open Gate Fold
Often used for graphically rich designs that rely on a big reveal, the Open Gate Fold has one larger panel obscured by two shorter panels that act as sort of a double-door opening.
Four-Panel Parallel Fold
The Four-Panel Parallel Fold is sort of a Half-Fold tucked inside a Half-Fold. This is a great choice for promotional leaflets or event programs.
Closed Gate Fold
The Closed Gate fold features two panels that tuck inside a Half-Fold. Because of this, it initially opens like a Half-Fold, then opens like a Open Gate Fold. This is a good choice for larger presentations.
Accordion Fold
The Accordion Fold is similar to a Z Fold, but has four panels instead of three. This is a good choice for designs with lots of information or text on them.
Roll Fold
The Roll Fold is a Half Fold tucked into a Half Fold in sort of a "rolling" motion. This is a great choice for instruction booklets or tutuorials.
Quarter Fold
With this fold, you fold the long end in half, then fold the new long end in half again. The inside is sometimes left blank in this configuration and used as a Half Fold. This is a often used for invitations and menus.
Have a great brochure project you want to get started? Need help designing it or printing it? Hit that "Talk to an Expert" button! You can also purchase brochures directly from our online store. Just click the "Get Pricing" button. If you want to design your own brochure, have a look at our 10 Pro Tips for designing a brochure that gets results.
There are many more types of brochures than what I covered here, but if nothing else, this should give you a pretty good idea of the diversity of brochures. If you have any questions, comments, or you want to mention your favorite fold, sound off in the comments below!