Know your folds! Our insider’s guide to Folded Leaflets
When your message is too big to fit on a flyer, a folded leaflet is ideal. It can provide a multi-page format without stretching to a stapled or bound booklet.
For an exhibition or event, gate fold or cross fold leaflets can create an enticing front cover that unfolds to reveal an eye-opening interior.
For parks, outdoor centres or tourist attractions, a map fold leaflet can become an invaluable site map for your visitors.
But what are the differences between the various kinds of folded leaflets – and what are the best applications for each? We’ll start with the simple stuff…
Half Fold
Imagine the world’s shortest book. Just a front cover, two inside pages and a back cover. That’s it. The simplest way of creating four pages from one sheet – you simply fold it in half.
Example dimensions for A4 unfolded are:
Flat size: 210mm x 297mm
Folded size: 210mm x 148mm
Strip Fold
Instead of folding a landscape sheet in half to create a half fold, we start with the sheet in a portrait orientation and fold it in half lengthwise. This creates a tall, thin, four-page leaflet called a strip fold.
Example dimensions for A4 unfolded are:
Flat size: 210mm x 297mm
Folded size: 105mm x 297mm
Roll Fold
This one takes it up a level. Also known as a “letter fold”, it features two parallel folds, dividing each side of the sheet into three pages. The page furthest to the right is made slightly narrower than the others to allow it to take the centre position once folded in.
Example dimensions for A4 unfolded are:
Flat size: 210mm x 297mm
Folded size: 99mm x 210mm
Z Fold
Again, two parallel, vertical folds create three pages on each side – but this time, the second fold goes the opposite way. This forms a “Z” shape when you look at it end-on. Multiple Z folds will produce a concertina fold, creating yet more pages.
Example dimensions for A4 unfolded are:
Flat size: 210mm x 297mm
Folded size: 99mm x 210mm
Gate Fold
This one opens up like the doors to a ballroom, adding a sense of theatre to your leaflet! The gate fold is all about the big reveal, so think hard about what you want to feature on pages 4 & 5 – make sure it’s a visual treat for your audience!
Example dimensions for A4 unfolded are:
Flat size: 210mm x 297mm
Folded size: 148mm x 210mm
Cross Fold
This fold will quarter the size of your original sheet by folding it in half along lengthwise, and in half again crosswise. The result is eight pages, but you may wish to treat the first four as separate pages and the rest as a poster once the reader unfolds it entirely.
Example dimensions for A4 unfolded are:
Flat size: 210mm x 297mm
Folded size: 105mm x 148mm
Map Fold
Before smart phones and sat navs, there were maps, and people folded them up. An oversize sheet is Z-folded to the required width and then a horizontal fold halves the height to create a manageable, portable portrait leaflet.
Example dimensions for A4 unfolded are:
Flat size: 210mm x 297mm
Folded size: 105mm x 148mm
Ready to get started, order your folded leaflets today!
