What are some common fold types?

Folding turns a single flat sheet into a compact, multi-panel piece. The fold you pick controls how much content fits and the order readers move through it, so match it to your layout before you send files to press. These are the folds you will see most often:

• Half Fold - one center fold that creates a simple four-panel piece (also called a bi-fold), great for menus, short guides, and programs.
• Tri-Fold - two parallel folds making six panels, the classic rack brochure layout and the most popular choice for service menus and general marketing.
• Gate-Fold - both outer panels fold inward to meet in the middle, opening like doors for a dramatic reveal, a favorite for product launches and premium pieces.
• Z-Fold - two folds in opposite directions that stack in a Z shape, easy to fan open panel by panel, ideal for step-by-step content that unfolds in order.
• Double Parallel Fold - two folds in the same direction, giving eight compact panels from one sheet.
• Right Angle Fold - a second fold made perpendicular to the first, common for maps and grids.
• Accordion Fold - alternating folds that expand like a fan for step-by-step or timeline content.
• Barrel or Roll Fold - panels roll in on themselves so the piece opens outward layer by layer.

Match the fold to your story: a tri-fold organizes an offer into tidy sections, while a gate fold builds anticipation before the interior is revealed.