A Beginner’s Guide to
Trifold Brochures
Written By: Katt Woodworth
What is a Trifold Brochure?
As the name so helpfully suggests, a trifold brochure is a single sheet of paper folded into three sections, creating six individual panels – three on the outside and three on the inside.
They are commonly used for menus, service lists, informational handouts, and other marketing materials where you need to organize a decent amount of information without handing someone an entire book.
The format seems simple enough. However, as is often the case with print, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Six Panels – But Not Always Equal
When designing a trifold, your first instinct may be to divide the page into three equal sections. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.
A traditional trifold folds one panel inward before the opposite panel folds over it. Because that first panel needs to fit neatly inside the brochure, it may need to be slightly narrower than the other two.
The exact measurements can vary depending on the finished size, paper, and equipment being used. Rather than guessing, ask your chosen print shop for their preferred dimensions or template.
Know Which Panel is Which
A trifold gives you six panels to work with: a front cover, back cover, fold-in panel, and three interior panels.
The confusing part is figuring out where everything goes while staring at the unfolded file on your screen.
Before committing to your layout, make sure you know where each panel will end up once folded. If you’re unsure, print out a quick copy and fold it yourself. A sheet of printer paper is considerably cheaper than discovering your front cover ended up inside the brochure after 500 copies have already been printed.
While designing, remember to keep important text and graphics away from the fold lines. Images and backgrounds can cross them, but you probably don’t want a crease running through the middle of your logo.
In Conclusion
Trifold brochures may seem simple, but designing one involves a little more than creating three columns and hoping the folding machine figures out the rest.
Know where your panels belong, account for the folds, and give your content some breathing room. With those basics covered, you’ll have a brochure that looks just as good folded in someone’s hand as it did on your screen.
