Interactive Folding Guide | Printing Partners

Welcome to the Printing Partners Interactive Folding Guide. Use the Pull Down Menu to select the type of fold you are using, the panel size calculator will appear. You must enter the flat size width of your piece, click on the "Calculate" button and you will be shown the panel sizes for your layout. The height of your piece will not effect the panel sizes. For a printable version of this guide, you can download the PDF file.

To see an animated demonstration of how the fold goes together, move and hold your mouse over the fold graphic on the right.

Our folding guide has different specifications for Cover Weight Paper and Text Weight Paper. Please select the correct type of folding calculation for the paper you are working with. If you are unsure what type of paper you are going to print on, it is best to use the Cover Weight calculations.

Text Weight Folds typically have tighter tolerances because you don't have to allow for the thickness of the paper.

Cover Weight Folds take into account that the paper is thicker and so more space is figured into the folding panel size.

Tri-fold (for cover weight papers)
A Tri-fold is a piece containing 3-panels per side for a total of 6-panels front and back. Two of the panels are the same size, while the third panel is slightly shorter in width to allow it to fold inside the other two panels. This is a common fold for brochures and rack cards.

Z-fold (for cover weight papers)
A Z-Fold contains 3-panels per side for a total of 6-panels. Each of the panels are of equal size. This fold can be used for rack cards and brochures, although not as common as a tri-fold, it can give your piece a unique look.

4-Panel Roll-fold (for cover weight papers)
A 4-Panel Roll Fold has 4-panels per side for a total of 8-panels. Two panels are the same size, while panels 3 & 4 are one-eigth and one-quarter of an inch shorter in width respectively. This allows the panels to fold into each other without binding. This type of fold can be used for brochures and rack cards.

5-Panel Roll-fold (for cover weight papers)
A 5-Panel Roll Fold has 5-panels per side for a total of 10-panels. Two panels are the same size, while panels 3, 4 and 5 are one-eigth, one-quarter and three-eights of an inch shorter in width respectively. This allows the panels to fold into each other without binding. This type of fold can be used for brochures and rack cards.

3-Panel Gate-fold (for cover weight papers)
A 3-Panel Gate-fold has 3-panels per side for a total of 6-panels. The center panel is the largest with the outer panels being just slightly less than half of the center panel. This type of fold is popular for announcements or invitations.

4-Panel Double Gate-fold (for cover weight papers)
A 4-Panel Double Gate-Fold has 4-panels per side for a total of 8-panels. The two inside panels are the same size while the two on the outside are both one-eigth of an inch smaller. This allows room for the panels to be folded together. This type of fold can be used for rack cards and brochures giving maxium space in a compact size.

Accordian Fold (for cover weight papers)
An Accordian fold can have as many panels as you need. Each panel would be the same size. This type of fold an be an interesting option for a brochure or rack card.

4-Panel Double Parallel Fold (for cover weight papers)
A 4-panel Double Parrallel Fold has 4-panels on each side for a total of 8-panels. All panel sizes are the same. This can be an interesting alternative for rack cards and brochures.

Text Weight Folds typically have tighter tolerances because you don't have to allow for the thickness of the paper.

Cover Weight Folds take into account that the paper is thicker and so more space is figured into the folding panel size.

Tri-fold (for text weight papers)
A Tri-fold is a piece containing 3-panels per side for a total of 6-panels front and back. Two of the panels are the same size, while the third panel is slightly shorter in width to allow it to fold inside the other two panels. This is a common fold for brochures and rack cards.

Z-fold (for text weight papers)
A Z-Fold contains 3-panels per side for a total of 6-panels. Each of the panels are of equal size. This fold can be used for rack cards and brochures, although not as common as a tri-fold, it can give your piece a unique look.

4-Panel Roll-fold (for text weight papers)
A 4-Panel Roll Fold has 4-panels per side for a total of 8-panels. Two panels are the same size, while panels 3 & 4 are one-eigth and one-quarter of an inch shorter in width respectively. This allows the panels to fold into each other without binding. This type of fold can be used for brochures and rack cards.

5-Panel Roll-fold (for text weight papers)
A 5-Panel Roll Fold has 5-panels per side for a total of 10-panels. Two panels are the same size, while panels 3, 4 and 5 are one-eigth, one-quarter and three-eights of an inch shorter in width respectively. This allows the panels to fold into each other without binding. This type of fold can be used for brochures and rack cards.

3-Panel Gate-fold (for text weight papers)
A 3-Panel Gate-fold has 3-panels per side for a total of 6-panels. The center panel is the largest with the outer panels being just slightly less than half of the center panel. This type of fold is popular for announcements or invitations.

4-Panel Double Gate-fold (for text weight papers)
A 4-Panel Double Gate-Fold has 4-panels per side for a total of 8-panels. The two inside panels are the same size while the two on the outside are both one-eigth of an inch smaller. This allows room for the panels to be folded together. This type of fold can be used for rack cards and brochures giving maxium space in a compact size.

Accordian Fold (for text weight papers)
An Accordian fold can have as many panels as you need. Each panel would be the same size. This type of fold an be an interesting option for a brochure or rack card.

4-Panel Double Parallel Fold (for text weight papers)
A 4-panel Double Parrallel Fold has 4-panels on each side for a total of 8-panels. All panel sizes are the same. This can be an interesting alternative for rack cards and brochures.