Midtown Printing Company

Folding Guide

Here are some of the most common folds. Please take note that some folds require varied lengths per panel. Certain folds require “short panel” widths to allow the finished piece to remain flat. The amount of trim for the short panels will depend upon the weight and type of stock used in your project, but a safe measurement is 1/16th of an inch. Use the supplied panel dimensions and dimension calculation guide to help make sure your project folds correctly. For specific information about your project, contact your Sales or Customer Service Representative.

Basic Folds

Single Fold (four panels)

Accordian (or “Z”) Fold (usually six or eight panels)

French Fold (eight panel

For single, accordian and french folds, NO short panels are created.

Trifold

Letter Fold 8 1/2 x 11 (letter size)

Brochure Fold (usually six panels)

When creating a trifold, divide your paper width by 3 (ie, on an 81/2 x 11 sheet, divide 11 by 3 to get 3.6667). Round that number up to nearest 32nd of an inch (ie, 3.6875). This number will be the size of your first two panels. To get third third (short) panel, subtract a 16th, or .0625 from the wide panel size (ie, 3.625).

Parallel and Gate Folds

Double Parallel Fold (eight panels)

Gate Fold (three panel)

Closed Gate Fold (eight panels)

A four panel double parallel fold or four panel gate fold have two panels that are wide and two short. Divide your paper width by 4 (ie, 17 divided by 4 is 4.25). Add a 32nd, or .03125, to the number to get your wide panel size (ie, 4.28125). Subtract a 16th, or .0625, from the wide panel size to get your short panel size (ie, 4.21875).

Roll Folds

Roll Fold

In a four panel roll, the first two left panels that are the largest size, then a short panel, and then an even shorter panel. Divide your paper width by 4 (ie, 17 divided by 4 is 4.25). Add a 16th, or .0625, to the number to get your wide panel size (ie, 4.3125). Subtract 3/32nds, or .09375, from that number to get the short size (ie, 4.21875). To get the final, even shorter size (the shortest size), subtract another 16th, or .0625 (ie, 4.15625). This actually makes the difference between the two large panels and the short panel 3/32s instead of a 16th, but that’s only a 32nd of an inch difference.

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