Roll fold, concertina fold or cross fold: which suits your content?

How a fold transforms a printed sheet

Folding creates a defined crease in a sheet of paper. This divides it into panels that together form the finished print product.

For example, a sheet folded in half has four printable pages: a front, a back and two inside pages. Two parallel folds can create a six-page leaflet. “Six-page” means six designable surfaces, rather than six separate sheets of paper.

Planning involves two different sizes:

• Open size: the dimensions of the fully unfolded product.
• Closed size: the dimensions when fully folded.

Both are important. A compact leaflet can open out into a surprisingly large area.

The main folding methods at a glance

The basic methods differ mainly in the direction and arrangement of the folds. A cross fold with two folds, for example, produces eight page surfaces.

Technical overview of folding methods (in German)

The best choice for your content depends on how the product will be used.

Roll fold: reveal information as the leaflet opens

For a service overview, a roll fold can create a clear sequence: the cover introduces the main topic, the first opening reveals a brief introduction, and the fully opened leaflet presents more detailed information.

One example is a six-page leaflet promoting a consultancy service:

• The cover identifies the purpose and benefit of the service.
• The fold-in flap answers the reader’s first important question.
• The three inside panels explain the services, process and requirements.
• The back contains contact details and the next step.

This is one possible editorial arrangement. The exact position of each panel must be established using a folded mock-up.

From a production perspective, the fold-in flap needs particular attention. It is usually made slightly narrower to leave enough room when closed. The required reduction depends on the construction and paper. Three equal-width columns are therefore not automatically a suitable template for a roll fold.

Concertina fold: show connections side by side

A concertina fold is suitable when the panels need to work as a continuous sequence.

For an event programme, the panels might cover different parts of the day. In a service overview, each panel could have its own subject. A process can run across several panels from the first step to the outcome.

The design should also make sense when fully open. Consistent headings, a shared grid and clear transitions help readers find their way.

A continuous image or graphic can connect the panels. Important details, however, should not fall on a fold by accident. A product name, a face or a small number may become harder to see there.

Also consider whether the product is intended to be read from one side only, or whether either outer face can be the starting point. This affects the cover, labelling and reading direction.

Cross fold: fit a large surface into a compact format

A cross fold can be useful when the open product is primarily intended to be viewed as a whole. Examples include a site plan with labelled areas or a technical overview.

For such a plan, the closed front could carry a clear title. Opening it reveals the complete image, with additional explanations on the other side of the sheet.

Content orientation is particularly important with this construction. Some elements may need to be rotated on the open press sheet so that they appear the right way up when opened as intended.

A cross-folded product does not automatically read like a small booklet. If readers are expected to turn from one page to the next in sequence, check that the chosen construction supports this.

Make a paper mock-up before creating the layout

An unprinted folded mock-up takes little time and answers questions that are easy to miss on screen.

A sheet of paper is enough for an initial draft:

1. Cut it to roughly the planned open size.
2. Fold it in the intended sequence.
3. Label the cover and back of the closed mock-up.
4. Open it step by step and note the purpose of each visible panel.
5. Unfold it fully and transfer the arrangement to your layout.

This checks the logic of your content. A production template is then needed to establish the final panel widths and fold positions.

Show the mock-up to someone unfamiliar with the project. Do they open it as intended? Can they find the contact details? Do they understand where the text continues? These observations are often more useful than another discussion about the on-screen layout.

Choose paper and folding together

How a leaflet opens and closes also depends on paper thickness, stiffness, surface and grain direction.

A substantial paper may work well for a simple folded card. With several panels folding into one another, however, its thickness takes up extra space. The construction must allow for this.

Depending on the paper and printing, creasing before folding may be advisable. It prepares the fold line and can reduce the risk of visible cracking. Whether it is needed cannot be determined by a universal paper-weight threshold alone.

When folds run in several directions, different grain-direction requirements must also be balanced. Material selection should therefore be discussed with the finishing team early on.

A mock-up made from the intended paper then tells you more than one made from ordinary copier paper: it lets you experience the thickness, spring-back and handling.