Layouts for folding brochures

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
March 29, 2017
4 replies
12591 views

Every time I go to create a folding brochure in InDesign I spend a a lot of time setting up a page with guides based on measurements form the client or the printer since pages can't be the same width on a folding brochure. Folding brochures aren't that uncommon, so this seems like something Adobe would have addressed, but I've never heard of a solution. Does one exist or am I using the best available technique?

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Correct answer Derek Cross

You could save your basic set up as an InDesign template.

There are also free templates available here: https://indesignsecrets.com/resources/indesign-templates

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

Make your folding brochure as single pages, even if they have different sizes. Put them together as spreads and export them as spreads to the requirement of the printer. It has the advantage that all borders work correctly, text reflows and you can export an output in single pages too if required.

I have an example here: Dropbox - Wickelfalz.idml

M

mrgaricAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks Willi Adelberger.
That's an original solution.

rohit_ID

Adobe Employee

This might be what you are trying to do Changing page size .

Hope you find it helpful.

John Mensinger

Community Expert

It's not really clear, but it sounds like you're referring to the so-called "tri fold brochure," (A misnomer, considering there are only 2 folds.) Yes, 3 equal panels will fold improperly, so a slight guide-shift is in order.

If that is indeed what you're referring to, have you tried Googling "tri fold brochure template for indesign"?

You'll have about 581k hits to choose from.

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mrgaricAuthor

Inspiring

Tri folds, two, three and four page fold outs, accordion folds, roll folds, double gate folds etc. There are a lot of folds out there.

I have tried Googling "tri fold brochure template for indesign". Thanks for the tip.

What I was trying to ask is if there was a more elegant method of handling folds than making my own templates or downloading them from a third party. I would expect it to be accounted for in InDesign since folds are a very common thing for a designer to work with, but I guess it's not included.

Derek Cross

Correct answer

Community Expert

You could save your basic set up as an InDesign template.

There are also free templates available here: https://indesignsecrets.com/resources/indesign-templates

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mrgaricAuthor

Inspiring

I don't think there seems to be any one correct answer and I don't want to labor the issue. I just was asking to improve my InDesign skills, not because of a bug or anything like that.
That having been said I think Derek Cross gave me the most straight forward solution, so I am going to call his solution the correct answer although I wouldn't call any of these posts the wrong answer.
Thanks