Folding

Folding uses a range of different methods and techniques for turning printed sheets into more compact forms. The main folds found in industry are basic valley and mountain used to create a series or peaks and troughs.

Valley Fold
Held horizontally, has a central crease at the bottom with the panels rising upwards to form the sides.

Mountain Fold
Held horizontally, has a central crease at the top with the panels falling downwards.

Front / back accordion fold
Three parallel folds, the two panel outer wings fold into and out of the centre. The double-panel centre serves as a cover

Mock book Fold
Similar to the accordion fold where the penultimate two panels form a cover that the other panels fold into to create a book.

Front / back Gatefold
A extra double panel that folds inside the front and / or back panel

Triple parallel fold
Parallel folds creating a section that nests within the cover panels with a front opening, often used with maps

Back / front folder
Wings either side of the central panel have a double parallel fold so they can fold around and cover both sides of the central panel.

Half Cover from behind
An accordion fold where the penultimate panel forms a back cover that the other panels fold into to create a book, but the half size panel folds around the book from behind to cover the front, together with the half size panel.

Duelling z-fold
Fold wings fold into the centre panel and meet in the middle.

Harmonica self-cover folder
An accordion fold where the first two panels for a cover that the other panels fold into. The first two panels need to be larger than the others to allow for creep.

Double gatefold
The gatefold has three panels that folds in towards the centre of the publication

Incline tab
The stock top is cut away at n incline and accordion folded to present panels of increasing size from front to back.

Tab fold
The stock top is cut away horizontally and accordion folded so that each pair of panels decreases in size from the full size panel.

Ascending folder
The stock is accordion folded with increasing widths between folds so that each panel increases in size from front to back.

Staggered folder design
Stock is cut away horizontally from top and bottom to make each successive panel smaller than its predecessor and accordion folded.

Boxed step
Stock is cut away horizontally so that each panel decreases in size from the full-size panel. It is then accordion folded.