Brochures

Yes — it's folded during production according to the style you choose, so it's ready to use as soon as it arrives. 

The size you choose is your brochure's flat size before folding — not the finished size. An 8.5" x 11" sheet folded into a tri-fold, for example, results in three panels a little over 3" wide. If you have a specific finished size in mind, pick your fold first and size up from there. 

Only if you're mailing without an envelope. Two tabs keep your brochure closed in transit and are required for that. 

Tri-fold is our most popular choice for general marketing brochures. It's familiar to most readers and fits neatly into a standard envelope. 

A gate fold opens like a gate to reveal a larger panel in the middle. A double gate fold folds the same way but stays fully closed, for a more formal, enclosed look. 

Our 10 pt. and 14 pt. cardstocks have the most substantial, high-end feel. Heavier stock can show a bit more crease at the fold on multi-panel styles. 

9 sizes, plus fully custom dimensions, and 10 fold styles — from a simple half-fold to a 6-panel design. 

Choose 1, 2, or 3 business day production, depending on your timeline. 

We recommend that you observe the following design best practices to achieve color accuracy for your brochure: 

• Create your design file using the CMYK color mode, which is the appropriate color mode for printed materials. If you find that your design file is set to RGB, convert it to CMYK first before sending it to your printer. 

• Use ICC color profiles when designing. These profiles help translate colors correctly between your screen and the printing press. 

• Calibrate your monitor regularly. Screen brightness, contrast, and color settings can affect how colors appear during proofing and a calibrated monitor helps ensure your design's colors are as accurate as possible. 

• Review digital proofs carefully. However, note that doing it using a an electronic screen means you're viewing it in an RGB environment, which is not an exact representation of the final printed color. 

• Request a hard copy proof if you want to see how the colors will actually look. This printed sample of your artwork lets you verify the colors before the full print run.

Expect slight color variation between your screen and the final print. Screens display colors using light (RGB), while printed colors are created using ink (CMYK), which can appear slightly duller or darker. 

We recommend that you observe these best practices to ensure that the images on your brochure come out sharp and clear. 

• Use high-resolution images with a minimum of 300 dpi and text elements with a minimum 400 dpi. Note that images and text of higher dpi help improve image quality but they also increase the file size, which may affect transmission between you and your printer. 

• Match image size to print size. Don't enlarge small images as scaling up can cause pixelation. 

• Use original images whenever possible, rather than screenshots or images downloaded from the web. 

• Export your design as print-ready PDF with high-quality or press-quality settings. 

• Review proofs at 100% zoom — zooming in further can make sharp images look blurry on screen even though they'll print fine, so 100% is the truest preview of your final result. 

Please be guided by the following reminders to minimize print defects on your brochure and achieve a professional print finish. 

• Use high-quality, thick paper stock because these are less prone to cracking and tearing compared to thin, low-quality paper. You can rest assured that all of our paper stock and cardstocks are high-quality and deliver excellent print results. 

• Brochures made with thicker cardstocks (10 pt. or higher) undergo scoring before folding. Scoring creates a crease in the paper for easier and more seamless folding and helps prevent the paper from cracking. 

• Design folds carefully. Allow a safe margin near folds and avoid placing heavy ink or critical design elements along fold lines. 

• Observe trim and bleed guidelines. Including proper bleeds and margins helps prevent smudging or misalignment. We require a 1/8" (0.125") bleed on all sides of your artwork and a 1/8" safe zone inside the trim line to ensure important elements are not cut off. 

• Set your artwork or design to the final trim size before designing. For example, if your brochure is 8.5” x 11”, set your canvas to that exact size. 

• Use proper bleed and margin settings. The bleed should typically extend 0.125” (1/8”) beyond the trim edge to prevent white borders, while important text and images should be kept at least 0.125” inside the trim line to avoid being cut off. 

• Use print layout templates when possible. Brochure templates for bifold, trifold, or other fold types help maintain proper panel sizes and alignment. 

• Export your file as a print-ready PDF, and make sure the PDF matches the dimensions of your final brochure. 

• Pay attention to the layout. Avoid placing critical text or images directly on fold lines. Arrange content logically so panels flow well when opened. 

• Check panel proportions. Ensure each panel is sized correctly for the fold type, especially if you're creating a trifold or Z-fold brochure. 

• Print a test copy. Always do a test print on standard paper and fold it to verify alignment and content placement before approving the full print run.