Gate Folds

Gatefolds are foldouts that have one single fold that opens out like a gate and shows panels inside. A Gatefold is type of brochure that is not very common. It is a piece of paper that opens to double the page size. The left and right edges of Gatefolds fold inward and meet in the middle of the page without overlapping. Since they are not very common, Gatefolds produce great impact when they are designed well. Usually printed on high quality paper, this type of brochure is quite costly.

Although there are different types of Gatefolds, the standard Gatefold brochure is a LTR page folded in four. It presents eight panels: one at the front, one at the back and six internal panels. The front panel is used to present the product or service that will be described in the inner panels, and the back panel usually includes contact information such as telephone numbers and URL.

Gatefolds are frequently used in magazine publishing. They are presented as a page inside a magazine that is larger than the other pages but is folded to fit.

Folders

Folders are very useful organization tools. They have flaps –usually two or more- to hold the pieces of paper that are put inside them. These sheets that are placed inside folders are called inserts. They may display different information depending on the aim of the folder. For instance, if the folder is aimed at advertising a product or a service, the sheets inside will most probably describe the product and provide relevant information on it –function, price, etc.

Folders may be used to advertise a product or service and also to store information. Inserts that are placed inside a folder are protected by the outer panel, which is usually made from strong paper. If the design is well done and printed in strong paper, you may use the same folder for many promotional campaigns, without the need of changing the complete design of your brochure. That way you can keep the folder and just change the inserts. The information that changes is the inner content presented on the inserts, while the front panel of the folder provides the audience with general information about the company, and therefore does not need to be changed in every design.

This type of brochure is very useful for industries and companies that want to portray a professional image. Banks, insurance companies and companies organizing events, for example, make use of folders in order to present information to clients in a clear and organized way.