DTP Paper Terms and Folding Styles
Choosing Paper and Brochure Styles for Desktop Publishing
Jan 11, 2009
One reason why desktop publishing has become such a popular profession (or hobby) is because it allows professionals to take charge of projects from start to finish. This includes concept, layout, design, typesetting, pagination and printing. On the flip side, professionals need to make decisions in areas where they could previously rely on experts like printers, binders and typesetters.
Keeping paper qualities, paper grades and availability in mind will help when designing a DTP project. Similarly, when laying out a brochure, common folding styles can help feature certain products or messages. Paper considerations and brochure folding options should therefore be taken into account even before starting a project.
Paper Considerations for Desktop Publishers
Before producing promotional material like brochures, flyers, catalogs and posters, one has to take paper options and the capability of one’s printer into consideration. Glossy designs might look good on screen but if the cost of the paper they require is beyond budget, it may be better to scale down and go for designs that work with more reasonable paper options. Here is a list of common terms associated with paper.
A-sizes are ISO sheet sizes that range from A0 (1 m2) to A8 (~ 10 cm2) with larger numbers indicating smaller sheet sizes (see illustration below). North American sheet sizes are used in the USA and Canada. The most common sizes are letter (8 ½ " x 11"), tabloid (11" x 17") and broadsheet (17" x 22").
Cut sizes are the two common smaller paper sizes, letter (8 ½" x 11") or A4 and tabloid (11" x 17") or A3 that most laser printers, photocopiers, fax machines and small presses are designed for.
Finish or tooth is what the surface of paper is called. The rougher a paper feels, the more tooth it has. Paper finish will determine the type of ink used as more liquid ink types will require rougher (absorbent) paper, while oil-based ones will work well for smooth paper types.
Ink absorbency refers to the amount of ink a particular paper type can absorb. Less absorbent papers will take longer to dry, therefore increasing the risk of smearing.
Opacity: The more fillers and fibers a paper has, the more opaque (less see-through) it is.
Paper types: Paper has different characteristics like thickness, durability and absorbency. Here are some common paper grades, sorted by paper weight from soft to strong:
- bible paper
- bond paper
- newsprint
- catalog paper
- book paper
- index paper
- bristol paper
- cover paper or card stock
Ream: One ream consists of 500 sheets of printing paper. Ream weight is expressed in pounds.
Two-sidedness is the difference of a top and bottom side of a sheet of paper, which can easily be felt when holding it: The top side will feel smoother and the bottom side rougher. Two-sidedness is a byproduct of the paper manufacturing process and is essential to keep in mind when choosing the correct side for printing.
Two-tone paper or duplex paper is a paper that has a different color, finish or texture on each side. Unlike two-sided paper, two-toned paper is produced intentionally by laminating two different sheets of paper together, for example as a publication’s cover.
Folding Options for Promotional Publications
Another important consideration is what folding style will work for the promotional material requested. At a busy trade show, for example, attendees will not have time to go through an elaborate brochure, so a simple one with tri folds or window folds might work better. Zig-zag folds are great for publications that double as a flyer, break down complex content or features or advertise parts of a series (e.g., using one panel per product). Here are six common paper folding styles.
- Brochure folds, also called c-folds or tri-folds are popular for six-panel brochures and greetin cards. A rectangular sheet is folded twice vertically, with the second fold dividing a slightly smaller third of the sheet so that it can be folded inside.
- A crossfold or right-angle fold describes a sheet of paper that has two or more folds going in different directions, usually at right angles. This folding method is used for signatures, the folded, gathered, threaded and cut pages that form the basis for booklets or books.
- A more visual name for gatefold is window fold; a sheet of paper folded like a window with both folded edges meeting in the middle. If folded again in the middle, it is called a double gatefold.
- For parallel center or double parallel folds, a rectangular sheet of paper is folded twice down the middle, creating eight panels.
- Parallel folds are simple folds popular for printed matter like brochures or letters. They refer to folds that run parallel but not necessarily in the same direction. Types of parallel folds are accordion, gatefold, window and zig-zag folds.
- Zig-zag or accordion folds are two or more parallel folds that go in the opposite direction, forming a Z or M when looked at from top. Brochures with this popular fold typically have six to ten panels, usually of equal size.
Once the paper and brochure style have been decided, the next decision looms: images. Which ones will work and how to edit existing ones? This overview of essential image editing terminology and printing terms for desktop publishers might help.
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