How to Make Bi Fold Brochures
A bi-fold brochure is an 8.5-inch by 11-inch piece of paper folded in half to form four panels. The front cover of your brochure is the first thing the recipient sees. Introduce the subject of the brochure here: include your company name, logo, an image and a line or two of text that will engage the reader. The inside panels of the brochure are for the detailed information you want to impart to the reader; keep the design simple and clean so it's easy to read. The back panel is for your contact information: include your company name, logo, address, website, email and phone number.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Open a new document in your desktop publishing program. You will create the brochure on two pages. The first page will be the front and back covers; the second page will be the inside of the brochure.
-
2
Change the orientation of the document to "landscape."
-
-
3
Create a visual representation of your margins. Draw a line that divides the page in half. Draw another line 1/2-inch to the left of the center line, and another 1/2-inch to the right of the center line. These lines are your inner margins; you will delete them when your brochure is finished. Maintain a 1/2-inch margin at the top, bottom and outside edges of the page.
-
4
Design the front and back of your brochure on the first page of your document. The front cover is the portion of the page to the right of the center line. The back cover is the portion of the page to the left of the center line. Add text and images as desired.
-
5
Add a second page to your document. Repeat Step 3 for this new page.
-
6
Design the inside of your brochure on the second page. The left side of the page is the inside left page of your brochure; the right side of the page is the inside right page of your brochure. Add text and images as desired.
-
7
Delete the margin lines you created in Step 3.
-
8
Print a proof of your brochure. Select "Print" from your program's drop-down menu. Request one copy. Print only the first page of the document, which is the front cover and back cover.
-
9
Place the first printed page back in the paper feed tray of your printer, oriented so that the second page will print on the blank side of the first. Select "Print" from your program's drop-down menu. Request one copy. Print only the second page of the document.
-
10
Fold the brochure in half. Proofread it carefully for errors and content. Make sure the images are properly aligned. Make any necessary changes and print another proof.
-
11
Repeat Steps 8 through 10 until you are happy with your brochure.
-
12
Print as many copies of the brochure as you need. Repeat Steps 8 and 9, requesting the required number of copies.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you need many copies of your brochure, save your file to a CD and take it to a print shop. Order double-sided copies and request that they fold the brochure for you.
There are many different desktop publishing programs and they all work a little differently. Be patient as you learn the ropes of your program. Most are fairly straightforward and simple to use with a little practice.
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
