tr-fold brochure advice

[SloYerRoll]

Hey illustrator pro's.

I'm creating my first tri-fold brochure for a client.

Just wanted to see if you had any input on hidden pitfalls or things to look out for before I kick this off.

I already have good design principals etc. Just want to make sure I don't make any mistakes that can be easily avioded.

I've been lurking too much and not posting. Good stuff in these forums though!

-Jon

[TORCH511]

It's a fairly straightforward job, no real pitfalls. The only things that have come up for me have been knowing how the customer wants the brocure to fold (flap in or accordian)and planning accordingly. Make sure you know the customer's intent. Is it going in a stand, is it getting mailed? It might affect the paper (coated, uncoated) and weight. Talk to the printer and figure out exactly where the folds will go. Some (I find cheaper print shops) will fold evenly which depending on paper stock might make flat folds difficult. Does the printer crease, fold? Really obvious stuff.

You might do a search for tri-fold templates, just to see some different options.

One last thing, depending on the business and where the brocure will be displayed. Ever go to a hotel and see the rack of brocures. only about 1/3 to 1/2 are shown... may want to keep that in mind.

[Scott Weichert]

Biggest pitfall... all 3 panels are NOT the same width.

[SloYerRoll]

All good stuff guys.

Thanks for the replies.

I now see that my trifold template is dead nuts exact on all sides. Maybe I should work for that company!!...

For the archives sake, this is how I determined what the dimentions for my brochure needed to be:

First subtract the 1/8"
1/8 = 0.125
11 - 0.125 = 10.875

Now determine the three sections.
10.875 / 3 = 3.625

Now add the 1/8 back to one.
3.625 + 0.125 = 3.75

So you have sections of 3.625", 3.625", and 3.75"

The ALWAYS double check your work.
3.625 + 3.625 + 3.75 = 11

I should add that I have this design in landscape and I needed the right side to be the longer side to prevent the left and center from buckling. Another variable is what type of paper your using as well.

Cheers,
-Jon

[TORCH511]

Again, discuss with printer. NEVER guess. A lot of printers have templates. I looked around at about a half dozen templates from printers and NO TWO were the same. Some were all equal size panels (not good) some got progressivly smaller by about .010 inches per panel (this is what the illustrator template does as well, others were two long, one short.... none of the dimensions matched.

[SloYerRoll]

Thanks again. I'm in large format printing so I know how printers can put on blinders and not send projects through any form of real pre-press. Just toss it in pre-flight, send to the rip and hit print... I think that's the way it should be, but I also think JDF is cooler than sliced bread. That's just reality for most printers yet. Too many variables and lack of a base understanding of printing and color management.. (sorry getting on a tangent)

Another question. I'll post this in a new thread if you like...

I want to make the finished product in a 3D shape so people looking at my graphic design gallery can visually see it's a trifold beside the "flat" final. Am I better off rasterizing and using vanishing point in PS? Or is it as easy as just creating anchors at the "bend" point then just grabbing the two outside anchors and pulling it down? That make sense?

-Jon

[TORCH511]

That is really up to you. There are a number of ways to do it in illustrator, like creating a basic outline and then using your artwork to make panels, and warp the panels to the outline. You can even then use revolve so it does not look so 2D.

You can even create a cross section of the folded brocure, extrude and then map your art to the panels.

But then there is no harm in going to photoshop either, especially since the target is the web. However you want to do it.

Me, I would cheat and make the 3D in Max, render and then bring into photoshop, but that is me.

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