Flyers and folded leaflets

From a flat flyer to bi-fold, tri-fold and Z-fold leaflets — this guide covers single-sheet jobs, with the fold geometry that trips most people up.

What you'll make

A flat flyer imposed N-up for cutting, or a folded leaflet with correctly sized panels and fold marks.

Flat flyers

A flat flyer is essentially a business-card style step-and-repeat at a larger size:

1. Open the flyer PDF.
2. Imposition → N-up, set the flyer size, bleed and sheet size.
3. Add cut marks, review, export.

Folded leaflets

Folding changes the panel widths — the panels are not all equal.

• Bi-fold (one fold): two equal panels.
• Tri-fold / C-fold: three panels, but the panel that folds inside is slightly narrower (often ~2–3 mm) so it doesn't buckle.
• Z-fold: three roughly equal panels folded in a zig-zag.

Step by step

1. Open the leaflet PDF (artwork already laid out as panels, outside and inside).
2. Open the Imposition tab and choose the fold type (bi/tri/Z).
3. Set the finished size and panel widths (let the inside panel be narrower for C-fold).
4. Set bleed and enable fold marks and crop marks.
5. Confirm the outside/inside sheets are paired correctly.
6. Review on the canvas and export.

Options explained

Panel widths

For a C-fold, the inner panel must be a couple of millimetres shorter so it tucks in cleanly. Imposio can set this allowance for you.

Fold marks vs crop marks

Crop marks show the trim; fold marks (usually dotted) show where the folder creases.

Tips

• Always fold a printed dummy to check panel order and which way the leaflet opens.
• Keep text clear of the fold lines.

Troubleshooting

• Inner panel buckles or sticks out? Make it slightly narrower (panel allowance).
• Panels print in the wrong order? Re-check the fold type and outside/inside pairing.

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Tricky fold? Ask the Imposio Community.