Adobe InDesign/Brochure Creation

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Expert: InDesign Pro - 9/18/2007


Question
I need to create and 8.5x11 tri-fold brochure, and am not sure how to get started.  I am familiar with InDesign, but have never worked on a brochure before.  Can you please explain how to format a page for a tri-fold brochure. Thanks!

Answer
Hi Sarah, thanks for the question.

I think you may be asking about a tri-panel brochure which many people call a tri-fold while it only has two folds. ;) In this case, I would set it up this way. With page one with folds at 3.5in and 7.25in. The second page would have the folds at 3.75in and 7.5in because it's the reverse of the front. The reason being, the outside panel should be a bit bigger and the inside panel a bit smaller for the fold. If you're doing a Z-fold, it wouldn't matter.

Start by making a new document. 8.5x11 landscape with two pages. I would set the margins at about 0.2 inches all around. Stay away from the folds about 0.2in as well.

If there's anything else along the way, let me know. Hope this helps.

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As a professional graphic designer, I use Adobe InDesign every day and can answer all of your InDesign-related questions. I will give you easy-to-understand and precise answers, along with many tips and tricks to save you time while working on every project. I have spent years helping beginners learn InDesign, as well as helping professionals master the many features of the world's most powerful page-layout software. Thank-you for your submissions. Please include your operating system (e.g., Mac OS X 10.5.x) and InDesign version (e.g., InDesign CS4) with your questions. Thanks!

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After starting my design career using QuarkXPress and PageMaker for many years, the release of InDesign instantly caught my eye. Being one of the reasons for Adobe buying Aldus, I knew this would change the publishing world very quickly. I started using InDesign's first release and haven't looked back. I have dedicated my work and much of my spare time using InDesign to its fullest—and it's paid off. My workflow is quicker, my computer runs smoother, and my files print cleaner and without problem.

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