How to Print a Brochure: Tips for Beautiful Results

Want to know how to print out a brochure that grabs attention and gets results? Whether you’re promoting a product, service, or event, a well-designed brochure is a powerful marketing tool, but only if it’s printed right. From blurry images to off-centre folds, even small missteps can ruin an otherwise stunning design. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to print a brochure that looks just as good on paper as it does on screen. With the right tips and a few pro tricks, you’ll be holding a beautiful, professional-quality brochure in your hands in no time.

What Is a Brochure and Why Print One?

A brochure is a printed marketing document that shares key information about your business, products, services, or events in a concise, visually appealing format. Common styles include bifolds, trifolds, and multi-page booklets. They’re often used to promote offerings, explain benefits, or guide potential customers toward a decision. Here are some key benefits of a well-printed brochure:

• Tangible and Trustworthy: A well-printed brochure feels professional and builds credibility in a way digital media often can't.
• Easy to Distribute: Hand them out at events, leave them in stores, or include them in mail campaigns for wide reach.
• Focused Attention: Unlike websites or emails, brochures don’t compete with other browser tabs, and readers stay engaged.
• Brand Showcase: High-quality print showcases your design, brand colours, and messaging with precision and polish.

What are some Common Brochure Types and Folds?

Brochures come in a variety of formats, each suited to different types of content and presentation styles. The fold you choose can impact both the look and usability of your brochure. So, it’s important to pick the right one for your goals. Here are the major types:

• Trifold Brochure: One of the most popular formats, a trifold has two folds creating three equal panels. It’s great for storytelling, service breakdowns, or step-by-step guides.
• Bifold Brochure: Folded once down the middle like a booklet, this format offers four panels (front, back, and two inside pages). Ideal for bold visuals and simple messaging.
• Z-Fold Brochure: Similar to a trifold, but each panel folds in alternating directions (like a “Z”). This allows readers to open the brochure in a zigzag flow, perfect for presenting sequential information.
• Gate Fold Brochure: Two side panels open outwards like doors to reveal a larger central panel. Great for high-impact visuals, product launches, or luxurious branding.
• Accordion Fold Brochure: Multiple panels that fold in a zigzag, accordion-style. It allows for more content while maintaining a clean layout, ideal for timelines, tutorials, or travel itineraries.
• Booklet or Multi-Page Brochure: Staple-bound or stitched, this is best for catalogs, portfolios, or in-depth product guides where more space is needed. It's a perfect option for interior design companies.

Each fold style offers a different way to guide the reader’s experience. So choose one that complements your content and keeps your audience engaged from cover to close.

What You Need to Get Started with Brochure Printing?

Before you start with brochure printing, it's important to gather the right elements to ensure your brochure looks polished and professional. A little preparation up front can save time, money, and a lot of frustration later. Here's what you'll need:

• A Clear Objective: Define what the brochure is meant to do. Whether you want to promote a product, explain a service, or invite people to an event. Your goal will shape your content and layout.
• Professional Design: Use design software like Adobe InDesign, Canva, or Illustrator. Stick to a consistent colour scheme, clear typography, and high-resolution images (at least 300 DPI for print).
• Print-Ready File Format: Export your design in PDF format with crop marks and bleed (usually 1/8 inch or 3mm). This ensures nothing important gets cut off and your design prints edge-to-edge.
• Quality Content: Write copy that is concise, benefit-driven, and easy to scan. Include compelling headlines, a short company intro, bullet points, and a strong call to action.
• Paper Type and Finish Selection: Decide on paper thickness (e.g., 100–170 gsm for standard brochures) and finish (glossy, matte, or uncoated) based on your brand style and budget.
• A Trusted Printer: Choose a printing service like Ex Why Zed that offers brochure-specific options, reviews proofs carefully, and can deliver in your desired quantity and timeframe.

With these essentials in place, you're ready to create a brochure that not only looks great but also gets results.

How to Print a Brochure? Key Steps to Follow

Printing a brochure may seem straightforward, but doing it right involves more than just hitting "print." From design setup to choosing the right paper and print method, each step plays a role in ensuring your brochure looks sharp, professional, and aligned with your brand. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to print in brochure format:

Step 1 (Design Finalisation): How to Finalise Your Design?

Before printing, double-check your layout, colours, images, and text. Make sure:

• All images are high-resolution (300 DPI or more).
• Fonts are embedded or outlined to prevent missing text issues.
• Colours are set to CMYK, not RGB (since printers use CMYK colour mode).
• Margins and safe zones are respected, so no content gets cut off.

Use professional design tools like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Canva, or Affinity Publisher to create a clean, print-ready layout.

Step 2 (Bleed & Crop Marks): How to Set Up Bleed and Crop Marks?

Printers require a bit of extra space around the edges to ensure clean cutting. Set a bleed area of about 0.125 inches (3 mm) around all edges and include crop marks to guide trimming. This ensures that your design prints all the way to the edge without unintended white borders.

Step 3 (Size & Fold): How to Choose the Right Brochure Size and Fold?

In the UK, common brochure sizes align with the ISO paper size system, similar to other international standards. The most popular sizes include:

• A4 (210mm x 297mm) – Standard for brochures, especially corporate or professional ones
• A5 (148mm x 210mm) – Compact, ideal for handouts, event brochures, or product highlights
• DL (99mm x 210mm) – Slim and often used for trifold brochures, fits easily in envelopes and racks
• A3 folded to A4 (297mm x 420mm folded to 210mm x 297mm) – Used when more space is needed but still fits standard A4 storage

Select the fold that suits your content (trifold, bifold, gatefold, etc.). Make sure your design aligns with the folds so that panels don’t look misaligned or confusing once printed.

Step 4 (Paper Type): How to Select Paper Stock and Finish?

Paper quality has a huge impact on the final look and feel. Choose based on your brand image and purpose:

• Paper Weight: 100–170 gsm for standard brochures; 200–300 gsm for premium quality.
• Finish: Glossy for vibrant colours, matte for a sophisticated look, or uncoated for a natural feel.

Some printers also offer special coatings like UV gloss or soft-touch laminate for added durability and tactile appeal. At Ex Why Zed, you get access to some of the best paper types, including standard and custom options. But the best part is that all our papers are FSC approved, which is better than 100% recycled papers.

Step 5 (Printing Method): How to Select a Printing Method?

You typically have two options:

• Digital Printing: Great for small quantities (under 500 brochures). Fast turnaround, cost-effective, and flexible for personalized or short-run jobs.
• Offset Printing: Ideal for bulk printing. It offers high-quality colour consistency and is more cost-efficient per unit at higher volumes.

Discuss options with your printer based on your budget, deadline, and quality expectations. At Ex Why Zed, you can choose between digital and Litho printing depending on your run size. Get a quote now.

Step 6 (Proof): How to Proofread Your Brochure?

Always request a proof copy, either digital or physical, before printing the full batch. At Ex Why Zed, we offer a free sample for your brochure. Review it carefully for:

• Typos or layout errors
• Image clarity
• Accurate colours
• Fold alignment

A second set of eyes often helps spot issues you might miss after staring at the same file for days.

Step 7 (Print): How to Print and Distribute?

Once the proof is approved, move ahead with full printing. Choose the quantity based on your campaign size and distribution channels, whether it's handouts at events, mailers to customers, or leave-behinds in stores or offices. If you’re distributing digitally as well, export a web-optimized PDF version (smaller size, RGB colour mode) to email or share online. When you print your brochures with Ex Why Zed, you get free delivery of your printed brochures across the UK.

What are some Tips to Print a Beautiful Brochure?

Getting really good results means you need to pay close attention to every part of your work. Try to keep these tips as you make your brochure:

• Ensure all images are at least 300 DPI to avoid blurry or pixelated prints.
• Printers use CMYK, not RGB. Designing in CMYK ensures accurate colour output.
• Add a 0.125" (3 mm) bleed area and keep text within safe margins to prevent trimming issues.
• Choose paper thickness and finish (glossy, matte, or uncoated) based on your brand feel and budget.
• Use trifolds for service listings, gatefolds for dramatic reveals, or bifolds for clean layouts.
• Stick to 2–3 font styles for a clean, professional look and maintain hierarchy with size and weight.
• Stick to your brand colours, logo placement, and tone of voice across the entire brochure.
• End with a clear next CTA like “Visit our website,” “Call now,” or “Book a demo.”
• Triple-check for typos, grammar errors, and layout issues before printing.
• Always review a physical or digital proof before going for bulk printing.

Why Pick Ex Why Zed for Printing Your Brochures?

If you have been wondering where to print trifold brochures or multi-fold brochures, your search ends with Ex Why Zed. Choosing us for your brochure printing means partnering with a dynamic, independent print company that specializes in printing brochures backed by expert support and top-tier production. We offer both HP Indigo digital and Heidelberg Litho printing, depending on your run size. Digital for small quantities with fast turnaround, Litho for excellent value on larger batches.

You’ll benefit from free PDF file checks, no minimum orders, instant pricing for up to 20 copies, free UK delivery, and helpful, accessible human guidance throughout the process. Whether you’re aiming for premium finishes like matt lamination or wire‑stitched perfect binding, we let your creative vision shine, without size limits or rigid formats. Contact us now for printing your brochures.

Conclusion

Printing a brochure isn’t just about putting ink on paper; it’s about presenting your brand with clarity, professionalism, and purpose. By choosing the right design, paper, fold, and print method, you can transform your ideas into a visually striking marketing tool that truly resonates with your audience. Whether you're printing ten brochures or ten thousand, following these tips will help you achieve beautiful, high-quality results that leave a lasting impression.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best paper type for brochure printing?

Pick your paper by thinking about how strong it needs to be and how it looks. Lightweight stock is good for casual marketing materials. Cardstock is better for important professional pieces that need more impact. Make sure the paper you use fits your brochure layout and your printer settings.

2. How to print a brochure double sided correctly?

To get correct double-sided printing, you need to choose short edge binding in your print settings. This helps stop the pages from ending up backward. Make sure the pages are lined up right in your layout. In the printer's dialog box, check that you have the right settings for the pages.

3. What file format should I use for printing brochures?

PDF is the best file format to get great results for printers and keep colours right. You can use Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft apps to make files that match your brochure layout. Make sure to add crop marks and use CMYK settings. This helps your brochure look professional when printed with the right layout.

4. How much does it cost to print a brochure in the UK?

Brochure printing in the UK typically starts at £32 for one copy and when the print run increases, the price moves upwards, depending on quantity, size, paper, and finish. Short-run digital prints (e.g. 50–100 copies) can start around £140–£170. Larger Litho print runs (1,000+ copies) may start at £350. For the best rates and offers, get in touch with Ex Why Zed.

5. How to print a brochure from PDF?

To print a brochure from a PDF, first ensure the file is set to the correct size, includes bleed, and is in CMYK colour mode. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat or your printer’s recommended software and select the correct print settings, including double-sided and page order. Send it to a professional printer for best results.

6. How to print a trifold brochure?

To print a trifold brochure, start by designing your layout on an 8.5” x 11” or A4 page, dividing it into three equal panels with proper margins and bleed (usually 3mm). Ensure all text and images are within safe zones to avoid folding issues. Export the design as a high-resolution PDF in CMYK colour mode, then print it double-sided on quality paper.