In bookmaking and paper engineering, the gatefold is a popular folding technique. By inwardly folding two panels of paper or cardstock along the spine, this unique fold comes to life. To secure the gatefold in its rightful place, gluing or sewing it to the binding becomes necessary.
Gatefolds undertake several vital roles within their medium. They are an excellent solution for accommodating artwork, maps, and other content that surpasses standard book dimensions. Moreover, they contribute towards creating a captivating opening experience for readers; before diving into the text, readers must first unfold the gatefold.
While commonly found in books, gatefolds extend beyond these pages to magazines, newspapers, and various printed materials.
Reliable binding methods unify pages into a cohesive structure using a gatefold design within books or booklets. The spine is adeptly joined with adhesives or stitching, while a cover envelopes its outer region. This cover typically consists of sturdier material like heavy paper or cardboard than thinner paper used for the internal pages.
Derived from its unique design resembling gates, the term “gatefold” describes a cover that opens up like a pair of doors to unveil the pages concealed inside. Gatefolds are common in books with illustrations or photographs or for careful and leisurely reading. They also benefit books that require flat-opened pages, such as cookbooks and art books.
The creation of gatefolds can be accomplished either manually or through mechanized methods. Manual production demands preliminary scoring of the paper or cardboard to ensure neat folding. This technique is achievable using tools like a bone folder, straight edge, or scoring board.
On the other hand, mechanical gatefold production requires access to binding equipment capable of performing case-binding techniques. Such machines incorporate dies designed to score paper or cardboard effectively.