The Foldpic collection / Accordion album
A little story. Waiting to unfold.
An accordion album is a strip of tall panels folded zig-zag. It unfolds into a panorama, folds back into a neat block, and stands open on a shelf or a desk.
Your sheet, before the magic
At a glance +
- Pages
- 4 · 8 · 12 (up to 8 free)
- Sheets
- 2 for 8 pages
- Printing
- One side only
- Time
- about 10 min · scissors, tape or glue
- A4 sheet
- 74 × 210 mm
- US Letter sheet
- 70 × 216 mm
- A3 sheet
- 105 × 297 mm · needs an A3 printer
- US Tabloid (11×17) sheet
- 108 × 279 mm · needs an 11×17 printer
Panels are a quarter of the sheet's long edge and its full height: 210 mm tall from A4, 297 mm tall from A3 (an A3-capable printer), and anything taller would need A2 — a copy-shop job.
Why make an accordion album at home
Foldpic prints it on one side of the sheet only, so glossy photo paper works and the back never has to line up with the front.
You choose four, eight or twelve panels. Each sheet of A4 or Letter gives four panels; longer albums join two or three strips with a taped seam on the back. The instruction sheet shows the mountain and valley folds in order and reminds you to score heavy card before folding.
Because there is no duplex step, the accordion is the format we recommend for anyone whose printer has ever misaligned a back side. It is also the easiest one to make with a child.
Single-sided, so any paper works
Print on matte card, glossy inkjet photo paper or plain paper. Only the front is ever seen, which means one-sided coated photo paper is fine.
Nothing to register
Duplex printers can drift by about a millimetre between sides. The accordion has no back side to drift, so photos are exactly where you put them.
Stands up on its own
Zig-zag folds hold the strip open so it displays like a tiny gallery. Add card covers to the end panels and tie it closed with a ribbon to put it away.
Grows one strip at a time
Four panels on a sheet; join strips to reach eight or twelve. The guide shows where to tape the seam so the folds keep alternating.
A few folds from finished
4 steps, printed on one side. The full instruction sheet with checks and a common-mistakes box comes with your PDF.
1Print 2 strips. Print 2 strips on one side, landscape, 100%.
2Score and fold zig-zag. Score the three creases and fold zig-zag: mountain, valley, mountain.
3Join the strips. Lay strip 2 to the right and tape the seam on the back.
4Add covers (optional). Glue card covers to the end panels. It stands on a shelf.
1Print 2 strips
2Score and fold zig-zag
3Join the strips
4Add covers (optional)
Templates for this format
Long Weekend
A white accordion strip for a trip: tall views, pairs and a journal.
Accordion album · Minimal · Travel
The Aisle
An ivory accordion for the shelf: tall wedding photos and gold rules.
Accordion album · Wedding
Growing Up
A milestone strip for the nursery shelf: photo stacks and captions.
Accordion album · Kids · Baby
Family Line
An editorial accordion for a family: tall portraits, hairline frames.
Accordion album · Editorial · Family
Before you print
- How to make an accordion photo album at home
Make a concertina photo album on your printer: single-sided card or photo paper, score and zig-zag fold, join strips, add covers. Diagrams included.
- How to score and fold thick card without cracking
Card above 200 gsm cracks at the fold unless scored first. Tools that work (bone folder, empty pen, butter knife), which side to score, grain and toner.
- Best paper weights for printing zines and photo booklets at home
Which gsm to buy for zines, booklets and accordion albums on an inkjet or laser: 80 to 250 gsm explained, tray limits, glossy vs matte, scoring and grain.
- What resolution do photos need for a printed album? (the dpi maths)
Pixels needed for an A5 page or a zine panel at 200 and 300 dpi, why phone photos are fine and screenshots are not, and what a low-res warning means.
Accordion album questions
What size is each panel?
A quarter of the sheet's long edge by the full short edge. On A4 that is about 74 by 210 mm, on US Letter about 2.75 by 8.5 inches. A3 gives 105 by 297 mm panels but needs an A3-capable printer; anything bigger would need A2 paper, which is a copy-shop job.
What paper is best?
160 to 250 gsm card or matte photo paper feels best and stands up well. Score the fold lines first with an empty ballpoint and a ruler so the card does not crack.
Can I print on glossy photo paper?
Yes. The album is single-sided, so single-sided glossy inkjet paper works. Check your printer's maximum paper weight and use the rear or manual tray for heavy sheets.
How do I join two strips?
Lay strip two to the right of strip one with the panels aligned and tape the seam on the back with clear tape, or glue a narrow overlap. The instructions include a diagram.
Can I use both sides of the strip?
Not in this version. Foldpic prints the accordion on one side so it works with photo paper and any printer. A double-sided accordion is on the roadmap.
Make your accordion album now
Your first project is free, up to 16 pages. No sign-up. Just you and a little creativity.