TRIPTYCH: CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES, PARTS AND FUNCTIONS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

A triptych is a printed document divided into three sections or panels and used to promote some information that an organization or person wants to disclose. More exactly, a triptych is a brochure divided into three parts on both sides in which whoever makes it can place any type of synthesized information.

Generally, triptychs are made with a letter-size white sheet printed on both sides in dark letters. However, on many occasions the triptychs tend to be colored and in many others it is made on a sheet of material or color different from those with which they are commonly made.

Woman reading triptych

These instruments are widely used in the world of advertising and marketing. Many people dedicated to the graphic arts dedicate themselves to the realization of triptychs for various purposes.

As with mind maps, diagrams, summary tables or presentations, it is a good tool to synthesize information and present it in an attractive way.

The versatility of the triptych resides in that it can be given a professional use, in which advanced graphic design is involved, or a domestic home use, in order to make individual presentations at low and medium levels such as the academic field.

The division of a sheet into six vertical stripes of the same size allows diversifying and summarizing the content to be disseminated. This size allows that the text that is placed in this document does not go to the detriment of being alternated with images, so that it is pleasant to the reader.

Sample triptych on healthy living

The ease in the realization of the triptych makes its use multiply. Today you can make a triptych with multiple programs that are installed by default on most computers.

These programs are intuitive and people only need to fill in the different spaces by filling in templates.

Its compact size, as the sheet is folded, completely facilitates the eventual transport that the information contained therein must carry out.

Saving a triptych is easier than saving a sheet without folding, so it is a practical tool to synthesize the greatest amount of information and that it can be transported between many places without ending up being something obtrusive or uncomfortable.

Characteristics of the triptych

Old triptych of the Tenerife Tourism Board

A triptych is defined as a whole object divided into three parts. The first meanings of triptych are achieved in art.

These arose in the Middle Ages and were separate paintings into three hinged parts, containing three distinct but related images. In these cases the central panel used to be superior to the sides.

Flemish painting was a contributor to the development of triptychs, as were painters such as Bosco, with works such as The Garden of Earthly Delights.

All this meaning was carried on a piece of paper. Commonly, a triptych is made with a letter-size sheet, that is, with dimensions of 216 x 279 mm.

However, it is common to observe the presence of the triptych on A4 type sheets (210 x 297 mm), as they are very similar in size. You can even make triptychs with legal size sheets (216 x 356 mm) for superior finishes.

A triptych has six large vertical stripes. Three belong to one of the faces of the sheets. On the front of the sheet there are three faces where the main content goes, from the beginning.

In the three on the back are the front cover, the back cover (which usually expands the content) and an additional strip, in which you can place other information or continue with the theme of the triptych.

Parts

Generally, triptychs are made up of three parts:

Cover page

The cover tries to draw people's attention to pick up the document and start reading.

Introduction and content development

It begins with an introduction that introduces what the triptych reports. The following are the most interesting details that the person or organization can offer.

Conclusion, contact

Depending on the purpose, a conclusion will be made or contact information will be given. If the person or organization that made the triptych does not require you to be contacted, you can summarize the most important findings.

In case you require contact -for example a university that promotes a Master's degree-, you will leave your contact information, such as website, email, telephone and physical address.

Types

You can generally differentiate between three kinds of triptychs:

Advertising

Advertising brochure about competition

They serve to advertise a product or service. For example, a brochure for a training course or a university degree.

Informative

Informative brochure about school program

They serve to inform about events or important information for a group. For example, a brochure to inform about the upcoming elections or to inform about the importance of following healthy habits. The latter are usually created by city or state governments.

Artistic

They are triptychs of modern and classic art. They are detailed later.

Elaboration How do you make a cryptic?

Traditional way

Triptychs are usually made of paper. The most traditional option to carry them out is to take a sheet of paper, fold it into three equal parts and write it in legible handwriting. However, with the overcrowding of computers, it is uncomfortable and impractical to carry out triptychs by hand.

Technology

Some of the programs used to make triptychs are photoshop, microsoft publisher or canva (the latter is an online software). Another, although not specialized, may be Microsoft Word.

Here are some videos that may be useful to make your triptych:

- In microsoft word.

- In photoshop.

- In canva.

- In microsoft publisher.

- In powerpoint.

- iOS Pages.

Measurements

The most used sheets to make triptychs are usually A4, the most common. The three panels / sections / blades of the triptych must measure the same.

If the width of the A4 sheet (29.7 cm) is divided into three equal parts, each panel / blade will measure 9.9 cm. The front and back covers are on different faces.

Features

A triptych serves to disseminate information about some content that the person who is going to do it decides previously. The role it will have is decided by the director.

Among the most common is expanding knowledge about an exhibition or a presentation, or disseminating introductory knowledge on a topic to people they do not know.

The triptych has been established as a very basic and functional tool for the realization of a support material in all types of work.

For example, in the academic field the use of the triptych has spread in such a way that nowadays it is the informative material par excellence of any exhibition that is held, regardless of size.

Also, the triptych is used in different presentations or assemblies, even in the street. Place the programmatic content of a movement, a manifesto, precise ideas, a government plan, the fundamental bases of a religious doctrine.

All of these have become solid and widely used options when making triptychs.

Finally, other uses that have been given the most to this tool is to give information to people who do not know anything about it. Very common in the religious sphere, it is increasingly common to receive triptychs in the street that offer different services.

Triptychs in the arts

Triptych by Filippo Lippi. Left panel: Santos Agustín and Ambrosio. Central panel: Madonna and child Jesus enthroned. Right panel: Santos Gregorio and Jerónimo.

The triptych form in the arts arises from Christianity and was a format that was used in altar paintings from the Middle Ages onwards. It occurred in the Eastern Byzantine churches to the Celtic churches in the west.

Renaissance painters such as Hans Memling and Hieronymus Bosch used triptychs to carry out their works.

From the Gothic period onwards, both in Europe and elsewhere, altarpieces in churches and cathedrals used to be in triptych form.

The format has migrated and been used in other religions, including Islam and Buddhism. For example: the Hilje-j-Sherif triptych exhibited at the National Museum of Oriental Art, Rome, and a page from the Koran at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art in Istanbul.

Similarly, Tibetan Buddhists have used it on traditional altars.

Triptychs in modern photography

A triptych of the seed heads of an Epilobium hirsutum (St. Anthony's wort)

A photographic triptych is a style used in modern commercial works of art.

The work can consist of separate images that are variants of a theme, or it can be a larger image divided into three.

References

1. Bosch, J. (1500-1505). The Garden of Earthly Delights.. Madrid, Prado Museum.
2. Gamboa, M. (2015). Parts of a triptych.. Recovered from prezi.com.
3. Print Brochures and Posters. (2014). The triptych: what it is, what it is for and what are its advantages. Print Brochures and Posters. Recovered from printing brochuresyposters.es.
4. Jillianne (nd). How to make a triptych in Word. Don Cómos? Recovered from money.doncomos.com.
5. (sf) Create a brochure with Publisher. Microsoft support. Recovered from support.office.com.
6. Nadal, D. (2012). The types of folding. Cevagraf. Recovered from cevagraf.coop.
7. Open-buzoneo.com. (sf). What is a triptych? Recovered from socialetic.com.