To examine the most appropriate way for the evaluation of fold cracking of coated papers based on the image analysis method, various handsheets with different levels of ash contents were prepared and double coated. The effect of the ash level on handsheet properties was examined. Also the influence of ash level on fold cracking was tested to establish the most practical way to analyze the fold cracking of coated papers. Image analysis of the coating surface rather than coating cross section gave better results for fold crack evaluation. Fold angle of 30 degree and white and contrast values of 0/100 were found most appropriate for fold cracking evaluation.