Badge: Zine / Minibook Templates

Templates make it easier to have a consistent look for your pieces, especially if you plan to make a series for a zine. Templates can be made for any software program or you can create physical ones.

While this covers both zines and minibooks, I’ll use “zines” throughout for consistency.

Steps

1. Handmade.

Using a handmade or physical templates allow you to be consistent in design. You might have chipboard or a heavy cardstock that you assemble your zine on with pages noted on them. When I first learned graphic design, we worked on keylines (cut and paste) . . . basically we outlined the pages on a larger sheet and put notes on the edges for what page it happened to be, any items that needed to be on a specific page and more.

Another way is by using cards for the pages. You can have a consistent cover where you switch out the issue number and background image while leaving all the contact information intact. In either of these cases, just swapping out elements for a new issue is easy.

While this is possible, I do not find this a good system. It takes a lot of space for the boards. If you lose a piece, you might not notice until it’s too late. Explore how you might make a physical template to lay your zines out on. Is this a method you’d prefer to use?

2. Digital.

I don’t know what I’d do without my Adobe suite, Evernote and other digital tools I use daily. With zine templates, this is no exception. Many software programs allow you to save a template file separate from a regular file. You cannot save over a template accidentally . . . you must do a “save as” to save the template to a regular file. As I go through some different software options, explore the possibilities of templates and how you can use them.

3. Distribution.

Your distribution will have a lot to do with your template requirements. If you’re planning to distribute digitally, any size works! Planning to print and share? You’ll need to start with the paper sizes you have available and then create or find templates that work with it. With how you plan to assemble your zine (physically or digitally) and your distribution method, let’s think about templates.

Templates and Software

4. InDesign.

Adobe InDesign is a powerful layout program. If you’ve not used it before, you may find it hard to get used to. However, once you do, the control you have over the elements on the page is exact and you can create exactly what you want. InDesign allows you to save to an InDesign template or document. You can create files for a digitally or physically distributed zine. Learn about using templates created in Adobe InDesign.

NOTE: Most of the templates will be provided in Adobe InDesign as that is what I primarily use for layouts myself.

5. PowerPoint.

Don’t look shocked! You can set Microsoft PowerPoint up for more than just presentations. For a digitally distributed zine, PowerPoint is a lot easier to do a layout. Set up your masters and you’re ready to go! You can also change the settings to use it for print files. In addition, you can save files as documents or templates. Learn about using templates created in PowerPoint.

6. Word.

Microsoft Word and other word processors have limited layout capabilities. They also can be saved as a document or template. If you feel comfortable in your word processor, explore the possibility of creating a zine in it.

7. Canva.

An account on canva.com is free. While they don’t have templates specifically for zines and minibooks, there are ways to do it anyway. Create a free account and look through the templates. You can also go to “Create a design.” You’ll find templates for presentations (see the step above), newsletters, flyers, invitations, or other items that are sized similarly to a zine. You can also look at the girds and find some similar to the layout overviews provided in Zine / Minibook Maker I and II. All you need to do is layout the pages and download as a PDF.

If you’ve hit this step and they’re asking for money, you’ve used their provided images which they will charge you for. You need to replace their images with your own. Try out Canva to see if this might be an option for you.

8. More.

There are many more options than those listed above. You can create digital flipbooks, use online software and even find apps for your phone. Explore the many ways you can create a zine, then find out if there are templates available for the way you choose to work.

9. Search.

You can find online templates for zines. Be sure to search for both zines and minibooks. Don’t like the available templates? Create your own from instructions you find online.

10. Create.

You can create your own templates. You’ll need to know the sheet size, the page size, whether you want a separate cover, the folds and the binding you intend to use to start. Use the Instruct Fun sheets from the Zine /Minibook Makers badge programs for your sizes and layouts. Create a template to start your own zine.

11. Use.

Templates come in different flavors. You might just have the page size, margins and guides showing where to put in your elements. You may have some partially laid out where you can just replace elements. Be sure as you use a template, you note what fonts, colors and other items you use so you have that information the next time you create a zine.

Badge and Supplement Files

Member Level

EP_Badge List_Zine MB Templates_larajla — list of badge items
EP_Badge Set_Zine MB Templates_larajla — list of badge set and related badges
EP_Supp_List_Zine MB Templates_larajla — list of supplements for the badge
SUPP_BPG_Zine MB Templates_2in_12up_larajla — generic badge printable
SUPP_Zine MB Templates_Journal_larajla — badge journal
SUPP_Zine MB Templates_Planner_larajla — badge planner

Supplement Fun

Templates are being created and will be made available upon completion.

Sites to Explore

Get the infographic here > larajla blog post

Badge: Zine / Minibook Templates

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