====== Zine Templates ======

Here's the templates I made and use for making my own zines.

I use a Canon IP8720 printer, Wescott guillotine, and stapler to make my zines.  If you don't have those tools, you can hand-draw on your own sheet of paper, and cut with scissors.

For image editing, I use an old copy of Photoshop CS6.  That was free when I got it 5000 years ago.  I will recommend some other free options below.:
  * [[https://www.canva.com/|Canva]]: browser-based.  Will push ads and genAI shit on you.
  * [[https://www.photopea.com/|Photopea]]: browser.
  * [[https://inkscape.org/|Inkscape]]: download, Adobe Illustrator vector alternative.
  * [[https://www.getpaint.net/|Paint.net]]: download
  * [[https://krita.org/en/|Krita]]: download
  * [[https://www.gimp.org/|Gimp]]: download


===== 16 page mini-zine =====

Produces one 16-page zine, with a single sheet of 8.5x11 paper, and double-sided printing.  You can probably stretch this template for smaller or larger sizes of paper.

  - Download template files below.
  - Open the template in an image editing software.
  - Arrange your pages on the template according to the page numbers. Stay within the guidelines so nothing gets cut off.
  - Disable the template layer with numbers before printing.  You can keep the tiny corner page numbers if you'd like.
  - Print front page.  I print with a border (NO checkmark on "borderless" printing) because it's faster and uses less ink.  You can print borderless if you'd like.
  - Flip the paper.
  - Print back page.
  - Fold along the blue dotted lines, and cut along your folds.
  - Arrange pages in numerical order.
  - Fold your zine equally in half.
  - Staple, sew, or tape your now-finished zine along the spine so it doesn't fall apart.
  - Done!

<gallery>
zines:16_page_template_back.jpg | Template Back
zines:16_page_template_front.jpg | Template Front
zines:printer_direction.jpg | The direction my printer prints the paper.  Might be important for flipping the page.

</gallery>

===== 8 page mini-zine =====

Produces two 8-page mini zines, on a single sheet of of 8.5x11 paper, with double-sided printing.  This template makes one more zine compared to [[https://cnsu.libguides.com/zines/template|the most popular 8 page zine template]].

Follow the same instructions as the 16 page zine.

<gallery>

zines:8_pg_format_front.jpg | Template Front
zines:8_pg_format_back.jpg | Template Back

</gallery>