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Zines: Make Zines

A guide to making, finding and using zines.

Zine-making resources

Canva Templates

To save a copy of the template for your own use, click "File" then "Make a copy."

Choosing a format & instructions

Mini-zines use a special folding technique to turn a single sheet of regular printer paper into an 8-page zine. 

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Easy to make copies—just copy one sheet, fold, and make 1 cut with scissors.
  • Small size easily fits into your pocket
  • Uses only one side of the paper—the "B" side can be used for larger art, maps, or even a second zine.

Cons:

  • Can be difficult to fit info onto the small pages
  • Requires a bit of folding and cutting skill
  • Usually not accessible to individuals with visual impairments

Instructions

  1. Fold your sheet of paper in half hot-dog style.
  2. Without unfolding, fold in half again hamburger-style.
  3. Fold in half, hamburger style one more time--this should fold your paper into eighths.
  4. Unfold completely.
  5. Fold in half hamburger style.
  6. Cut in the middle from the folded edge to the halfway point. When you unfold your paper, there should be a cut in the middle of your sheet, with both edges in tact. 
  7. Fold your sheet hotdog style. Hold both ends in each hand, and move your hands toward each other. the cut in the middle should open to a diamond shape. Keep pressing and smooth pages into a booklet form.
  8. Now it's time to add content! See "Materials" for some ideas.
  9. Unfold your zine to make photocopies. Then, fold and cut those as you did your original.

The half-fold zine is the classic format—just fold pages in half like a booklet and staple.

Pros & Cons:

Pros: 

  • You can choose the length (number of pages) that fits your content—as long as it's a multiple of 4.
  • Just one fold needed
  • Larger pages can hold more images and words

Cons:

  • To keep the pages together, you'll need a long-arm stapler (there is one next to the Reference Desk in Lewis Library!) or another binding method
  • If you're creating your zine digitally, it can be tricky to get the page layout correct.
  • Usually not accessible to individuals with visual impairments

Instructions:

  1. Choose the number of pages of your zine—including your front and back cover, it should be a multiple of 4.
  2. Take one sheet of paper per 4 pages (8 pages = 2 sheets, 12 pages = 3 sheets, etc.)
  3. Fold paper in half.
  4. Staple in the center—this will require a long-arm stapler (there is one next to the Reference Desk! Alternatively, you could poke holes through the center and bind with a string.
  5. Write, draw, paste, decorate, fill your zine with your ideas!

Notes: If you want to make copies, you will need to unstaple your booklet. You may want to hold off on stapling until you've made your creation and copies. Copiers and scanners are all different, so this may require some trial-and-error. 

There are many different ways to create a digital zine! Some come in the form of Instagram carousel posts with text on them, others are PDFs or use other web platforms.

Pros & Cons

Pros: 

  • Can be made accessible for individuals with visual impairments
  • Can be shared digitally
  • Can incorporate links

Cons:

  • Can require more skills and technical knowledge to create
  • Missing tactile/analog experience

 

Materials

Some materials you might use if you're making a paper zine:

  • Scissors
  • Glue or glue stick or tape
  • Pens, markers, crayons, etc.
  • Collage materials:
    • Old magazines
    • Images or text printed from your computer
    • Junk mail
    • Ticket stubs
    • Note: If you're copying your zine, these items don't need to be permanently fixed to it, just enough for you to copy the page.
  • Rubber stamps
  • Stencils
  • Photocopier!
  • Long-arm stapler for half-fold zines (there is one next to the Reference Desk in the Lewis Library!
Niagara County Community College. Henrietta G. Lewis Library. 3111 Saunders Settlement Rd., Sanborn, NY 14132 | 716-614-6786