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How to make a zine

If you’ve never heard of a zine, fret not, you’re in the right place. I’ve made a bunch of zines and contributed to friends’ zines and, chances are, you may have made one too even if you didn’t know that’s what they were called. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned creator, zines are a great way to publish your own art, poems, writing, musings, and anything else you want to express—without needing anyone else’s permission to do so.

I hope this guide will empower and inspire you to share your ideas with the world in the form of a zine.

Ideating: Coming up with a great zine idea

A very brief history of the zine

Before there was stan twitter there was the fanzine , created originally by sci-fi enthusiasts of the early twentieth century who used the medium as a forum for dialogue, free from corporate editors or publishers. That same do-it-yourself ethos is what drew punks of the late twentieth century to embrace fanzines as a complement to their music, and as a means to challenge mainstream ideologies. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, zines became a centerpiece of movements like Queercore and Riot Grrrl . While the latter of these was critiqued for being primarily white and heteronormative, overall, these movements used zines to subvert dominant and patriarchal ideologies through the sharing of lived experiences. At the core of the zine-making ethos are subversion, freedom of thought, and a DIY attitude.

As is the nature of capitalism, corporations increasingly appropriated the practice as time went on; however, even today, zine-making remains a cornerstone for marginalized voices disseminating information and publishing creative work about things they love.

What are zines good for?

Zines tend to be a bricolage of various images, texts, and messages. Here is a list of just a few of the things you can do with the zine format:

• Publish sketches, drawings, and mini-comics
• Match recipes with whimsical illustrations
• Mix words with images and textures
• Print lines of poetry
• Share a manifesto
• …the list goes on

Basically, what you can include in a zine is only limited by your imagination.

What will your zine be about?

If you’ve never made a zine before, getting started may seem intimidating. But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and if you’re interested in putting your voice out there by publishing your own zine, the first step you must take is deciding on a topic. There is no barrier to entry, so you can really do whatever you want. So, what makes a good zine for YOU to work on? Think about what topics you could you go on and on talking about for hours. Then, let your imagination run wild and see what exciting, novel, or curious ideas you come up with.

To help get your mind moving, here’s a cool look at a radical Asian-American zine created by UCLA students in the ‘60s , and here’s a whole archive of other zines . Additionally, ISSUU is a great hub for digital layout inspiration. I also recommend flipping through this issue of F WORD , which is an intersectional feminist zine collective based in Montreal.

As you start conceptualizing your zine, you might want to create a journal for the specific purpose of recording your ideas (for zines, or otherwise). And, if that goes well, maybe you’ll want to start keeping a binder that can hold your journal in one of its pockets , as well as magazine clippings, pressed flowers, patterned papers, polaroids, and any other ephemera you might find inspiring.

If digital is more your route, maybe you’ll want to organize your inspiration into something like a mood board on Are.na or Pinterest . These practices are a great way to organize your ideas and begin imagining what the stitching-together of your zine will be like.

[Pssst, The Creative Independent also publishes some pretty neat zines, including On making a living as an artist , On dealing with creative anxiety , and On finding your voice .]

Working with collaborators

If the topic of your zine is something your friends are passionate about too, you might want to think about getting them involved. Making a zine can be a great collaborative project, since they can be pretty casual and fun; plus, having more people involved brings more creative voices and ideas, and can help you distribute it to a wider audience once it’s done. Depending on what you’re trying to make, it might make sense to co-create your zine with a friend or two, or perhaps you could put out a call for contributors on social media and open a line there. You can ask for people to submit poems, illustrations, essays, collages, etc.—and you may be surprised to see what people send you.

If you do decide to work with other people, just make sure everyone is on the same page on their role as a contributor or collaborator. For example, how will contributors be credited? Will they be compensated? Who will own the rights to the work once it’s published in the zine? Communicating openly about these questions before anything goes awry is always a good idea. For more tips on working with other people, see The Creative Independent’s guide to joining forces with a creative collaborator .

Along these same lines, as you put your zine together, make sure you only use visuals (or any type of content) that you have the rights to. Google has a tool that makes it really easy to browse through open-licensed content ( learn more here ), and the website Creative Commons can also help you find even more neat stuff that’s free and clear for you to use.

Creative direction: Giving your zine its own signature feel

Once you have a topic or general plan for your zine, now it’s time to clarify and design your little labor of love. How specific can you get in terms of what it will cover, what types of content it will include, and what it will look like? And, overall, what kind of impression do you want to give your reader as they take it all in? Having answers to these questions will help you come up with a creative direction (the way it looks, the way it feels, and what it includes) that can effectively communicate your ideas while also feeling intriguing and cohesive to your readers.

As an example, let’s say you want to start a food zine. Maybe you want it to be about a specific cuisine that’s a part of your family’s history. But now, how will you convey what exactly it is you want to say about that food and its unique story? Think about the ways that different fonts, colors, formats, paper qualities, and visuals will change how your subject is viewed. Will your food zine be the size of a scrapbook, full of old family recipes and family photos? Or, will it be something small you can fit in your apron pocket, with a more minimalistic design? These stylistic choices, no matter how small they may seem, send messages to your reader—so think it all over and imagine a plan that feels exciting and right for your vision.

Designing your zine

Now comes the fun part: getting everything laid out and stylized. Things to think about here are:

What format will your zine take? Do you want it to be able to fit in someone’s pocket, or are you looking to make something a bit more substantial? Will it be a folded piece of paper, will it be stapled together, or will you have it printed and bound somewhere? Depending on what you decide, you can download zine templates for software like InDesign and Microsoft Word. Or, if you don’t want to go the digital route, you can always assemble your zine using paper and glue/tape, and then scan or photocopy the pages to print more.

How will it look? Spend some time thinking through an overall color palette, font choices, and other design elements that will help the zine strike a particular mood, and feel cohesive. (For more tips on graphic design, I recommend this fun primer ).

How will it be edited together? Will it be broken into different sections, or will it all flow together organically? Will it have an introduction, a table of contents, or any other hallmarks of a more traditional publication? Once all your content is written, will you work with an editor to make sure there are no typos?

To give you a sense of how a zine’s creative direction can affect the way it looks and feels, below is an example of a non-digital zine spread I made, published by my pals at Deskarga Groupo . It was made using only a single piece of paper ( learn how here ). At the time I made it, I was in a funky emotional state, reconciling first-generation pressures to achieve, the desire to be loved and nurtured, struggles with body hair and polycystic ovary syndrome, and feelings of being scrutinized on social media. The emotional nature of the content led me to pursue a low-lift medium (one page seemed doable). And, it felt natural to leave it without color.

Here’s another example of a zine spread, by my friend Leo of Deskarga Groupo .

Here’s what he said about his zine’s topic and format:

“ Agua ‘Rriba y Agua ‘Bajo: When it Rains at the Beach is a collection of 20 photo-collages exploring the cultural landscape of The Dominican Republic accompanied by bilingual word-associative poems. My intention is to reconcile the nostalgia of my formative years living in the island as a child with my anxieties about identity as an adult living in the U.S. The Spanish portion of the title translates directly to ‘water above and water below.’ An apt metaphor for the suffocating feeling of isolation when stuck between two cultural forces.”

Sharing your zine with the world

Printing your zines

If you want to create a bunch of physical copies of your zine, there are several routes you can take. While I’ve printed my own zines from workplace Xerox machines before, I don’t recommend this, for the record (unless you get permission). Instead, you can go to a local printing service, or order copies of your zine from an online printer—both options can be good, so just do your research in advance and make a pros-and-cons list to help yourself decide between the options.

Printing in high volumes can bring the cost per unit down, and so can printing in black and white (versus color). Are you a student? Sometimes universities offer free or discounted rates for student print jobs.

If you don’t have the budget to print copies of your zine, you can simply post your zine as a PDF online, and let people print their own copies. Or, you can explore on-demand printing, where people can order copies of your zine online without you needing to lift a finger. Blurb or Lulu could be good options if you decide to go this route.

Distributing your zine

Once you have some physical copies of your zine, now’s time to distribute them (if that’s what you want to do). Of course, if you have contributors, you’ll want to give them a copy (or, better yet, give them a few copies so they can distribute some, too). Depending on how many you print and how widely you want them distributed, there are many routes you can go here. Will you mail them out to your friends, or to people who you’d like to be your friends? Or will you try to sell them in a retail store ( some tips on this here )? Maybe you want to bring them to a zine fair or festival? In the past, I’ve handed out copies of my zines to friends, but it’s also fun to keep some in your bag with the intention of handing a few out to strangers. Zines are a great tool to use in joining or imagining new communities you want to be a part of.

When you distribute your zines, it can be cool to include some goodies—like stickers or a handwritten message—inside the pages of your zine. Here’s an example of how this could work from my friends at Nickname Zine .

Promoting your zine

As you consider ways to spread the word about your zine, think about using the resources that are already available to you. Your social media pages and personal website could be a great place to start, especially if you plan to publish a digital version online . If your zine is a collaborative work, get your creative partners to promote it on their social media and websites too.

Getting involved in some of the different zine communities that already exist is another way to put yourself, and your zine, out there. Are there forums or Facebook groups you can join to promote your work ( here’s a great start )? Just remember that the key word here is community—usually it’s frowned upon to simply show up in a community with the sole aim of promoting your own work.

If you plan on creating multiple issues of your zine, it could be worth starting an Instagram or Twitter account where you can interact with your readers and other zinesters. For more tips on promoting your zine, read The Creative Independent’s guide to thoughtful promotion .

Trading zines

Trading zines is a popular practice and easy to do if there’s a zine or arts community in your area. If there isn’t, meeting people and exchanging information online is just as popular. Maybe you want to barter your zine for a poster or some other creative good. A few months ago, I posted about my zine on Instagram Stories asking if anyone wanted me to send them a copy or trade with them, and sure enough, I received a few DMs.

In summary…

Get specific about your topic and be playful. Always be mindful of how you’re sourcing your content, and give credit where it’s due. There are free online tools that will make your zine-making process easier if you choose to go the digital route. Have fun, get outside of your comfort zone, make bold choices, and connect with other passionate people. There is no wrong or right way to make a zine, so have fun and don’t worry too much about making it perfect. If you need a friend along the way, I’m only a tweet away .

Rona Akbari

Rona Akbari is a writer, producer, and zine maker based in Brooklyn, NY. She is currently exploring the intersection of race and tech at Data&Society . Before that, she was a producer on BuzzFeed’s See Something Say Something , an award-winning podcast about Muslims in America. Her work has been published in NPR, National Geographic, The Outline, and elsewhere. She holds a B.A. in Digital Media Production from Florida State University.

Sea Green Zines

For the love of zines <3

51 Ideas for Your Next Zine

I am someone who always has a list of ideas running, so I tend to forget that other people sometimes don’t know what they want to write about. As your resident zine enthusiast, I think it’s my duty to be as helpful as possible in your journey to making a zine. So here are…

51 Ideas for Your First/Next Zine

In no particular order…

• Your life! Yep, start a perzine
• Mental health/mental illness
• A physical condition/illness
• Politcal zine
• A holiday, road trip, etc
• Moving house/self/etc
• Your favourite animal, species, pet
• Zine reviews
• A zine about zines – the lovely ‘zine zine’
• Your spiritual and/or religious views
• A television show
• A movie, series of movies, or genre of movies
• A book, series of books, or genre of books
• Book reviews
• Poetry zine
• A sport, sports person, or team
• A fiction zine with a single story or a collection of stories
• Photography zine
• A game, series of games, specific games platform, genre of games
• A band, musician, or genre of music
• Comic! Illustrate your life, a fictional story, anything
• A colouring zine
• Sex, sexuality, views about sex-related topics
• Your heritage/background
• Your collection
• A ‘how to’ guide
• A ‘how to’ guide for something that isn’t real/hasn’t occurred/been needed yet (like ‘how to actually taste a rainbow’)
• A social issue you feel strongly about
• Nature, gardening, or other outdoor-focus
• Interview someone, a group of people, or several people individually
• Something silly
• A spotlight on your hometown
• A lifestyle choice you have made or want to make
• 24-hour zine thing (whatever it is, make it in 24 hours or less)
• Split zine (you do one half/part and someone/other people do the other)
• Single topic, multiple perspectives
• Parenting/raising children
• A collection of recipes
• Experiments in cooking
• Relationships
• Current events
• A zine centred around a specific event
• Randomness all shoved into one zine

Want more ideas? Check out 51 (More) Ideas for Your Next Zine

Share this:

13 replies to “51 ideas for your next zine”.

Giving my some ideas of zines I can make (now just gotta actually make them xD), thanks!

Like Liked by 1 person

Onto the next step! 😆

I’m starting out in zines a little later than most – I’m 50+. I’m currently working on a perzine about my relationship with food & another about moving from the city to the country. I’m a Native New Yorker who moved from the heart of Manhattan to the Cape Cod country-side in 2013 – and I don’t drive. Fortunately my husband and I are sharing a home with our daughter and son-in-law who both drive and have cars. I’m looking forward to sending copies to you when they are completed. Sending good vibes your way.

Hello Frances! I am so excited to hear that. One thing I really love about zines is how you can find so many different perspectives – and it sounds like you have and will have plenty of stories to share about all sorts of things! I look forward to seeing your zines, and I hope you love making them so much that you can’t help but keep making. Good vibes right back to you from Australia!

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Reblogged this on thewritingsofnatalia and commented: Thanks for the ideas!

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I’ve always wanted to make a zine and these are all really great ideas. Bookmarking for future reference. Thanks for sharing!

My pleasure! I hope you have a lot of fun making zines. 🙂

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Home » Self-Publishing » How to make a zine: a beginner’s guide to getting started

Choosing a topic for your zine

Now, let’s get into the actual creation of your zine, starting with topic selection. Choosing a topic for your zine is crucial, as it sets the tone and direction of your publication. While you probably have a rough idea of what you envision for your zine, it’s important to pin down just how niche and specific or broad and encompassing you want to get with your zine’s content.

Here are some tips on how to choose a topic for your zine.

• Pick subjects and topics you’re passionate about , whether sharing marginalized voices and non-mainstream political positions or exploring specific topics related to music, food, health, tech, science, and more.
• Consider choosing a topic that resonates with both you and your friends or colleagues. Zines are often about community and shared passions. This can encourage more people to want to get involved—whether joining you in the next publication or simply picking up a copy and cheering you on.
• Think about the topics you could talk about for hours on end. Let your imagination fly and explore the exciting, novel, or curious ideas you come up with. We’ve seen zines on pets, street photography, and even objects that make funny faces. Whatever you can talk about can be made into a zine.
• Begin by listing general subjects you’re interested in or passionate about —like food, pinball machines, or backpacking. Then, underneath each one, create a list of content ideas you could include in your zine.
• Seek inspiration (and differentiation) from other zines and publications within similar genres, and consider incorporating subtopics that complement the main focus.

Remember, there’s no barrier to entry when it comes to making a zine, so you can really do whatever you want. You can keep it as professional or as playful as you like. But by pinning down your topic, you can ensure consistency and keep your audience wanting more. That’s especially important if you’re planning a zine series!

Planning your zine

One of the most critical aspects of your zine is its design. This can take many different shapes, all impacting content delivery and presentation. Before you dive right into creating, there are some significant components to be mindful of when designing your zine.

Designing a zine for the web can be vastly different than creating a zine for print. So you should plan your zine specifically for the channel you’ll use to share it. 

For instance, if you’re using Instagram to share your digital zine post by post, start with vertical image dimensions sized at 1080 by 1350 pixels with a 4:5 aspect ratio or square posts at 1080 by 1080 pixels at a 1:1 aspect ratio.

As for printed zines, there are far fewer dimension limitations. If you’re going the DIY route, design your zine around the paper size you’ll use. If you’re printing with an online service to create a higher quality finished product or more copies than you’d like to assemble by hand, check the print company’s specifications before you begin. When we create zines, we use dimensions like the small square (7 by 7 inches), standard portrait (8 by 10 inches), or large square (12 by 12 inches).

Similar to the medium, your zine’s format involves the actual makeup of how it’s constructed. This is particularly important for physical, printed zines. Here are some common formats.

• Stitch-bound zines : Common for DIYers, you sew this format together with thread.
• Perfect-bound zines : To craft these professional-feeling zines, you must glue them together at the spine. Better yet, use a print-on-demand company to print your zine as a traditional book.
• Accordion zines : You’ll fold this classic zine format like an accordion, with each panel containing a different part of the zine.
• Tiny zines : These micro-zines come in the size of matchboxes or other small containers.
• Large poster-sized zines : Often used for music or art, you can create a folded zine that opens up like a poster.
• Digital, online-only zines : Make digital zines for global, online distribution. Choose from common formats like blogs, social media accounts, and webcomic sites. 

Ultimately, your chosen format will depend on your preferences and your zine’s content.

Do you plan to print your zine in full color or black and white? Color can impact your zine’s style, tone, and printing cost. Sticking with black and white can usually make printing your zine more affordable, but this decision should align with the mood you’re trying to convey.

Keep in mind that if you plan to print in black and white, you can still choose to use color when creating your zine. Consider making a limited-edition or web-only color version and a black-and-white version to distribute more widely. All-in-all, select colors, patterns, images, and shapes that work together to create a cohesive design.

Visual elements

Do you want lots of photos and images, or is taking a minimalist approach with tons of whitespace more your thing? Will you use handwritten text, like the old analog-style zines, cut and paste typed words, or use software to place your type on each page perfectly? 

Your choices of different visual elements can shape your message and inform the content’s layout and order. Don’t overthink this step. And if you’re feeling stuck, take out some of your favorite zines and think about the visuals you like most. Are there any style choices you’d like to include in your zine?

Layout and order 

In the art of zine-making, no real rules tell you how to do things. But having some degree of structure is extremely helpful in maintaining an organized flow of content in your zine.

While this may vary from edition to edition, consider dividing your zine’s core layouts into sections. You might have certain styles or templates for your zine’s main themes or chapters, followed by standard page layouts for presenting ideas. Keep the arrangement and order of these pages intuitive and easy to follow.

At this stage, a loose outline is a great place to start. You don’t need to create each page or each element on each page. Just having an idea of where you’re going is enough.

Leverage design tools

Many tools are available to help you design your zine—and many templates help if you don’t consider yourself a designer. Take advantage of using digital design software to make your zine if handmade art isn’t your forte.

Design software like Adobe InDesign or Blurb Bookwright can be beneficial in putting together your zine’s design layout, complete with page numbers, print-friendly color, and a stylish design. These tools make the transition from design to printing seamless, allowing you to easily self-publish your zine with a print-on-demand company.

Pick the tools you’ll use before you start creating. Are you going old school with a pen, scissors, and copy machine—or will you use your iPad or computer?

Producing and assembling your zine’s content

While planning is integral to zine-making, producing your zine’s actual substance is where things get fun. Let’s zero in on writing, arranging, and assembling your content. Here we’ll break down the process step by step.

Plan your content

You already have your medium, format, visual style, loose outline, and design tool picked. Now you’ll need to consider the different types of content you want to include in your zine. 

Narrow down your content. Are you including articles, poems, stories, artwork, photography, collages, or interviews? Brainstorm ideas aligned with your topic and add them to your rough outline.

Getting a sense of the content type and a more detailed narrative flow can help you in the writing process. After all, there isn’t much scarier than a blank piece of paper! Knowing the chapters of your work and some bullet points on what you’ll add to each will help go from the big picture to the nitty gritty.

Write or collect your content

Begin composing the written pieces for your zine or collaborating with others involved in the project. Now is the time to research and write if you’re including articles, poetry, or how-to guides. Conduct interviews or collect stories if you’re sharing the voices of others. If your zine is visually driven, you can simply think about your title, dedication, or about page and skip to the next step. When you’re co-creating with your community, now is your chance to review or revise others’ work for clarity and coherence. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and readability—or don’t. You’re the editor-in-chief of your zine, and you make the rules. Your zine can be as polished or grunge as you choose. 

Compile artwork and visuals

Gather or create artwork, illustrations, or photographs that align with your zine’s theme and individual pieces. Ensure that the visual elements complement and enhance the written content, if you have any. Once you have everything compiled, narrow down your visuals to only your strongest. Culling your work is a critical part of the process.

Pay special attention to your cover art since it’s the first thing a reader will see. You might even ask a community member to illustrate or paint something special for your cover—or pull your most iconic visual from inside your zine.

Lastly, we know you will, but always ask permission and credit the artists appropriately if you’re using someone else’s work.

Arrange and sequence

Consider the flow of your zine. Decide on the order in which you want to present the content. Think about how the pieces will transition from one to another and create a cohesive experience. Experiment with different arrangements and combinations until you find the best sequence. 

You’ll also want to add any navigation elements, like a table of contents or headings. This will make your zine easier to digest.

And don’t be afraid to cull more content in this process—whether that’s your copy or your imagery. Zines are usually short and to the point; this is your time to ensure yours is as sharp as possible.

Finishing touches

Contemplate adding any additional elements to enhance your zine. This could include a glossary, an introduction, or even personal handwritten notes and doodles. Mentioning who’s behind the zine, what the mission is, or setting the intention of your zine can help reinforce “why” people might gravitate to your work.

Adding a summary or blurb to your back cover is a great idea, especially if you’re planning on selling your zine at bookstores. Whatever you can do to entice readers to open your zine will be well worth your effort. 

Print and assemble

After finalizing the design and contents of your zine, it’s time to print it. Depending on your resources and preferences, you can print it at home, use a local print shop, or utilize online printing services. 

No matter how you print and assemble your zine, you’ll want to choose a paper and finish type that best suits your zine. We highly recommend printing and assembling a single proof copy before creating more. It’s essential to edit your work—and even get a mentor or friend’s feedback. Doing this step will ensure you don’t have any unwanted typos, margin errors, or color issues.

Zine-spiration: examples of Blurb-made zines

The Blurb community has created a wide range of zines over the years—using tools from Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and In-Design to Blurb Bookwright. These zine ideas come to life via professional-quality booklets and magazine-like publications. Here are a handful of our favorites.

Humans After All – Zine #2

Created by Canadian visual storyteller Fred Ranger, Humans After All is a zine series that zooms in on the human experience by sharing immersive photography that captures human life’s complexity, vulnerability, and beauty. A hybrid between a photo book and a magazine , this second edition of Humans After All is a testament to turning one’s photography passion into a reflective page-turning experience that we can all relate to.

The LA Dream: Art Block Zine; Vol. 7, Issue 2

The Art Block Zine is a biannual zine created by the DSTL Arts program, a nonprofit arts mentorship organization based in Los Angeles, California. The LA Dream  is the name of this issue’s theme, and it encapsulates stories, visual art, and poetry to express the various dreams of those who live and work in LA. A true community-driven zine, all proceeds support DSTL Arts and the free programs it offers to emerging artists from underserved LA-based communities.

working the park, no 2

Created by New York City street photographer Regi Metcalf, working the park, no 2 is a black and white zine that captures people’s raw nature and vibrancy and diverse forms. In this second edition of the zine series, Regi compiles 44 pages of his photography, primarily set in Washington Square Park in New York City.

Hype Zine Volume 4

Drawing on the inspiration for the early, collage-based zines, Hype Zine Volume 4 is a collection of interviews and artist showcases densely packed into a 116-page zine. Originally published on the Hype Zine website, this publication is an excellent example of a multi-format zine that has a handmade collage aesthetic presented in a digitally-forward way.

Easy Does It: Volume One

Introspectively poetic, Dani Kreeft’s seasonal print zine, Easy Does It , is a quarterly publication of reflective journal entries combined with nostalgic film photos. In this first volume of Easy Does It , Dani marries conversational words with winter travel photos of California and Arizona. It’s a minimalist zine with lots of white space. But it doesn’t compromise on inspiration, giving readers clues on how to reshape their perspectives on the world around them.

Sharing your zine

In the same way that making your zine offers limitless creativity, sharing your zine with your audience is a marketing art in its own right. That’s to say, there are many ways to share, distribute, and promote your zine. Here are a few thought starters to help you get the ball rolling.

Establish an online presence

Whether your zine is digital or print, harness the power of the internet to share and promote your zine. Create a digital presence for your zine through a website, blog, or social media platforms. Share previews, excerpts, or behind-the-scenes content to generate interest. 

Devise a distribution strategy

Decide on the distribution channels for your zine. You can start by distributing it locally through independent bookstores, art galleries, zine fairs, or community events. Or, explore opportunities to collaborate with like-minded individuals or organizations that align with your zine’s theme. Consider leaving copies where your target audience is likely to find them, such as coffee shops, libraries, or related events.

Join zine communities

Engage with zine communities and networks both online and offline. Participate in zine fairs, festivals, or workshops to connect with other creators and potential readers. Join online forums or social media groups dedicated to zine-making or related topics. Sharing your experiences, collaborating, and exchanging zines with other creators can help expand your reach and visibility.

Collaborate and cross-promote

Collaborate with other artists, writers, creatives, and zine-makers to promote your zine. Cross-promotion helps expand your audience by tapping into your collaborators’ existing networks and communities. You can even explore creating collaborative zines, featuring each other’s work, or organizing collective zine projects. 

Hold a launch party

Launch parties are a good idea if you’re trying to make your zine a well-known entity in your community. Depending on your topic and target audience, you can incorporate live music, guest speakers, brand collaborations, and other creative partnerships to make a lasting impression with your event. 

Keep in mind that promoting and sharing your zine is an ongoing process. As long as you want to continue growing your audiences, make an effort to continuously seek opportunities, adapt your strategies, and explore new avenues to connect with readers who will appreciate and support your work.

Start assembling your zine with Blurb

Whether you’re looking to create a grungy zine of digital collage work or an elevated zine with sharp edges and inspiring content, the creative possibilities are endless. Blurb can help you bring your zine to life with intuitive bookmaking design tools, self-publishing print capabilities, and built-in distribution channels to broadcast your work. Upload PDFs of work you already have or start building with Blurb’s design tool integrations. Or, if you’re stuck on how to get started, begin by exploring these zine ideas and topics to spark your creativity .

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The beginner's guide to making your own zines

You don't need to be a big publishing house to create your own print media. Here's how to do it yourself.

What is a zine? Wikipedia defines it as "a small circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images usually reproduced via photocopier" - although the term is often used to describe any magazine aimed at a niche audience. Generally, there's some kind of hand-crafted element to its production, while the content normally draws on ideas and values not covered regularly by the mainstream media.

Zine-making a great way to both produce new and alternative works of art and design, and to collect and share existing but underappreciated work with other creatives and enthusiasts. So how do you get started? Here are some simple beginners' steps that will hopefully inspire you to get up and running with your own zines.

• Also read: These 10 brilliant indie zines prove that print's not dead

01. Choose your format

Stepping away from the conventional, mass-market methods of producing magazines gives you the freedom to be a bit more creative in the ways in which you choose to deliver art and ideas. The emphasis is on low budget, and not just for practical reasons - the creativity you show in the format often forms part of the appeal of this more personal, niche product.

Hot dog folds and photocopying are some of the most common techniques used, but try to push the boundaries: consider doing interesting things with fold-outs and innovative ways of binding, for example. You can find a range of different folding and binding techniques outlined here .

02. Decide what it's for

Ask yourself what you're aiming to achieve through your zine. What are the main conceptual and visual approaches that you want to bring forward and share with others? The answer to this question will help you to determine how you're going to want it to look, who you would like to work with, in terms of themes and ideas, and what you want to include. Comic strips, visual narratives, artwork, reviews, fiction - the potential list is endless, but it's best to nail it down at this early stage.

03. Pick the right name

The name of your publication is not something to be treated lightly. Once you've settled on this, it to re-group everything and become an important reference point for everything from selecting the work to formatting it. The freedom that comes with zine-making means there are no restrictions in terms of title, so let your imagination run wild to get the perfect name.

04. Build a collective

Once you've made a clear map of what you want to produce and how you want your zine to feel, think about other artists/writers and creative people who could contribute to your zine. This stage is an essential step into gaining the content you want. It's possible to do everything yourself of course, but it's a lot of work and you run the danger of everything looking and sounding a little samey.

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Of course, the opposite can also happen: get too many people involved and your zine could end up looking like a confusing and incoherent mess. One way to square this circle could be to set a theme or one-word starting point, and collect a response in relation to it. This will ensure continuation and a flow throughout the ideas of your zine.

05. Decide your layout and order

Although there is no real right or wrong in the art of zine making, having some kind of structure is extremely helpful. So once all the content of the zine is working, get to work in planning your structure out. Like a book, create a content page, or separate the different works collected into sections - for example, ART / PHOTOGRAPHY / POETRY. This will then allow you to manage better the ways in which the information is organised, which makes life easier for both you and your readers.

06. Create a master copy

The master copy is the test piece you create before you start printing the final publication. This stage is a great time to experiment with the format/layout and typography used, the type of paper you use, and the ways in which you decide to fold and bind the pages. The final copy will often look markedly different, as the examples above and below demonstrate.

07. Crunch the numbers

Zines are generally cheaply produce, but it's still important to determine the amount you are willing to invest. Set a budget and then calculate whether you can afford to use colour or black and white, and then how many copies you can afford to print.

Don't go ahead without crunching the numbers, or your wallet will probably end up regretting it. You'll find a rundown of the most common options for making copies of your zine in this article .

08. Get connected

You've created a zine as a way to share, exchange and communicate with others - so it's vital to get news about your zine out there. Connect with other zine makers, publishers, independent movements or platforms that will allow you to share your work both off and online. Zine-making is a worldwide, growing phenomena, opening the door to new and exciting possibilities to connect with others. Grasp them.

09. Distribution

The last thing left for you to do once everything is produced, printed and promoted is to share your creation. If you've come up with a clear direction for your zine (point 2) then you should have a clear idea of who your audience is - and most importantly, where they hang out.

For example, if you're producing an music zine then you'll want to try to get it into indie record shops (sale-or-return is the typical agreement) and sell it at festivals. Or if your zine's more about art and design, then hit the design stores, art gallery shops, the 'shop' section of illustrators’ sites, blogs, and dedicated online stores like Concrete Hermit .

Also consider swapping copies with other zine publishers; going to zine fairs; giving away some (or all) copies... the more ideas you have the better. Zinebook.com has a great collection of articles about how to get your zine distributed here .

10. Get reading

Here are a couple of books that will allow you to explore further into the world of zine making and underground art movements:

Whatcha Mean, What's a Zine?

This book by Esther Watson is for anyone who wants to create their own zine. It features tips and tricks from contributors who have been at the forefront of the zine movement.

Girl Zines: Making Media, Doing Feminism

With names like The East Village Inky, Mend My Dress and Dear Stepdad, zines created by girls and women over the past two decades make modern feminism visible. Girl Zines is the first book-length exploration of this exciting movement.

Finally, watch this video and get ready to be inspired!

Words : Meryem Meg

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Knowledge Base > Magazines > 5 Stunning Zine Examples and Tips For Creating Your Own

5 Stunning Zine Examples and Tips For Creating Your Own

In this article, we will introduce beautiful online zines. Together we will dive into the fascinating world of these digital magazines that combine art, writing, and interesting layout.

Below you will find a collection of what are, in our opinion, the most interesting digital magazines created by talented people from around the world. You may want to use them as inspiration for making your own zine with a digital magazine creator or just experience the creative beauty.

You’ll also find zine resources, tips for creators, and an explanation of how digital zines work.

Why is it called a zine?

The word “zine” comes from the word “magazine” meaning a publication containing articles, poetry, writings, art, stories, and photos on a variety of topics.

However, zines today are mostly self-published magazines in small circulation, which often focused on niche hobbies, counterculture groups, or subcultures. They were often associated with amateurs who used home print, and distributed them on duplicators or photocopiers, often for free.

With the development of the Internet, the zine culture has grown to include digital magazines. However, they still have the same spirit of creation, self-expression, and independent production as in the beginning.

Do people still make zines?

Although digital media and online channels have become more dominant in the 21st century, the culture of paper zines is strong and has even grown in recent years. Zines are still popular because they are independent, easy to create on a computer, and help people with similar interests connect with each other.

The media is often under the control of large companies, and zines offer a space for unique views and topics that don’t get much attention. Digital zines are becoming increasingly popular because they are easier to create and distribute. If you are interested in how to create your own zines , check out our guide, and read on about more zine resources we can offer.

Best zine examples

Below you’ll find some of the best zines we discovered, online and offline. You’ll find more in our guide to zines , zine ideas, and zine resources.

Notes From Beyond is a 12-page art zine by Krissy Teegerstrom, featuring inspirational sentences and collage art sourced from the author’s morning meditations. This PDF zine is distributed online, but it was created by the author using paper, pen, paint, and paper cutouts.

Comic zine example

How To Not Be Bitter is a comic book zine that explores life’s highs and lows through lemon-themed comics and musings, offering a light-hearted take on existential challenges and providing some amusement for its readers. If you love comics and art, check it out!

Music zine example:

Meaningful Music is a one-page folded mini zine discussing music and the personal impact it has on the author. It’s a great example of an old-school mini-zine design single-page print, 8 pages long, sewn, and distributed for free!

Lifestyle zine example

70 Acts of Self-Care is a beautiful, small, hand-illustrated reference guide promoting mental, physical, and emotional well-being through practical self-compassion ideas. The pages are designed by the artist and the illustrations are fun and inspiring!

Nature zine

This zine is a seasonal guide for nature lovers featuring detailed illustrations and a collection of information on over ninety plant specimens, along with foraging tips, checklists, and space for field notes, enriching your outdoor exploration experience. Thanks to being created by a professional illustrator, it’s beautiful and well-designed.

Do zines have to be handmade?

Zines don’t have to be created by hand, but since they are created by amateurs and artists, they mostly don’t use professional tools. This often means designing them in a program like MS Word or using scissors and glue. Handmade zines focus on the personal and unique character of their creators, which gives them a unique personality compared to mainstream media.

But with the rise of digital platforms and technology, zines have changed to include online newspapers and digital media such as PDFs, e-books, and websites. The most important thing about zines, whether they are created by hand or on a computer, is that their creators are passionate and creative and want to share their work and ideas with a community of people who enjoy the same things they do.

Use Publuu’s flipbooks to create your own zine!

Using an online magazine maker from Publuu to create a digital zine is a great way to distribute and promote your content. Flipping through a flipbook provides a page-turning effect, making for a more dynamic and interesting reading experience than a PDF.

What’s more, your zine can have background music and engaging features (such as hyperlinks or videos). Make changes to your zine flipbook to improve its appearance and make it more interesting for readers.

You can publish your zine online to be accessible for free or charge for access to your articles. Publuu lets you share your zines anywhere, and they can be viewed on computers, smartphones, or any HTML-5-enabled device, just like the one below.

Publuu’s online zine example

View more online zine examples

Create your own online zine

If your zines become popular, you can even create your own Publuu domain , to make your friends and readers find it easily.

How do you distribute a zine?

Not so long ago, many zines were given away for free in hobby shops (such as record shops for music zines), libraries, and art centers. Some were sold if they became well-known and popular as an authority. Zines are now often given away for free, but they can also be shared on websites such as Publuu.com .

By using Publuu you can share photos, excerpts, or links to your zine on social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Your zine can be also published as a Publuu flipbook!

Distributing electronic zines is very easy with Publuu. You can export your flipbook to social media pages with one click. You can also embed it in the content of an email or your personal website to promote your text and reach more people.

You can also monitor who is browsing your zine and what pages they are most interested in. Thanks to our analytics, you can adapt your content to each new issue.

What makes a good zine?

What makes a zine good often depends on personal opinion, but very importantly there are a few characteristics common to the examples of the best zines that we show above.

A good zine usually has a clear idea or theme that ties all the content together. The content should be interesting, well-written, and thought-provoking. Images don’t have to be created by professional artists but they should keep the reader interested!

However, what is most interesting about zines is presenting a unique voice and point of view. A good zine reflects the personality of the person who created it, giving readers something new and different from what can be found in popular publications. A zine must show the passion and integrity of the person or people who created it.

What is the purpose of a zine?

Although the purpose of each zine may be different for both the person who creates it and the people who read it, the main purpose is often simply self-expression. As seen in the examples above, zines are usually created by passionate people to connect with others and provide them with content that is not restricted by the rules of mass media.

Most zines are all about niche topics or subcultures that are not well covered in popular media. This allows the people who create them and the people who read the zines to learn more about their specific interests and hobbies. Other zines publish amateur writing, short story collections, poems, comics, and other samples – mostly as ephemera written under the spur of the moment.

Can anything be in a zine?

Each zine can contain unique and unusual content, limited only by the imagination of the creator and readers. However, it is worth guarding against hate speech, bigotry, and personal attacks, and not breaking copyright – even if you create a zine in 50 copies.

A zine can contain unique, unusual content, as long as legal, moral, and audience issues are taken into account. While it’s unlikely for someone to file a lawsuit over a zine, it’s crucial to ensure that you have rights to content included in it before publishing.

Even if zines encourage creativity and experimentation, it is also worth ensuring the quality of the texts and illustrations. Well-written and attractive zines are more likely to attract attention and gain popularity.

How do you start writing a zine?

If you want to create zines on your own, decide on a central theme or topic that interests you and will resonate with your target audience. You must be passionate about it. Storytelling, punk subculture, maybe fine arts? You name it.

The topic should also resonate with the readers you want to target with your zine. Understanding your audience will help you tailor the content and design to their preferences and expectations.

Then you can begin writing and creating the content for your zine. Keep your theme and audience in mind as you develop each piece. Just be authentic and let your unique voice and perspective shine through!

You can be also interested in:

Top 10 Most Engaging Kids’ Magazines A Collection of the Best Canva Fonts in 2022

Jakub Osiejewski is an experienced freelance writer and editor. He has written for various publications, including magazines, newspapers and websites. He is also a skilled layout graphic designer and knows exactly how to create visually appealing and informative PDFs and flipbooks!

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zinelibraries.info

Sharing zine library love and expertise.

intro to zines

Photo courtesy Kelly Wooten

So, what is a zine?? There’s no official definition, but most will agree it’s a self-published work that has a limited print run (which can range from just a few copies to around 5,000 copies). Zines are usually created with the intention not to profit monetarily but to share one’s thoughts, feelings, creativity, experience, and/or knowledge with others. Zines are part of a DIY (do it yourself) culture which often includes people from marginalized communities or those who don’t have access to more mainstream publishing options.

Intro to zines workshops, books, and other resources:

Our most recommended go-to guide for all things zine is Alex Wrekk’s Stolen Sharpie Revolution . Now in its fifth edition, it’s an essential resource for the nitty-gritty of how to make a great-looking zine, where to find zines, zine history, and lots more.

MetaZine by Davida Gypsy Breier

MetaZine: The History and a How-To of Zines presentation from Davida Gypsy Breier

History of Zines presentation by Rachael Kaun for Aunty Mabel’s Zine Distro

What’s So Great About Zines? List

Whatcha mean, what’s a zine? : the art of making zines and minicomics book by Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson

Zine-making resources:

There are lots of information online about how to make a zine, but here are some of our favorites:

Guides for making single-page mini zines:

• Anne Elizabeth Moore’s “How to Make This Very Zine” is a single-page eight-fold set of instructions for making a single-page zine yourself. It is available in eight languages: Arabic, English, Greek, German, Georgian, Khmer, Russian and Spanish. Find the link to download all eight versions at Moore’s website .
• Jenna Brager’s quick guide to making a one-page mini zine is available at the Sassyfrass Circus blog .
• Zinester Celia Pérez created a kid-friendly guide to creating a one-page mini zine for Brightly.
• The Experiment With Nature project out of Oregon has a very detailed photo guide to making a one-page mini zine.
• To get a little fancier with your mini zine, this photo tutorial from Anatomic Air Press is for creating a 16-page zine out of one piece of paper.

More information on creating zines:

• Find adorably illustrated zine-making guides in both English and Spanish by Puerto Rican artist Rosa Colón Guerra at her Soda Pop Comics shop (and chip a few dollars to help her continue her work!).
• An activist design studio, thepublicstudio.ca , put together a 17-page pdf zine on how to make a zine for further information. This tutorial goes beyond the single-sheet zine and discusses design aspects.

how to make a zine video from nicki sabalu on Vimeo

WHAT ARE ZINES

Zine presentation for an academic audience, zine presentation for young audiences.

• MAKING ZINES
• PRINTING ZINES
• CITING ZINES
• SSU STUDENT ZINE COLLECTION
• TEACHING WITH ZINES

TO CITE THIS GUIDE

This guide was created by Dawn Stahura.  For information about reusing the guide, please contact [email protected]

Note: When copying this guide, please retain this box.

ZINE LIBRARIAN

Dawn Stahura   (She/Her/Hers)

For zine help:

I will have office hours in the Library Makerspace on:

Feel free to drop by or send me an email.

Zine  (zeen): independent, self published work often created by a single person.

Zinester:  An individual who creates zines.

Perzine : Short for personal zine. A zine that discusses personal thoughts, experiences, and everyday events.

Zine Distro  Short for Zine distribution. Distros are places that distribute zines. Many individuals run Distros out of their homes, mailing zines out to those who order them. Some independent book stores carry zines as well.

If you would like to hear the presentation, click on the video below.

• Next: MAKING ZINES >>
• Last Updated: Mar 13, 2024 1:36 PM
• URL: https://libguides.salemstate.edu/zines

Why Zines Need to Be a Part of Your Curriculum

As an illustrator, designer, and artist, I strongly believe combining the written word with images to tell a story is one of the most powerful ways to communicate. It is how children begin developing storytelling and narrative skills from an early age. But as they grow older, the emphasis is shifted into other academic areas. Rather than embracing the unique ways the medium can communicate and provide access to different kinds of learners, the combination of the visual and written word tend to be looked down upon and considered “low art.” (Comics are for kids!) Zines are an opportunity to (re)introduce students to this methodology and give them a chance to take on the role of learner and maker.

So, what is a zine and why should I teach them?

Zines, Defined

Let’s take a look at a few definitions to better understand what a zine is.

According to Merriam-Webster , a zine is:

a noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject matter.

A more expanded definition can be found over at Wikipedia :

A zine (short for magazine or fanzine) is most commonly a small circulation, self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images usually reproduced via photocopier. Usually, zines are the product of a single person or of a very small group. Zines first emerged in the United States, where the photocopier was invented, and have always been more numerous there.

I see zines as an opportunity for students to serve at the intersection of maker, expert, and teacher. Students can tell stories and share their knowledge through both images and text and share this learning in a low-cost, easy to reproduce fashion.

The Benefits of Zines

The informality and ease of reproduction have always been key factors for me when thinking about reasons to teach zines. They can take many forms and be as complex or simple as students choose to make them. They can also include little to no writing and be comprised almost entirely of drawings or images. Students don’t need to be accomplished artists to do this, as they can fill their books with borrowed imagery and collages to help tell their story.

Zines are also an incredibly powerful method of sharing stories and communicating ideas. Part of this comes from the format, which feels more casual than a paper or presentation and less time-intensive than a full comic book. The tactile nature of drawing and creating the book is satisfying; putting pen(cil) to paper, then cutting and folding to make multiples is easy to do and quite accessible. Finally, making the students the authority on a topic helps build confidence and enthusiasm for the project.

How to Make Zines in the Art Room

Creating zines with your students is easy and fun. Just follow the steps below!

1. Brainstorm

I encourage my students to start with a brainstorming sheet to consider what their zine should be about. You might have a range of strategies to help your students come up with topics for their projects, and any of those will likely work for zines.

Here are a few prompts which might help spur some additional ideas:

• I am an expert on:
• I care a lot about:
• I can explain how to:
• I see myself as:
• My all-time favorite is:
• I am struggling with:

If you’d like, you can download a brainstorming sheet to use with your students below!

Download Now!

Once they’ve identified their subject, the real fun starts! Encourage your students to make a draft of the project before diving into the final piece. For the style of zine I’m suggesting, create an eight-panel draft sheet and have them start there. Some students work better writing things out first. Others prefer sketching ideas. Stay flexible and let them plot their story in whatever manner works best for them. Some great resources for visual storytelling methods can be found in Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics or Wally Wood’s 22 Panels that Work .

There’s a great download below that will show students exactly how to fold and cut their paper to make their zine.

When the draft is done, you can begin working with them on a final document. Penciling the pages first is recommended, but sometimes students want to dive right in with pen. Once again, it all depends on their comfort with the process. A final document inked and colored (if you’ve got a color copier) gives the whole zine some polish.

4. Copy and Fold

Setting the project up to fit on typical letter size paper makes photocopying easy. After you’ve made copies of each student’s zine, you can have a folding party to make the final books. The folding process is quick once you’ve learned it. The site Experiment with Nature gives easy instructions for the zine format I use in my room. Putting aside some time in class for students to do the folding and cutting of their zines is a great way to celebrate the creation of their first “publication.” Bring some treats to share and make it a party!

5. Share your work!

Now that your students have created zines, it’s time to share them! Locate a space for your zine distribution in your school. The library is a great place to start, as students often spend time in the space browsing and reading. Lay out the zines for people to check out. And if your students are willing, be sure to include a “Please take one and share!” sign, so people know that they’re available to take home. You’ll likely find that students want to start making zines on their own and you’ve jump-started a way for them to communicate to the world!

The zines I’ve introduced are just one example of the format; there are endless online resources to check out like the Zine & E-zine Resource Guide and ZAPP Seattle. I encourage you to experiment and come up with your own styles while working with your students!

What types of publications have you created with your students?

How do you bring text and image together in your classroom?

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

Raymond Yang

Ray Yang is the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion of NAEA and a former AOEU Writer. They believe the arts can change the world.

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How To Make Your First Photography Zine

Are you the do-it-yourself type? Do you build your own furniture, sew your own clothes or grow your own vegetables? If you’re a photographer you can get in on the DIY action, too — develop your own film, print your own photos.

A DIY project that is a particular favorite of photographers is zine creation.

I’m sure you’ve heard at least a couple of your photographer friends mention something about a zine — one they made, one they plan on making or one they bought.

But if you haven’t caught wind of the zine craze or if you’re not entirely sure of what a zine is, keep reading to learn more about a very cool way to put your favorite photos to good use.

What Is A Zine?

To begin with, for those unaware, it’s pronounced “zeen” and is essentially a truncation of the word magazine .

A zine is simply a small, self-published photographic (or mixed media) presentation, usually released in very small quantities.

Zines tend to be at least partially hand-crafted and, as such, are publications that favor intriguing content over slick packaging.

What Is The Importance Of Zines To Photographers?

Historically, zines have provided a means to disseminate artistic content that might be considered too far outside of the mainstream. While this can include material that some might deem risqué or controversial, zines generally cater to niche audiences whose interests are overlooked by more traditional/commercial publications.

Zines, however, don’t just give creators a platform, they give them an affordable platform. Zines are made with simple materials and tools and can be easily distributed to their target audience. 

How To Make A Zine

This will not be a step-by-step guide on how to create a zine, but here you will find a few vital anchor points to help get your started.

• Come up with a great idea. It only has be great to you. That’s the beauty of a zine. It’s not a competition, you’re not trying to score a book deal. So make a zine about whatever you want it to be about. You’ll need to edit shrewdly so that your collection of photos is succinct and tells the intended story.
• Design your zine. Here, again, you have all the freedom you want. Will it be pocket size? Will it include text? Typed or handwritten? Will it contain graphics? What will the color scheme be? Will it have chapters, a table of contents, page numbers?
• Put your zine together. You’ll need, in varying quantities, paper, glue, tape, a printer and/or photocopier, lots of patience and a can-do attitude. That is if you’re going to assemble your zine by hand. You could also create PDF versions or use a publication designer such as InDesign and let someone else do the printing (Blurb, Lulu).
• Unleash your zine on the world. You can be just as creative with marketing and selling your zine as you were with designing it. The internet makes it easier than ever to sell things. If you have people who have been following your work for some time (via Instagram, for example) then you’ve already got potential customers. Promote your zine and provide a way for people to get their hands on it — link to your website or Etsy store, sell on consignment in a local book shop. You could even give your zine away for free. Zines serve as great business cards!

Final Thoughts

As an advocate of printed photo work, I’m a big fan of zines. These little vehicles allow photographers room for creativity that may not be afforded us through more traditional avenues. A zine is where your voice and your vision combine into a 30-page art manifesto that others can hold in their hands.

Here are some helpful resources that will give you more in-depth guidance should you ever decide to create your own zine.

Flipsnack – “What is a Zine?”

Vice – “A Beginner’s Guide to Making Zines”

We Make Zines – “Zines 101: A Super Quick Intro to Zines and How to Make One”

Willem Verbeeck – “How to Make a Photography Zine” (Video)

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• How to Make Photo Books With the Lightroom Books Module

About Author

Jason Little is a photographer, author and stock shooter . You can see Jason’s photography on his Website or his Instagram feed.

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Photography Zine Ideas: Creative Inspiration and How-Tos

• October 4, 2023

In the digital age, where photos flood our social media feeds, photography zines offer a refreshing and tangible way to showcase your work. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or a seasoned pro, creating a photography zine can be a rewarding and artistic endeavor. This article will explore photography zine ideas , discuss why photographers use zines, guide you through the process, and provide examples to spark your creativity.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Photography zines are a unique and tangible medium for showcasing your photographic work.
• Photographers use zines to express their creativity, share stories, and reach a niche audience .
• The ideal page count for a photography zine can vary, but it typically ranges from 8 to 48 pages.
• Creating a photography zine involves planning, layout design, printing, and distribution.
• We’ll provide you with inspiring photography zine ideas and step-by-step guidance.

What is a Photography Zine?

A photography zine, short for magazine, is a self-published, small-circulation booklet allowing photographers to showcase their work physically. These zines come in various shapes, sizes, and styles, making them a versatile medium for creative expression.

Why Do Photographers Use Zines?

Photographers are drawn to zines for several compelling reasons:

Creative Freedom

Zines provide a canvas for unfiltered artistic expression. Photographers can curate their images, experiment with layouts, and tell stories in a way that might not be possible through other formats.

Niche Audience

Zines attract a dedicated and niche audience. This allows photographers to connect with individuals who appreciate their unique perspective and style.

Tangibility

In a world dominated by digital content, zines offer a tangible experience. Holding a physical zine allows viewers to engage with the photographs on a deeper level.

The DIY (Do It Yourself) ethos is fundamental to zine culture. Photographers can control every aspect of the zine creation process, from concept to distribution.

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Photography Zine Ideas

Thematic zines.

Create zines centered around specific themes or concepts. For example:

• “Urban Landscapes at Night”
• “The Faces of a City”
• “Minimalist Abstractions”

Travel Chronicles

Document your journeys with a travel photography zine. Share your adventures and the stories behind each image.

• “Wanderlust Chronicles: Across Europe”
• “Through the Lens of Asia”

Portrait Series

Focus on portraits of individuals, showcasing their unique stories and personalities.

• “Strangers: Portraits of the Unseen”
• “Faces of Resilience”

Experimental Zines

Push the boundaries of photography by experimenting with alternative processes, double exposures, or collage techniques.

• “Analog Dreams: Experimental Photography”
• “Collage Chronicles: Reassembling Reality”

Personal Projects

Compile a zine that represents a personal project or journey, such as documenting a significant life event or transformation.

• “From Self to Selfie: A Year in Portraits”
• “Rebirth: A Journey Through Adversity”

How to Make a Photography Zine

Creating a photography zine involves several key steps:

Concept and Planning

• Define your zine’s theme and purpose.
• Plan the content, including image selection and text (if any).
• Decide on the zine’s size and format.

Image Selection and Editing

• Curate your best photographs for inclusion in the zine.
• Ensure consistency in style and storytelling.
• Edit and enhance the selected images as needed.

Layout Design

• Experiment with layout options to create a visually engaging zine.
• Consider the sequencing of images and the flow of the zine.
• Choose a printing method and paper quality that aligns with your vision.
• Review print proofs to ensure accuracy.

Assembly and Binding

• Assemble the printed pages into the final zine format.
• Decide on binding methods, such as saddle stitching or perfect binding.

Distribution and Promotion

• Determine how you’ll distribute your zine through local shops, online platforms, or photography events.
• Promote your zine through social media, your website, or photography communities.

Zine Name Ideas: Unleash Your Creative Zine Title

How Many Pages Is Ideal for a Photography Zine?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the ideal page count for a photography zine can vary based on your goals and content. However, most photography zines typically fall within the range of 8 to 48 pages. Smaller zines can be more concise and focused, while larger ones allow for more extensive storytelling and exploration of themes.

Examples of Photography Zines

To inspire your own zine-making journey, here are a few noteworthy photography zines:

“Subway” by Bruce Davidson

• A classic example of documentary photography captured in the New York City subway system.

“The Last Son” by Jim Goldberg

• This zine combines photography and text to tell the story of a homeless teenager named Tito.

“Stoned in Melanchol” by Izumi Miyazaki

• An experimental zine that explores emotions and the human experience through surreal imagery.

“Youth” by Jody Rogac

• A portrait-focused zine that showcases the diversity of youth culture in America.

Photography zines are a captivating way for photographers to express their creativity, reach a niche audience, and engage with the tangible world of print. Whether you’re new to zine-making or a seasoned pro, these photography zine ideas and the step-by-step guide provided here will help you embark on your own zine-making journey. Capture your unique vision and share it with the world through the art of photography zines.

Meet Dua, a curious and creative writer who uses Zine Ideas to explore various topics, from tech and science to personal growth and travel. Through her zines, she shares her thoughts and experiences with others, believing in the power of connecting people through art and writing. Dua hopes to inspire others to create their own zines and share their unique stories with the world.

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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