Zine Booklet Template

Digital template for creating printable folded booklets

Instructions

Make a copy of this document (File, then Make a copy) to create your own printable folded zine booklet with this 8.5” x 11” template (link to create copy).

With the templates below (4-, 8-, and 12-page versions), simply delete the large page numbers to start creating your zine. The numbers indicate which page number that will be when printed and folded in half into a booklet. The numbers are also shown in the margins to left and right of each slide. You may need to zoom out your view (View → Zoom) to see these numbers.

Download your zine as a pdf (File → Download) and print double-sided on 8.5” x 11” paper. You can either delete unwanted slides before downloading or print only the slides you need from the pdf. Stack the printed pages in order (cover on the bottom of the stack) and then fold in half so that the cover is showing. Stapling requires a long reach stapler, but you can also sew, use a long rubber band, or leave pages loose.

For a full explanation of how the pagination works, see the last slide. Includes instructions on creating longer zine templates.

There is also a Canva version of this template.

Copy this template

Please reuse, remix, copy, and share widely: all content CC0 Tim Miller, Cal Poly Humboldt Library

(no need for attribution). More zine resources. Last updated: 8/8/22

Work-around

If you are unable to make a copy of this entire document you can copy/paste the parts you want into a new slides document (some organizations do not allow sharing of documents from other organizations as detailed on the previous slide).

1. Create a new slides document (File -> New -> Presentation, or visit https://slides.google.com)
2. Change the slide size to 8 ½ x 11 inches (File -> Page Setup -> Custom -> 11 x 8.5 inches)
3. Copy content! For example, if you want to copy the four page template,
1. Click on slide #4 below and click anywhere on the slide.
2. Press ctrl + a (cmd +a on a Mac) to select all of the content on the slide.
3. Press ctrl + c (cmd + c on a Mac) to copy all of the content to your clipboard.
4. Create a new blank slide in your new document (see graphic to the right).
5. Paste the content into that new blank slide by pressing ctrl + v (cmd + v on a Mac).
4. Repeat for all of the slides you need.

Please reuse, remix, copy, and share widely: all content CC0 Tim Miller, Humboldt State University Library

(no need for attribution). More zine resources. Last updated: 8/18/21

FOUR

page template

Four page template - outer cover front and back

4

1

Page 4

Page 4

Four page template - inner cover

2

3

Page 2

Page 3

EIGHT

page template

Eight page template - outer cover

8

1

Page 1

Page 8

Eight page template - inner cover

Page 2

Page 7

2

7

Eight page template - inner leaf (face same side as outer cover)

Page 6

Page 3

6

3

Eight page template - inner leaf (middle pages)

Page 4

Page 5

4

5

TWELVE

page template

Twelve page template - outer cover

Page 12 (back cover)

Page 1 (front cover)

12

1

Twelve page template - inner cover

Page 2

Page 11

2

11

Twelve page template - middle leaf (face same side as outer cover)

Page 10

Page 3

10

3

Twelve page template - middle leaf (face same side as inner cover)

Page 4

Page 9

4

9

Twelve page template - inner leaf (face same side as outer cover)

Page 8

Page 5

8

5

Twelve page template - inner leaf (middle pages)

Page 6

Page 7

6

7

Overview, explanation, and visual map

Explanation

Below are two methods to determine the pagination order for your zine slides. For both, the total number of pages (which we’ll refer to as n) must be divisible by 4 because there are four pages on one piece of paper, front and back. The total includes the covers (back and front) and the insides of the covers. If this seems confusing, that’s because it is. Try printing out the template with the numbers and then construct the folded booklet to see how it all comes together.

Visual method (if you like seeing things laid out)

1. Create the total number of pages you want in your zine (this is our n). There are two pages per slide, so if you have a 12-page zine, you will need six slides.
2. Start numbering the slides starting with the right half of the first slide.
3. Continue numbering 1 through n following the green arrows to the left. As you move down the slides, this alternates between the left and right halves, with the odd numbers being on the right and the even numbers being on the left.
4. Once you reach the last slide, continue numbering with the next page being the right half of that last slide (so for a 12-page zine, you’d have 6 on the left half and 7 on the right half).
5. Continue numbering following the blue arrows. As you move back up the slides, this alternates between the odd numbers being on the right half of the slide and the even numbers being on the left.
6. If you’ve done it right, only even numbers will be on the left and only odd numbers on the right.

Formula method (if you like math)

1. First slide left is back cover (equal to n)
2. First slide right is front cover (page 1) - same as the slide number
3. Second slide left is same as the slide number
4. Second slide right is the inside of the back cover (n - 1)
5. Third slide left is two pages less than total (n - 2)
6. Third slide right is same as the slide number
7. Fourth slide left is same as the slide number
8. Fourth slide right is n - 3
9. Fifth slide left is n - 4
10. Fifth slide right is same as the slide number
11. Sixth slide left is same as the slide number
12. Sixth slide right is n - 5
13. Repeat if necessary! Notice that there is a pattern in the steps above, with the bold steps equalling the slide number.