How to create a stylish magazine layout in Affinity Publisher

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a simple and elegant magazine distributed using Affinity Publisher, the exceptional and easy to use alternative to Adobe InDesign.

You will discover some versatile editorial design skills and learn about the Publisher's workspace. Although currently only available as a beta download, Affinity Publisher is scheduled for release by the end of the year, so watch this space.

Need a quick solution to create your magazine templates? You can find a wide range of magazine templates that are easy to edit on Envato Elements and GraphicRiver.

What is needed to create the magazine layout

You can download a free beta version of Affinity Publisher from the Serif website. You will also need to download the following fonts and photos from Envato Elements to create the illustrated spread design:

Install the fonts on your computer and you're ready to get started!

1. How to set up a magazine document in Affinity Publisher

Step 1

Open Affinity Publisher and go to File> New.

With the gender set to Print, choose Letter from Page presets menu.

With in front of pages checked, choose Left from It begins menu. Normally, if you were creating a complete magazine, you would choose to start the document on a page to the right, but for our purposes here to create a spread, a left-hand page will satisfy us.

From Color format menu, choose CMYK / 8.

Check the Include margins box and set the Indoor is Lower margin to 1.25 in, and the higher is External margin to 1 in.

Then click ok.

Step 2

With your document created, you will need to add a margin to the pages.

Go to File> Document Setupand click on To bleed from the trio of menu options in the middle of the window. Set the To bleed to 0.25 in, then click ok.

Step 3

On the left side of the work area, you can see the pages panel.

Click on Add pages at the top of the panel and add another page to the document.

Step 4

From Master Pages panel above, click Add Master button.

Give the master the name Spread Master and select in front of. All remaining options must match the existing settings for the other pages in the document, so keep them as they are and click ok.

Drag the Spread Master down up Pages 1 is 2 in pages panel, to apply the master to both pages in the document.

Step 5

To help you guide the text and content in the right place, it is a good idea to have at least visible margins.

Go to View> Show Margins.

Step 6

We will use a very simple color palette in our design: only yellow and black.

In samples panel (anchored on the right side of the work area), choose Add global color from the drop-down menu.

In the window that opens, give the name to the color Yellow and choose CMYK sliders from the menu below this.

Set levels a C = 2 M = 24 Y = 95 is K = 0, before clicking insert.

2. How to format the elements on your main distribution

Step 1

Double click on the Spread Master icon in the Master Pages panel to bring it on the screen.

Choose the Frame Text Tool (T) from Tools panel and drag on the lower left corner of the master page on the left to create a small text frame.

Type two bars forward (//), highlights the text and from Character panel (on the right side of the work area), set the Font to Bw Modelica Bold, size 10 pt. Set the Font color to Yellow.

Step 2

With the cursor of your text tool set in the text frame, after the bars, go to Text> Insert> Page Number.

Adjust the Font color of this page number a Black.

Step 3

Select the entire text frame with Move tool (V) is Edit> Copy is Edit> Paste the frame, moving the copy on the right-hand corner of the right main page.

Dall & # 39; top controls panel, adjust the text to Align to the right.

Step 4

Use the Frame Text Tool (T) to create a frame in the upper left corner of the main page on the left.

Here you can type in a running header, such as the magazine title and issue number.

Mix characters by interest, by setting text in a sans serif, such as Bw Modelicaand some in a serif, like Addington CF.

Highlight some words and change the Font color to Yellow.

Step 5

Switch to Pen tool and while holding down Exchange, click once on the work panel to the left of the running header and once again where the header begins.

Dall & # 39; top controls panel, set the Color stroke to Yellow and the Weight of stroke a 0.9 pt.

Step 6

copy is Paste the yellow line, placing the copy to the right of the header text.

Then extend the right edge of the line so that it extends across the rest of the left page and right page, across the entire spread.

Select the Tool for transparency and click once for about a third of the path along the left side of the longest line. Click the extreme right edge of the line again, creating a gradual gradient effect across the line.

3. How to build typography in your magazine

Step 1

Double click on Page 1 in pages panel to bring it on the screen.

Use the Frame Text Tool (T) to create a single frame of text that lies on the left and bottom margin.

Step 2

Click the triangular shape at the bottom right of the text frame to create a linked text frame.

Click and drag to the right of the first text frame to create a second linked column. A & # 39; wire & # 39; will appear between the two frames, showing that they are connected.

Step 3

You can type text directly, paste it from a Word document or go to Text> Insert fill text to create temporary text for your columns.

Set the Font to Addington CF Regular, size 10.5 ptand set the main to 15 pt.

You can add more interest to the text of your column by extracting the first line in a Yellow font color, to Bold weight and a bigger one Font size 14 pt.

Step 4

Creates a very large text frame, corresponding to the height of the columns, overlapping the column on the right and extending the width of the right page.

Type & # 39; GO & # 39 ;, setting the Font to Bw Modelica Medium, dimensions 610 pt, is Font color to Yellow.

Step 5

From Layers panel (on the right side of the work area) carries the Opacity of the text frame up to 95%.

Use the Tool for transparency to create a gradient effect on the right side of the text frame.

Step 6

With the selected text frame, click Move back top button controls panel, to bring the text of the column forward and make it more readable.

4. How to add an image to the circulation of the magazine

Step 1

Select the Frame tool and drag through the right page, creating a frame just under the height of the columns.

Go to File> Place. Go to the image of the running Greyhound previously downloaded and click Open.

Use Exchange to resize the image inside the frame before clicking Flip horizontally On the top controls panel to flip the image so that the dog is facing the center of the diffusion.

Step 2

With the frame of the selected image, click Move back at the top of the work area.

5. How to add a pull quotation to your layout

Step 1

Use the Frame Text Tool (T) to create a text frame in the upper right corner of Page 2.

Type a pull quote, typing only an apostrophe at the end of the quote. Set the Font to Addington CF, Medium Italic, Size 45 pt.

Change the font weight of some parts of the text, for example by extracting a few sentences into Subtle italics, to create contrast and improve readability.

Step 2

Highlight part of the text and change the Font color to Yellow.

Create a small separate text frame in the upper left corner of the turn frame and type an opening apostrophe ("). Font to Addington CF Thin Italic, dimensions 160 pt, and the Font color to Yellow.

6. How to export the magazine's artwork

Whether you create a single spread or a whole magazine, the process of exporting your illustrations to Affinity Publisher for printing is quick and easy.

Go to File> Export.

Click on PDF from the options that run along the top of the window.

To choose PDF (for printing) from Preset menu, before clicking Export.

Conclusion: the layout of your finished magazine

The spread of your magazine is finished and exported, ready to be printed. Good job!

In this tutorial, you have collected a number of techniques and skills that you can apply to editorial projects and other jobs using Affinity Publisher.

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to start creating your magazine? Discover a wide range of magazine templates that are easy to edit on Envato Elements and GraphicRiver.

If you're looking for other magazine design tips, do not miss these other tutorials:

• This back-to-school guide will show you how to start designing your magazines, from adapting templates to creating content pages. You will have …