Some 20 or 30 years ago, making a magazine wasn't just anyone's business. Some knowledge and a significant investment were needed to be successful. However, now, with the Internet, online magazines proliferate and coexist with physical ones. if you ever wanted make a magazine or you have been asked to design one, you may have searched the net for how to make a magazine layout. Shall we give you a hand?
We start from the basis that magazines can be of many different types and genres. Large, small, bimonthly, quarterly, monthly, weekly magazines... Here we talk about the steps you must take and everything you have to control before launching into this project.
What to consider before designing a magazine
A magazine is considered a means of communication. It is focused on a specific theme; in fact, it is very rare to find general magazines since, in that case, it would be considered more of a newspaper.
Most of the time, when you hear the word magazine, those that are sold in stationery stores and newsstands come to your mind. But with the expansion of the Internet, virtual magazines must also be borne in mind.
When designing a magazine, it is important to keep in mind some aspects Although they are not related to the design itself, they have an impact on the magazine. And what are those?
- The customer you are targeting. In other words, we talk about what your target audience is. And why is it important? Well, because the cover, images and text have to be attractive enough to catch your attention and find it interesting. For example, imagine you want to create a children's magazine. But you place the cover with titles more focused on parents than children, and weak, meaningless images that do not call. Would they buy it from you? The most possible is that no.
- The periodicity of your magazine. That is to say, if you are going to publish it every week, every month, every two, three, four... You may think that this does not influence the design, but the truth is that it does since you have to notify it in it so that they know when the next issue will come out if you want them to keep reading you.
- What will your magazine be about? Just as important is the client you are targeting as well as the theme of your magazine. I mean, what are you going to talk about? There are magazines on many topics: cinema, culture, books, gossip... So you have to focus on something where you know there is an audience, that you are an expert (or have people who are) and that you like and/or earn money.
Design a magazine step by step
Designing a magazine is not difficult. If you have one on hand, you will realize that there are two fundamental parts. On the one hand, the front and back cover that are designed on the same page. The first pages of the magazine would go behind, usually where the magazine's collaborators are placed (on the front cover) and what will come in the next magazine (on the back cover).
Then there would be the sheets that make up the magazine. Again, if it is physical, the first is placed with the last and they are interspersed in such a way that, when it is printed, and folded, everything is correct and as it should go.
If the magazine is virtual, then this is not the case, and it is done in order.
What are the steps you must take? Taking into account that you have all the necessary information for your magazine (photos, illustrations, advertisements, texts...) the steps you must take are:
Use a magazine layout program
El most used and recommended is Indesign. It is not a free program, but the alternatives do not reach the level of this one. Therefore, if you really want to make a magazine, and not use templates to create it, you will have to invest in buying the program.
It is not difficult to use, but you will need time to adapt to it and, above all, to learn it. Alternatives to this you have QuarkXpress, Illustrator, CorelDrwa, FreeHand...
Layout cover and inner sheets
Once you have the program, the next step is design the cover and inner pages. What many do is do it separately, in such a way that, when they give it the go-ahead, they unite all the documents to take them to print, or to get a copy of that magazine in pdf (which is how it is usually offered virtually, in addition to read it online).
At this point it is necessary to take into account the magazine format (if it will be in A4, B5, B6…) as well as the type of paper on which it will be drawn (will influence the colors), design of each text and photos, etc.
This is the most important part of a magazine since you will not only have to think about how to distribute the photos and texts, advertisements and formats, but you will also have to think about:
- The magazine typography. Both for titles and subtitles and text.
- representative colors. Can you imagine a children's magazine using black and white?
- The layout. That is, how are you going to design each of the pages. Some will be the same, but if you put them all like this you will get bored.
Obviously, we skip the fact that the images you are going to use are of quality and that the articles have truthful, informative information, that connect with the public, that they are attractive and that interest (and are well written).
Print and distribute
Once you have the magazine finished, it is time to decide to print it (so you will have to take it to a printer and give it the previous details of format, type of paper...); or put it to download online (or upload it to a platform so that the magazine can be read online).
All of this is part of the magazine layout.
How to Design a Magazine Quick and Easy
The above points are not difficult. But the reality is that when you start designing the magazine, and each of the pages, you can end up fed up with it and never get it out. For this reason, many initiates opt, before making your own designs, by using templates.
These can be found both paid and free. Where? We leave you a list.
- Envato Elements.
- GraphicRiver.
- Canva.
- Pagephilia.
- Office.
Now you just have to get on with it and spend some time doing a magazine layout. The first one may be the one you take the longest with, but then everything will be easier for you. Of course, do not lose that draft because it will serve you for others.