Making a brochure or booklet can be a fun rainy day craft, or it can even become an important part of your professional experience. Whatever the case, there are several ways to make booklets, using a computer or by hand.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Make a Booklet by Hand
Step 1. Fold two 8 1/2 x 11 inch (22 x 28 cm) sheets of paper in half horizontally
One of the two sheets will be the front and back cover of the booklet, both sheets will form the pages. Horizontally means laid.
Step 2. Cut one of the sheets at the crease mark
Make sure to cut them up and down. The cut should be about 1 inch (3 cm).
Step 3. Fold the other sheet in half in a vertical direction
Fold the sheet without marking the seam so that the booklet pages are not wrinkled.
Fold it as if you were rolling it up
Step 4. Cut along the crease leaving 1 inch (2.5 cm)
on both sides. The idea is to make an opening through which you will pass the other sheet (the sheet with the cuts at the ends). You should leave 3 cm uncut at each end of the blade.
Step 5. Pass the first sheet through the opening
Most importantly, the cutouts fit into the opening so they can keep the pages stable. Your booklet will look neater if the pages fit together well.
You can help yourself by slightly bending the sheet you are going to insert, so that it does not score or break as you pass it through the opening. You can also bend them vertically so that the corners straighten
Step 6. Add as many pages as you need
The booklet in the previous image has eight pages with the front and back covers. You can add as many pages as you like (be reasonable, you don't want to tear up the booklet by putting too many pages on it).
- Fold a sheet of paper horizontally. Make a 3 cm cut in the crease at each end.
- Grab the booklet and find the opening (it will depend on how many pages you have).
- Bend the sheet a little to make it easier to insert.
- Follow this step until you have placed the number of sheets you want.
Method 2 of 3: Make a booklet in Microsoft Word)
Step 1. Run the “Page Setup” function
You have to change the Word settings before creating your booklet. You can make one any document you have, but it is better that you first create the design and then put the content.
Locate the "Page Layout" tab. It's in the corner of the "Page setup" icon
Step 2. Change the option “Multiple pages” to “Book format”
It is found in the "Page setup" function, in the "Margins" tab. Go to the display tab found in the normal option and change it to "Book format".
Step 3. Change the binding
It's a good idea to change from 0 to 1 so that the words don't end up cluttered in the binding.
Step 4. When you finish all the settings, click “OK”
You will have an idea of the format that your booklet will have. Then, you just have to add the content (make sure the content you already have looks how you want it).
You can change everything that does not look good in your booklet and add what is missing. (for example, the page number)
Step 5. Print your document
You have to print on both sides of the sheet, otherwise your booklet will end up with many blank pages which is not ideal. Your printer can do it automatically or manually (you will have to be next to the printer turning the paper).
If you are going to feed the paper to the printer manually, consider the proper orientation of the sheet. You don't want the pages of your booklet to be upside down
Step 6. Assemble the booklet
Make sure to place all the corresponding pages. That is why it is useful to list them. Fold the pages one by one and then put them together.
You can staple them by the crease of the fold
Step 7. Download good design templates
This is the simplest method of making booklets in Word, but you can find endless design templates on the Internet or if you want something more creative or tempting you can use Word.
Method 3 of 3: Customize the booklet
Step 1. Combine the style of the booklet according to its purpose
Make sure to present a brief idea of the topic, especially if it is a professional type booklet. You must inform, educate and persuade your reader quickly.
- For example, a city booklet should present general historical information, a map of the city with the most important landmarks, and the telephone numbers of taxis or the visitor orientation center.
- It can also be information from a meeting to remind attendees what it was about, or it can also provide data regarding a question (if it is a specific product, the booklet should provide elementary information to potential customers).
- There are also booklets that people can review while they are queuing. Such a booklet has to be eye-catching to capture attention.
Step 2. Use good images
People like images, there is no turning it around. When you are selecting which images to put in your booklet, keep two things in mind. Images have to jump off the page because you want to grab people's attention. These should be related to the purpose of your booklet.
- For example: if you want to create an information booklet about your rafting company in Alaska, the cover should show an image with the best that your company offers (for example, a group of tourists rafting watching a bear).
- If you can't do a color print (which would be ideal) make sure your images look good in black and white.
Step 3. Brief and concise information
You have to consider the most basic points for your reader, whether they are tourists from your city, potential clients or business partners. Pages full of text will not attract your reader.
Step 4. Distribute the information in titles and subtitles
Information is easier to process when it is presented in short sentences with the appropriate title.
- Locate the odd numbers on the right hand side pages. It may seem unimportant, however this makes a difference in the quality of the booklet. Enumeration begins on the first page on the right, not the left.
Make a Booklet Step 17
Step 5. Encourage your reader to open the booklet
The goal of having a professional-style booklet is to attract readers. Try to do what it takes to get your own readers.
It is important to have a strong message on the cover that sells, so that your potential customers and readers will want to review the rest of the information
Advice
- If your booklet offers a product or service, make sure your contact information is clearly displayed.
- Test your booklets before releasing them to the public. Check for possible errors or bad adjustments in the text.