Write in reading order. Print in folding order.
A mini zine has eight page faces, including both covers. You use one side of a sheet divided into four columns and two rows. The fold, rather than a stapled spine, determines where every page belongs.
The entire top row turns 180 degrees. The bottom row stays upright. Page 1 is the front cover; page 8 is the back. The cut sits between the rows, from the first interior vertical crease to the third.
What “8 pages” actually means
There are six inside pages and two covers. Do not add another cover sheet or choose duplex printing. A stapled eight-page booklet uses a different layout; this tool does not impose saddle-stitched books.
Paper and finished sizes
| Paper, landscape | Whole sheet | Each finished page |
|---|---|---|
| US Letter | 11 × 8.5 in | 2.75 × 4.25 in |
| A4 | 297 × 210 mm | 74.25 × 105 mm |
These are nominal dimensions before folding. Each page is one quarter of the sheet width and one half of its height. A4's finished mini zine is A7 size; Letter is a different shape. Choose the right native template instead of stretching one to fit the other.
Margins belong inside each page
Our template content stays 20 PDF points (about 7.1 mm) from the side edges of each panel. Ruled lines and comic frames are inset too. Fold lines may reach the paper edge and get clipped by a printer's unprintable margin; use the paper edges and creases to fold, not borderless printing.
Keep text readable
Each page is small. The writing tool uses 18-point headings and 11-point body text. It warns before exporting text that does not fit. Shorten your sentences, split an idea over two pages, or use a larger format elsewhere instead of shrinking every word.
Check the layout yourself
Download the numbered Letter PDF or numbered A4 PDF, print one copy and follow the folding guide. Each arrow should point to the top of a page in the finished book.