Choosing the Right Tool for Your Zine
The tool you use to make your zine should match your skills, your budget, and your aesthetic goals. A hand-lettered collage zine doesn't need InDesign. A literary magazine with multiple contributors probably does. This guide breaks down the most commonly used tools — digital and analog — so you can make an informed choice.
Digital Layout Software
Canva (Free / Paid)
Canva is the most accessible entry point for digital zine layout. Its drag-and-drop interface requires no design training, and its free tier includes a huge library of templates, fonts, and graphics. You can export as PDF for printing.
Best for: Beginners, quick projects, zines with a polished but not overly designed look.
Limitations: Less control over print-specific settings like bleed, CMYK, and precise typography.
Affinity Publisher 2 (One-time purchase)
Affinity Publisher is a professional-grade desktop publishing tool that costs a fraction of Adobe InDesign — and it's a one-time purchase, not a subscription. It supports master pages, text flows, linked images, and proper print export with bleed and crop marks.
Best for: Zine makers ready to invest in a serious tool and produce print-ready files.
Limitations: Learning curve for beginners; desktop only.
Adobe InDesign (Subscription)
The industry standard for publication layout. If you already have a Creative Cloud subscription or work in design professionally, InDesign is unmatched for complex multi-page zines and magazines.
Best for: Experienced designers, collaborative publications, complex layouts.
Limitations: Expensive monthly subscription; overkill for simple projects.
Google Slides / Microsoft PowerPoint (Free)
Surprisingly popular in the zine community for their simplicity. Each slide becomes a page. Export as PDF and you're done. The results have a charming, slightly clunky look that suits many zine aesthetics.
Best for: Quick zines, digital-only zines, people who want zero learning curve.
Limitations: Poor typography control, not ideal for print.
Image Editing and Illustration
GIMP (Free)
A free, open-source alternative to Photoshop. Great for manipulating scanned artwork, creating collages, and adjusting photos. The interface is dated but powerful.
Procreate (iPad, one-time purchase)
If your zine is illustration-heavy and you work on an iPad, Procreate is exceptional. Many zine artists use it to draw pages that are then exported and laid out elsewhere.
Analog Tools That Matter
Digital tools are only part of the story. Many of the best zines blend physical and digital techniques:
- Risograph printer: Produces a distinctive, layered color look beloved in the zine world. Usually available at community print studios and risography shops.
- Photocopier: The original zine tool. Black and white photocopies are cheap, fast, and carry a classic zine aesthetic.
- Rubber stamps and stencils: Great for covers and repeated decorative elements.
- Bone folder: Essential for clean, crisp folds — inexpensive and worth owning.
- X-Acto knife and cutting mat: For precise trimming of hand-assembled pages.
Paper Choices
| Paper Type | Weight | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard copy paper | 20 lb / 75 gsm | Quick photocopied zines |
| Bright white laser paper | 24 lb / 90 gsm | Sharper home-printed zines |
| Cardstock | 65–80 lb / 176–216 gsm | Covers, cards, durable pages |
| Newsprint | 35–45 gsm | Newspaper-format zines (tabloid style) |
| Uncoated text stock | 60–70 lb | Professionally printed literary zines |
The Bottom Line
Start with what you have. A zine made in Google Slides on cheap copy paper is infinitely better than one you never made because you were waiting for the perfect setup. As your practice grows, so can your toolkit.