Booklets are a smart, versatile way to share your message. Whether you’re showcasing products, telling your brand story or creating a helpful guide, a well-designed booklet adds a professional touch. From catalogues and brochures to event programmes and promotional material, there are plenty of ways to make your booklet work for you.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to make a booklet from start to finish – from planning and design to printing and proofing.
Planning your booklet
Before you jump into design, start with a clear plan. Knowing what you want your booklet to do will help shape everything from the layout to the tone of voice.
- Define your purpose: Is your booklet for selling, informing or inspiring? Product catalogues, how-to guides, event programmes and lookbooks all have different goals.
- Know your audience: Are you speaking to potential customers, loyal clients or event attendees?
- Choose a format: Common sizes like A4 and A5 work well. Think about how many pages you’ll need, how the booklet will be used, and what size suits your content.
How to design your booklet
You don’t need to be a professional designer to create something great. With tools like VistaPrint’s online design studio, you can customise your layout with ease.
- Start with a template: Choose from professionally designed layouts or upload your own.
- Balance text and visuals: Don’t overcrowd your pages. Leave white space so your content is easy to read.
- Use consistent fonts and colours: Keep your design cohesive with a limited colour palette and clear, legible fonts.
- Add quality images: Crisp, high-resolution visuals make a big difference.
- Guide the reader: Use headings, subheadings and call-to-actions to lead people through your booklet.
Creating content for your booklet
Once your design is set, it’s time to add your copy. Clear, well-structured content is just as important as strong visuals.
- Write with purpose: Keep your message concise, engaging and easy to follow.
- Structure it well: Include an intro, main sections and a clear closing message or call to action.
- Check for consistency: Match your tone of voice and formatting throughout.
- Proofread: Typos and inconsistencies can distract from your message.
Printing your booklet
Ready to print? Here are a few things to think about:
- Paper choice: Choose between glossy, matte or recycled depending on your brand look.
- Binding style: Saddle-stitching is most common (pages stapled at the fold), but you can also opt for perfect-bound if you need a more premium finish.
- Set up your file correctly: Allow for bleed (usually 3 mm), keep text inside safe zones, and check margins.
Reviewing and proofing
Before you send to print, take time to review:
- Visual checks: Are all images sharp? Are any elements too close to the edge?
- Text checks: Spelling, grammar and formatting should be consistent.
- Get a second opinion: Ask a colleague or friend to give it a once-over.
How to create a booklet online
Designing online is simple with VistaPrint. Here’s how it works:
- Go to the booklet templates page
- Choose a layout or start from scratch by uploading your own design
- Customise your pages with images, text, logos and colours
- Preview your design to check everything is in place
- Finalise your order and get your booklet professionally printed
