How to Make a Custom Brochure in Microsoft Publisher

Microsoft Publisher is one of the best applications to use in designing a brochure. The program allows you to really customize it in a large number of ways. You can also add pictures, charts, drawings or other graphics to it. You will need to have Microsoft Publisher, the data and graphics desired, a printer and an idea to start. It depends on what you want to create as to how much time it will take, but most brochures can be designed and printed within an hour or so.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Microsoft Publisher
• Printer
• Paper
• Data
• Picture, graphic or drawing (optional)

1. Open up Microsoft Publisher’s catalog of designs. Start the Publisher program. If you do not see the “Design Wizard” already open, select “File” and then “New” to access it.

2. Begin to create the brochure. Select the “Brochures” link listed on the left side of the catalog or you can also click on the arrow to the left of it. You can further break down your choices by picking one of the groups of brochures offered. All of them will be shown on the right side of the wizard. You can also scroll down the group using the scroll bar. Locate one of the brochures that bests fits your own idea. You can make numerous alterations to it; so do not be concerned if it does not fit exactly. Pick one that is close and then click the “Start Wizard” button. This opens the brochure you picked (revealed on the right side) and the brochure wizard on the left. Click on the “Next” tab to go on.

3. Customize the color of the new brochure. You can modify the color scheme of your brochure. Simply decide on the specific color scheme you would like from the various ideas shown on the left side. As you select the different ones, the changes to the brochure can be seen immediately. Find one you like and then click the “Next” button.

4. Select the overall size of the Publisher brochure. You have a choice of either letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) or legal size (8.5 x 14 inches). The default setting is “Letter” size, which will have three panels. If you would like four panels on it, choose the “Legal” size and click on “Next” again.

5. Decide on how you are going to distribute the brochures. You can add a customer address placeholder to the brochures, if you plan on mailing them. If you select “Yes,” you will see the changes made to the brochure on the right. This change will allow you to address them. This makes it very easy to mail the brochures to customers, but it will also take away one of the panels. If you are not planning on mailing them, leave the default setting of “No” and click “Next.”

6. Add forms or personal information to your brochure. The next two decisions you must make are whether you need to add specific forms or name and address details to your brochure. Select any that you will need and then the “Next” button followed by the “Finish” button.

7. Customize your business brochure. You can make numerous modifications to the finished brochure on both the front and the back of it. The two sides can be accessed from choosing either 1 or 2 from the bottom bar of Publisher.

8. Edit to meet your needs. Select the part you would like to make the changes to and go ahead and make them. You can pick and delete any sections you do not want to keep. You can move the different parts around on the brochure by selecting a section and holding down your mouse, then moving them. If you double click on any of the pictures, you can change the features of the image. Add your own graphics using the “Insert” and “Picture” options.

9. After you have made all of your changes and the brochure looks just how you want it, go ahead and print the custom brochure.

Tips & Warnings

• It is always advised that you save a copy of your business brochure. You should do this as soon as you can while you are creating it.