Flyer Design Made Easy

There's no right or wrong way to design a flyer. There are just fast ways and slow ways - preferred ways and not-so-preferred ways. This lens will focus on designing flyers with a computer.

To design a flyer with your computer, you'll need text, page layout, or art software. Text software is limiting, but it can be done if you won't need graphic elements or if your software will support them. An attractive flyer can be made on a pre-printed background like the one pictured here. Just make sure your text is bold enough so it is easy to read.

Page layout software will allow you to use logos, photos and other art you may have access to in formats such as .JPG, .TIFF and .EPS. Art software lets you make your own graphics right on the flyer page, then add your text. You may be able to do special effects such as three-dimenstional and arced type, but the software may limit you if you want to use large amounts of regular type.

When it's time to lay out your flyer, you'll want to use a type style which is easy to read. Be sure to balance bold and regular type using the bold type to grab attention for the most important part of the message. Small and regular type styles can be used for the details of your message.

A flyer without graphics or arts is boring, so you'll want to incorporate some form of artwork. Perhaps the simplest way is to use a pre-printed background appropriate to your message. For example, use a background of trees along a river to announce a youth group picnic. Or use a butterfly in the background to announce the latest garden club workshop. This type of background is printed without full ink saturation so it won't interfere with your message.

Another type of background intentionally has parts of the image blank, or filled with white or black ink, so you have space for your message. These are suitable for short messages intended to grab the readers attention.

If you have a logo or other graphic readily identifiable by your group, or the flyer's intended readers, you may want to use it. If it does not reproduce clearly, however, it is better omitted.

You may want to use clip art to ornament your flyer, but be sure it is in the public domain or you have permission from the copyright holders.

Before you actually begin work on your flyer, you'll need to configure your page in the your page layout software, setting up margins and planning your work area for one, two, or four flyers.

Decide if your flyer will be 8.5" x 11", or if you can use a half sheet and get two flyers per page. The half page flyer should be designed on a landscape page using 5.5" x 8.5." When you're happy with your design, your software may let you group all of the type and objects, then copy and paste it on the second half of the page. This can then be photocopied and sliced.

For small announcements, you can design a mini-flyer to print four times per page. Design in one corner, allowing 4.25" x 5.5." Then group your objects and copy and paste three more times, making sure they are placed properly for cutting.

Whatever size you choose for your flyer, be sure to allow proper margins. Your printer likely will not print edge to edge even if you want to include that lovely background. So plan on 1/3" of an inch for larger posters, even 1/2" if you can spare the space. For pretty backgrounds, you'll want to leave 1/4," or 1/8" at the very least for mini-flyers. Uniform margins will give your flyer a less haphazard look, but you are the designer. Maybe a larger margin at the top or right will enhance your message or give your flyer a unique look. You're the judge.

When you're often called on to make the flyer, whether it be birthday party invitation flyers, company picnics or family reunions, it's good to have a few backgrounds handy to make your job a cinch. Here are some pre-printed flyer backgrounds designed by your lensmaster. The are set to print at less than full ink saturation for a pastel look that does not compete with your message.

If you have just a few words to say, and want something more vibrant, check my Zazzle store for more options.




Tree Reflection Flyer Background by cherylarogers
See more Tree Flyers




Carnation Background Flyer by cherylarogers
Browse more Floral Flyers


Riverside Background Pre-Designed Flyer by cherylarogers
See other Park Flyers



Blooming Gerbera Flyer by cherylarogers
flyer printing at Zazzle.com



Treasure Island Underwater Shells Flyer Background by cherylarogers
See other Beach Flyers


Hillsborough River at Sunset Flyer by cherylarogers
Create flyers at zazzle


Rose Background Flyer by cherylarogers
Browse other Floral Flyers


Beach Sunset Background Flyer by cherylarogers
See more Flyer Flyers

Download a free ebook I have written called Flyer Design Basics. Please feel free to share it with your friends and associates as long as you don't charge for it and don't make any changes. If you would like a joint venture arrangement, please contact me!

Baby Border Boy by mariabellimages
Create professional flyers on zazzle.com


Party Background by JAM_Design
design a flyer online with zazzle


sunflowers kiss by dlmtleArt
Make a custom printed flyer on zazzle


Flag Flyer by StarStock
View other American flag Flyers


Palm Tree / Beach theme wedding / event by perfectpostage
Create your own flyer designs on zazzle.com


Pink Gerbera Daisy Wedding Program by wasootch
More Pink gerbera Flyers


Daisy Flower Border by mariabellimages
More Illustration Flyers


Guitar Frame by mariabellimages
Design flyers on zazzle

As a nature photographer, I regularly shoot photos for background use. Some photos are taken with spaces to be used for text, others are edited in Adobe Photoshop so they can be used as a photo background. Some are lightened for use with dark text and some are darkened for use with light text. I would be happy to edit any of my photos for background use without an additional charge.

Check the "Backgrounds" section for photos you can use. You can purchase licenses for personal, media or commercial uses. You'll find floral images, river scenes, beach backgrounds and more. You'll find lots of sky backgrounds in the "Earth and Sky" section.

My latest offerings are Themed Designer Packs, a collection of six backgrounds around central themes like Floral Backgrounds, Beach Backgrounds, and River Backgrounds. These are reduced at least 50 percent off regular pricing, for personal, media or commercial uses.

An image license is a good idea if you prefer to work with a .jpg file and your own page layout software. You can use a local copy shop or you have access to a color printer. It's also a good idea if want to coordinate posters, flyers, rack cards, business cards, brochures and other promotional materials wtih a book cover, for example. Or if you want to design your own invitations with matching stamps and Thank You cards. It's a plan if you want to give prints to some of your friends as gifts, or if you plan to use and reuse the photo several years in a row to promote your picnic.

Visit my web site here.

Cheryl Rogers used to run a desktop publishing business from 1990-1994. Designing flyers was one of the jobs she regularly did for print shops, individuals and herself.

"I realize how time consuming designing a flyer can be if you don't have experience doing this," Cheryl says, "so I have developed these backgrounds, or templates, to make the job easier."

A former journalist, Cheryl is a free-lance writer, photographer and Scripture songwriter. She maintains two websites: Songs from the Word and Nature Photo Downloads.

In addition to writing on Squidoo, Cheryl writes for Constant Content and has contributed to CALLED Magazine, Simple Joy, Grace and Mercy Magazine and more. Cheryl offers services to clients in need of business writing, editing and proofing, design assistance, self publishing help, and print brokering. View her Elance profile here.

Cheryl has authored a devotions book, Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook, which encapsulates Bible principles for new and young believers.

"The goal of my book is to help new believers sidestep some of the common pitfalls by encouraging them to spend time daily with God and learn from him," Cheryl says, "I also address common issues like how to love and forgive others, why to set aside pride, and how to deal with tragedy and death, all from a non-denominational viewpoint."

Learn more about Fast Track to Victory at Cheryl's web site, Songs from the Word, where she shares the Scripture songs gave God her. She also offers a number of resources including a Bible-based health class, a Scripture poster gallery, Christian Gift Mall, Bible columns, and free Scripture art.

Cheryl also publishes New Christian Books Online Magazine, a publication with new book announcements, book excerpts, and features of interest to the Christian reading and writing communities. The magazine's store features Christian ebooks by Cheryl and other authors.