How to get your first newspaper off to a great start

It feels great to hold a newspaper you’ve created in your hands, but getting started for the first time can be daunting. Don't worry – we're here to help! Below are tips from our team to turn that blank page into a brilliant newspaper that you can share with the world.

1. Order (free!) samples

Our samples will help you get a feel for different shapes and sizes of newspapers. Use them to compare digital and traditional printing and get your hands on our different types of paper stocks. They’re completely free and we can send them just about anywhere in the world, so order yours today. 

Top tip: Tabloid and broadsheet pages are BIG. Use a sample to get a sense of scale so your layout works on a bigger page.

Jewellery brand Daisy sends a copy of their quarterly newspaper, The Daisy Times, with online orders.

 

2. Do your homework 

It may sound boring, but reading our printing guides can save so much time in the long run. These will help you make design decisions to get your newspaper looking its very best - from how to pick the best colours and photos for printing to how to tell your gutter from your bleed (there’s even a glossary).

3. Get a head start with templates

Use the free templates for InDesign or Scribus that you can download on our website. They’re set up to the right size and shape, so you can get started straight away!

If you don’t have design software, you can create your own templates in Microsoft Word — see our guides for PC or Mac.

Dropbox created this newspaper for their annual women in tech conference, Grace Hopper.

4. See inspiring examples

We have creative customers all over the world, printing a huge range of newspapers for brands, weddings, portfolios, lookbooks, posters, annual reports and more. See inspiring examples on our blog and Instagram at @newspaperclub.

5. Prepare to print

When your PDF is ready, upload it to our website and the online file checker can tell if your file is OK to print. It will pick up problems with page set-up, low-resolution images, missing fonts and transparencies. 

Top tip: You can upload a file at any stage without having to order, so it’s a good way to check your design is on the right track, even if you have a few pages still to finish.

The Scribner Hollow Post is a guide to local businesses and goings on from Scribner's Catskill Lodge, a boutique hotel in upstate New York.

 

6. Test it out

For digital orders, it’s easy to print one copy to test your design and images. If you’re planning to print an order with a value over £150/€200/$200, print one copy and we’ll credit you for the cost when you place your full order. Just email our team when you’re ready to go.

7. Ask us anything!

Our friendly customer service team has years of experience helping our customers get their designs into print. We can check your file and answer any questions, even if it’s still a work in progress. Get in touch at support@newspaperclub.com.