Guide

Everything you need to make a print-ready RPG zine from a PDF.

1 What is a Zine?

A zine (short for magazine or fanzine) is a small self-published booklet. In the TTRPG world zines are the format of choice for one-shots, mini-supplements, player handouts, and indie rulesets — they're cheap to print, easy to assemble, and feel tactile at the table.

This tool does imposition — it takes your PDF (where each page is one zine page) and rearranges them onto A4 print sheets so that when you fold and staple you get a proper booklet in reading order.

2 Preparing Your PDF

What page size should my PDF be?

Each page in your source PDF should match your target zine size. A5 zine → A5 pages (148×210mm). A6 zine → A6 pages (105×148mm). The generator scales pages to fit, but matching the size avoids cropping.

What order should the pages be in?

Normal reading order — page 1, 2, 3 … The imposition engine handles the reordering automatically. Don't try to pre-arrange pages yourself.

Can I use any PDF?

Yes — exported from InDesign, Affinity, Canva, Google Slides, or even scanned pages. Vector PDFs print the sharpest. Embedded images work fine as long as they're at least 300 dpi at the final print size.

What about bleeds?

Add a 3mm bleed to each edge of your pages in your layout app if you want edge-to-edge printing. Most home printers can't print to the edge anyway, so a 5mm printer margin in the generator is a safe default.

3 Page Counts & Imposition

A5 Format

→2 A5 pages per A4 side, so 4 pages per sheet
→Page count must be a multiple of 4
→Common counts: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24pp
→A4 sheet folds once along the long axis

A6 Format

→4 A6 pages per A4 side, so 8 pages per sheet
→Page count must be a multiple of 8
→Common counts: 8, 16, 24, 32pp
→A4 sheet is cut horizontally, each half folds to A6

Tip: If your page count isn't a multiple of the required number, add blank pages at the end. Most layout apps can insert blank pages automatically. The generator will pad with blank pages if needed, but explicit blanks give you more control over where they fall.

4 Printing Tips

Duplex (Double-Sided)

Enable duplex printing in both the generator and your printer dialog. Set flip direction to Long Edge for A5 and A6 — this ensures front and back of each sheet align correctly.

Paper Weight

80gsm copier paper works fine. For a premium feel try 90–100gsm. Anything above 120gsm may not fold cleanly without scoring first.

Fit to Page

In your PDF viewer, choose "Actual Size" (not "Fit to Page" or "Shrink to Fit"). Scaling will shift your fold lines and ruin the imposition.

Test Print

Print a single sheet first, fold it, and check that pages land in the right order before committing to a full print run.

5 Assembly

Stack

Place all sheets in order — sheet 1 on the outside, last sheet in the centre.

Fold

For A5: fold the stack in half along the spine. For A6: cut each sheet horizontally first, then fold each half-stack.

Staple (Saddle Stitch)

Open the booklet to the centre spread. Place two staples along the spine — one third from each end. Close and flatten.

Trim (optional)

For a crisp edge, trim the open side with a guillotine or craft knife and ruler. Adds a professional finish.

Long-arm stapler: Standard staplers only reach ~4cm from the edge. For thicker booklets or centre-stapling wider paper you'll need a long-arm stapler (sometimes called a booklet stapler). Alternatively, use an awl to punch holes and bind with thread for a hand-stitched look.