Tri-Fold Brochure in Affinity

• Template

  Get Template

• Photos Used

  Clear Glass Window with Wood

  Tulip, Coffee, Book on Table

  Alarm Clock with Brick Wall

  White Couch on Wood Floor

Phase 1 — Document Setup

Step 1 — Create new document

Tools: New Document panel
Settings:

• Size → Letter

• Pages → 2

• Turn off → Facing pages

• Margins → 0.5 in

• Bleed → 0.25 in

Step 2 — Understand panel sizing rule

Technique: Adjust fold widths

• One panel must be slightly smaller than others

• This prevents buckling when folded inward

Tools: View → Guides

Outside (Page 1):

• Vertical guide → 3.607 in

• Vertical guide → 7.274 in

Inside (Page 2):

• Vertical guide → 3.725 in

• Vertical guide → 7.392 in

Technique Tip:
Label pages with text (“Outside”, “Inside”) and lock guide layer so you don’t move them accidentally.

Phase 2 — Core Design Tools (You Only Need 3)

You will build the entire brochure using:

1. Picture Frame Rectangle Tool → images

2. Frame Text Tool → text blocks

3. Rectangle Tool → color shapes + highlights

Mastering these 3 = mastering brochure layout.

Phase 3 — Front Cover Layout

Step 3 — Add hero image

Tool: Picture Frame Rectangle

• Drag frame to bleed edge

• Drop image inside

• Resize image inside frame

Step 4 — Add title text

Tool: Frame Text Tool

• Font → e.g. Futura Demi

• Size → ~48 pt

• Adjust line spacing manually

Step 5 — Add subheading + body text

Techniques:

• Subheading → bold + accent color

• Body → ~10 pt black text

Step 6 — Add logo

Method: Drag-drop logo file → resize

Step 7 — Add accent bar

Tool: Rectangle Tool

• Same color as subheading

• Right-click → Arrange → Send to Back

  • You can try to use the arrange options for anything that fails to show up on your page.

Creates subtle visual hierarchy.

Step 8 — Reuse elements

Technique: Hold Alt / Option + drag
→ duplicates objects instantly

This speeds design and keeps styling consistent.

Phase 4 — Inside Spread Panels

Panel 1 — Image + Quote Block

Steps

1. Add full-height image frame

2. Add rectangle overlay (color block)

3. Paste quote text

4. Change text color → white

5. Reduce block opacity → ~80%

Design principle: Contrast + transparency adds depth.

Panel 2 — Q&A Text Layout

Steps

• Create question text → bold

• Duplicate text → make regular → answer

• Add thin rectangle bars beside each question to emphasize bold text

Technique: This creates visual hierarchy instantly.

Panel 3 — Simple Image Panel

Reuse earlier method:

• image frame

• text block

• accent rectangle

Phase 5 — Back Cover + QR Code

Step 9 — Add background panel

Tool: Rectangle Tool

• Fill page with color

• Right-click → Send to Back

Step 10 — Insert QR code

Tool: Rectangle Tool → right-click → QR Code Tool

Customize:

• Change color

• Data type → URL / Phone / SMS / Email

• Paste link

This makes brochure interactive.

Phase 6 — Preview + Export

Step 11 — Preview design

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + W
→ toggles guides off

Export Recommended settings:

• Format → PDF (Print)

• Include bleed

• Embed fonts