How to make a portfolio brochure template in Affinity Publisher

In this guide, you will learn how to create a portfolio template using Affinity software. The tutorial will cover various techniques for designing a portfolio template with a balance of images and text.

Before we jump in, are you interested in learning the ins and outs of Affinity Publisher? Well, look no further: Envato has created a free Affinity Publisher for Beginners course. Throughout this course, you will learn how to set up an Affinity Publisher document, create master pages, and work with type. If you’re more of a visual learner and would rather watch this Affinity Publisher tutorial, check out the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel.

What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is a document that displays your work, similar to a resume but more visual. It typically includes an introduction or table of contents listing the different sections, followed by your artwork presented in various layouts. The final page usually contains your contact information, such as your email address, phone number, and website.

Tutorial assets

To complete this Affinity Publisher tutorial and create a design portfolio template, you’ll need the following resources:

• Bergen Sans
• Close-up model
• Close-up black and white model
• Model black summer dress
• Portrait of a man
• Woman on motorcycle
• Man doing a fashion shoot
• Urban fashion girl
• Fashion model
• Side profile model

1. How to set up a design portfolio template in Publisher

Step 1

Open Publisher and create a new document. Set the dimensions to 279.4 mm x 215.9 mm with a Resolution of 300 DPI. 

Select the Pages tab, and make sure Facing pages is checked and Number of pages is set to 10.

Select the Margins tab, and change the settings to 20 mm, 16 mm, 16 mm, and 18 mm. 

On the Bleed tab, change the dimensions to 0 mm, 5 mm, 5 mm, and 5 mm.

Step 2

Locate the Swatches panel, select the three lines in the top-right corner, and choose Add Global Color. Set the values to C=22 M=24 Y=29 K=4, and click Add. Repeat the process to create two more new swatches: C=49 M=39 Y=38 K=20 and C=35 M=12 Y=12 K=0. 

2. How to set up master pages for your portfolio template

Step 1

In the Pages panel, double-click on the Master A icon at the top to bring it up on the screen.

Pull out a guide from the left-hand ruler to 139 mm on the left-hand page of the spread, and a guide from the top ruler down to 106 mm to mark the center point between the page’s margins.

Repeat this process on the right page.

Step 2

Select the Frame Text Tool (T) and create a small text frame at the bottom of the left page. Make sure it’s centered.

Type in “-   -“.

Set your cursor between the two dashes and go to Text > Insert > Fields > Page Number. Set the Font to Bergen Sans Semi Bold, Size 12 pt, Tracking 10, and Align Center.

From the Swatches panel, set the Font Color to C=22 M=24 Y=29 K=4 (Light Brown). 

Step 3

Copy (Command-C) and Paste (Command-V) the text frame, moving the copy over to the right page, in a mirrored position at the bottom of the page.

Step 4

In the Pages panel, click on the Add Master icon at the top of the panel. Make sure Page Layout is set to Single, and then click OK. Then Right-Click > Apply Master to Pages from the panel’s menu.

Type in “1-3, 10” and click OK to remove page numbers from the front and back cover and the first inside spread.

3. How to add a background color to brochure templates

Step 1

Double-click on Page 1 in the Pages panel to bring it up on screen. This will be the front cover of your portfolio.

Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a tall, narrow shape across the left edge of the page, setting the Fill to C=33 M=12 Y=12 K=0 (Light Blue).

Step 2

Scroll down to Page 3 and create a second shape across the whole page, extending the edge up to the bleed and the spine and setting the Fill to the Light Brown swatch.

Select this shape and Copy (Command-C) it. Scroll down to Page 8 and Paste (Command-V) the shape onto the page.

Scroll down to the final page, Page 10, which will be the back cover of your portfolio, and Paste (Command-V) again. Switch the Fill to Light Blue.

4. How to add images to your portfolio

Step 1

Now let’s add images to spruce up our portfolio template’s cover and inner pages. Head back up to Page 1, the front cover of your portfolio. 

Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create an image frame across the right side of the page, extending it up to the bleed edge on the top and bottom.

Go to File > Place, navigate to an image for your cover (in this case, I’m using this close-up portrait), and Open it.

Step 2

Create a smaller image frame on the center of Page 2, placing another image (here, I’ve used another image of the same model).

Step 3

Create another image frame on Page 4, centering the frame using the guides. File > Place, selecting an image with a portrait layout, such as this one of a woman on a beach.

Double-click inside the frame to directly select the image, and shuffle its position so that the top half of the image is visible inside the frame.

Copy (Command-C) and Paste (Command-V) the image frame, moving the copy over to the facing page. Then shuffle the image upwards so that the bottom half of the image is visible in the frame.

Step 4

Start adding more images to the next spread, adjusting the size and layout of your frames.

On Pages 8 and 9, make smaller frames for your images and place them across the spread.

Step 5

On Page 1, use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a shape over the right side of the image. Set the Fill to Light Brown.

With the shape selected, go to the Layers panel and change the Blend Mode to Multiply.

Copy (Command-C) the shape and head down to Page 6. Paste it onto the page, adjust the Fill to Light Blue, and adjust the width and height of the shape, as shown below.

5. How to format the typography on brochure templates

Step 1

Let’s wrap up our portfolio by adding some much-needed text. Use the Frame Text Tool (T) to create a text frame on the front cover, across the center of the image, typing in a title and setting the Font to Bergen Sans Semi Bold, Size 95 pt, and Font Color to White.

Add more text below, set in a smaller size of Bergen Sans, and type in a subtitle.

Add your name to the cover, switching the Font Color to Light Blue. Rotate the text frame and position it along the left side of the cover.

Step 2

Scroll down to Page 3. Use this page for a contents page or an introductory page. Format a title set in Bergen Sans Bold, Size 83 pt.

Add body text below, set in Bergen Sans Regular, Size 13 pt. Set the text of both frames to Align Right and flush against the right-hand margin.

Step 3

You can use both of these text frames as a model for populating other pages.

Step 4

Add contact details to the back cover of your portfolio, setting the Font to Bergen Sans as before.

Add context to your images by adding captions, set in Bergen Sans Italic, Size 11 pt, and a C=49 M=39 Y=38 K=20 swatch.

6. How to export your portfolio for printing

Step 1

Make sure to File > Save your portfolio. Then, go to File > Export. Choose PDF (for print) from the Preset menu.

Step 2

Scroll down and make sure Include Bleed and Include Printers Marks are checked before clicking Export.

You’re done! You learned how to make a portfolio template

Now you can easily create brochure design templates using the skills and techniques covered here. We started this tutorial by answering the question: what is a portfolio? Then, I discussed where to place important information such as the introduction and your artwork. I taught you how to make a portfolio template using images, text, and hints of color. We concluded this Affinity Publisher tutorial by demonstrating how to export your document for printing. 

This tutorial is also available using another popular design program—learn how to make a portfolio brochure template in InDesign.

Interested in a deep dive on Affinity Publisher tutorials?

I’ve compiled a set of tutorials using Affinity software that will help you become an expert in no time. You can use these tutorials to create a variety of blank brochure templates, or they may help you come up with new portfolio ideas. Give them a try!

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  How to Design a Book Cover in Affinity Publisher

  

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  20 Jun 2024

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  How to Wrap Text Around an Image in Affinity Publisher

  

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  13 May 2024

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  How to Create a Stylish Magazine Layout in Affinity Publisher

  

  Grace Fussell

  12 Dec 2023

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  How to Create a Tri-Fold Brochure in Affinity Publisher (Free Brochure File)

  

  Grace Fussell

  15 Aug 2023