Create a flyer with the free Scribus desktop publishing software
Arranging Items
Although you can distribute all the elements of the flyer strictly by eye, if you want to arrange the individual objects with a certain regularity, you can ask Scribus to help you with its Align and Distribute tool, which you open from the Windows menu.
By default, the software aligns all the selected objects by the First Selected element as a reference. You can, however, align a set of items by Guide, Margins, or Selection instead. You can also specify whether the program aligns the objects by Moving them or by Resizing. Ten different variations in horizontal and vertical direction are available by clicking an icon in the alignment options (Figure 7).
If you want to distribute objects (e.g., multiple photos) evenly with equal spacing in a row, 14 options are available by clicking an icon. The Distance setting lets you adjust the spacing of elements.
After inserting, for example, four photos (or at least creating the frames for them), you can select the four frames then click on Windows | Align and Distribute. In the Align tab, select the Center on horizontal axis icon (mouse over the icons to see all your choices), then go to the Distribute tab and specify Distribute centers equidistantly horizontally to assign equal distances between the frames. Scribus distributes the selected objects between the first and the last selected elements (Figure 7).
Once you've distributed and arranged objects using Scribus, it's time to add graphics to liven up the whole look. For a party flyer, anything goes – you can use balloons, garlands, scrolls, paint blotches, or just about anything that looks full of happiness and life.
You can make this step easier for yourself by first placing all the graphics candidates on the work surface, where you also can store them temporarily if they interfere with other work on the document. From there, you choose the image you need and arrange it in the document.
Finalizing
After arranging all the items and achieving satisfactory results, it's best to stop working on the document for a moment. Especially when have worked on a project for some time, you should put a little distance between it and yourself. After some time, take a close look at your creation again – ideally in a quiet moment and as hard copy: This makes it easier to detect errors and inconsistencies. It also pays to call in an independent third party to take a look at the design. Errors and omissions in particular will catch the proofreader's attention much faster than yours, because you know what you want, and your mind will try to meet those expectations.
Next, it's time to clean up. Remove all the unnecessary objects, such as hidden items and objects you have placed on the work surface. Then, you can also ditch your alternative design, if you created one, before continuing to export the data.
For a good impression of how the flyer will appear later, use the print preview (File | Print Preview). Select Display CMYK to gain a sense of what the flyer could look like after converting to CMYK colors, which are used in the printing process. For flyers on glossy paper, however, the preview is a little closer to the real thing if you disable this option (Figure 8).
PDF Export
If you want to send the flyer to a commercial printer or copy shop to reproduce it, or even if you only plan to send it via email or the web, PDF is the format of choice. In this way, the document will look basically the same everywhere and thus always convey the message you intended.
For the PDF export, Scribus offers compatibility with the PDF 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 standards, as well as the PDF/X-3 format frequently required by printers. During the export process, the program checks the data and issues warnings if it encounters any problems that you need to correct (e.g., missing characters or fonts, the wrong resolution in an image).
The export function does not check whether all the photos and graphics are integrated correctly, so you will not get any warnings if the document contains photos in RGB mode instead of CMYK mode, as needed for printing. You have to pay attention to this yourself. Even impermissible transparencies (particularly in gradients) are not always spotted correctly by the application.
You also need to adjust some settings in the PDF export. For example, all fonts used in the PDF need to be embedded. Scribus does this by default, but you should check the settings in the Fonts tab. In the Pre-Press tab, take a look at the output profile: It must correspond to your print shop's specifications (Figure 9).
If you want to create a PDF for the web, adjust the General settings and configure the compression quality for your images. Additionally, Generate Thumbnails under File Options often proves useful.
« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.