The Secret to Amazing Zines - You’re Missing This Step!

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The step of prototyping has been the most helpful to me when making zines! After making and selling plenty of books over the years, I've learned that you can make a simple zine that still feels special and professional. The secret to this is working with your existing art and prototyping with a zine dummy~ All about that and more in this video.
Stay tuned til next month for a follow-up on constructing the final zine, and how this process influences the result.
Step-by-step tutorial zine format I’m using in this video is here for free subscribers on my Patreon: www.patreon.co...
Find me here:
Webshop: politecopress.com
IG: / bybelter
Portfolio: kelbelter.com
Patreon: / kellybelter
My next book fair is Incheon ABF on June 1st! / incheon_artbook_fair
If you want to see more from our studio, my husband Chris makes videos too! You can find him here: / @chrisdacanha

[@KelBelter]

Part 2 is out now! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqKtg6ipga97a5Y It shows the printing, folding (top-down demonstration around 12 minute mark), and finishing process as well as 4 follow-along exercises for leveling-up your next or current zine project. For those who are interested in how to fold the zine prototype in this video, you can see a written and photo tutorial for free on my Patreon here: www.patreon.com/posts/how-to-design-104893180?Link&

[@liorsmith]

I'm a designer by training. The process you're explaining is what I do for graphic design type projects. Part of the ethos of zine making for me is that they're quick and dirty, and imperfect, punk-style. For me, zine making is an excuse to NOT do the careful process you use here. Though I can imagine that you'd sell better zines that have been carefully designed. There's no wrong way, this isn't a criticism. I think zines can be amazing too when people DO miss the steps of making prototypes. Single-drafted zines can be beautiful in their rawness.

[@KelBelter]

Sure! Everyone has their own way. Both are valid. In my opinion, zines have also evolved over time to cover a larger category of work from ‘quick and dirty’ photocopies to also more polished visual publications. Furthermore, many people don’t come from a design background, or have 0 experience printing and self publishing. So, I think it’s nice to explain the options of prototyping, so people can tailor it to their needs.

[@Kasia0740]

Your art style, zine idea, editing... It's so comforting

[@KelBelter]

Thank you for the sweet comment!

[@angebots]

Can’t wait to see the final zine! I love the small fold-out format 😊

[@KelBelter]

Thanks Angela! Same, really hoping it translates well to the final version too 🙂

[@CreativeKristenTaylor]

I started watching this primarily because I love all your videos, though as soon as you said we could go back to old work and make a zine out of anything, I felt MASSIVE inspiration to try making my own tiny zine

[@KelBelter]

Yes! Love to hear that. Hope you found something fun in the archives!

[@DaveysCakes]

Such an amazing vid Kelly 😮 From the Editing , Explanations (story telling) , Art direction and even the creative way you did the sponsorship was so well done 👍

[@KelBelter]

Thanks David! Appreciate you :-)

[@spyscout7]

This whole video is so comfy. I really love your diary of little drawings. I want to start doing something similar

[@KelBelter]

I’ve found it’s super helpful for ideating later, and making them so small makes it very low pressure to keep up with! Definitely recommend it

[@michaelalexanderjob]

a talented artist without an ego!! great catalogue of valuable information

[@anniebell6846]

Your riso is anything but simple . It’s stunning artwork

[@charleyzzzzz]

I just love finding new zine artists, your style makes me happy ❤

[@ChantelleArts]

I've always found zines so fascinating 🥰

[@Haileyyyoung]

Wow i just wanted to say that im super happy to found your channel right before i go to bed lol love your editing and your art works!!! so happy that we living in the same country it somehow make me extra comfy while im watching your videos haha

[@KelBelter]

So happy to hear you’re watching from the same place! ☺️

[@east_coastt]

You’re getting some hate here but ignore it, it’s okay to do things you’re own way 👍 thanks for sharing

[@Sara-ti7he]

Such an inspiring video!! I love your illustration. Thank you for sharing your work!

[@KelBelter]

Thanks so much Sara!

[@bujowithzozo]

first time watching your videos, and I feel so inspired! I've always wanted to make a zine, thank you for breaking down your process!

[@bujowithzozo]

i love your doodle diary too, definietly want to give that a try! new subbie :)

[@KelBelter]

Thank you! Hope it gave you some ideas for a zine of your own :-)

[@alphonzosolorzano5011]

Great video as always. Love how youre always practicing/sharing your sustainable & recycling ethos. ❤

[@KelBelter]

Thank you! Finding new ways to use old materials is so fun

[@alphonzosolorzano5011]

@@KelBelter yes!! As a fellow artist/printmaker & past commercial printer, I wholeheartedly appreciate it

[@helloalanframe]

I like the small format. Would love to see a video about your sketchbooks😊

[@KelBelter]

Yeah! I’d love to explore that topic a bit more too. Have been using my sketchbook more consistently this year and it’s been so helpful whenever I try to make a bigger project like this

[@paulinetayag9758]

Hi Kel! I first saw your work in instagram with the postcard calendars, very happy to see you in my recommended! I love your art style so much, and this was a very fun video ❤

[@KelBelter]

Thanks Pauline! Happy you enjoyed it and that you found me here too ☺️

[@Antisympathy]

Did you show how to fold them? I want to try that last version of the fold out zine and that page turning one.🤔

[@KelBelter]

All of the zines in this video have the same format since they are all prototypes of the same thing. The cover is 2x the length of the normal pages, so you fold it in half, and then in half again! In part 2 I can show a more detailed breakdown, but you can see me folding and unfolding it several times in this video too! Besides the cover, the rest of the zine is very simple. It’s just pages folded in half and stapled :-) I’ll also do a photo breakdown and write up on the free version of my Patreon if that would be helpful!

[@KelBelter]

Hi! Just wanted to let you know I uploaded the unfolding zine tutorial with photos and directions on my Patreon! It’s available for free there, link is in the video description :-)

[@Antisympathy]

@@KelBelterappreciate you letting me know and I’ll definitely try it out.

[@hadakisu]

why did it took me so long to find you? loved watching this :,)

[@KelBelter]

Better late than never~ Thank you for finding and watching 😊

[@kristinpothast]

I loved this video, it was very inspiring! Where do you get your daily planner? I really like the idea of a little daily visual record.

[@KelBelter]

It’s a hobonichi techo, which you can find on Amazon and maybe also Etsy/in some stationery stores. If you search ‘hobonichi techo 2024 a6’ it should come up!

[@JoanneSt.Laurent]

Awesome video thank you for sharing your process! ❤ I love your zine format, would you consider doing a tutorial video on how to put it together? I’m most familiar with an 8 page zine where you cut in the middle of a 8.5 x 11 paper but I’m not sure how to create a zine with more pages like yours.

[@KelBelter]

Hi! There is a little bit of a tutorial top-down in the latest video on my channel. I link it in this video as well I think! And then there’s also the picture format (photo and written tutorial, linked in description too.) But if you really want then I would be happy to make a mini tutorial video here if you’d like more details! Let me know

[@JoanneSt.Laurent]

@@KelBelter No worries! I will be sure to check both tutorials and see if I grasp the technique lol

[@stoynaatanasova443]

You inspire me so much

[@YannisBikuta]

Cool video ❤ from switzerland

[@articutmyself]

Getting some serious Van Neistat vibes from this video. Great job.

[@KelBelter]

Appreciate that! 😊 I clearly am also a fan of synth-y sounds

[@dianaloza7579]

thanks for this, so inspiring❤️ I would like to know what printer do you use?

[@KelBelter]

It’s a risograph printer and the model is from the RZ series!

[@samuelsoteloavila]

What daily planner do you use?

[@KelBelter]

It’s a Hobonichi Techo original version, A6 size!

[@samuelsoteloavila]

@@KelBelter Thank you so much. All of your work and content is very inspiring

[@ianscheid5032]

Keep it up!!

[@KelBelter]

Always! ☺️

[@johndoe-rq1pu]

Is the step that I'm missing "knowing what a Zines" is? I think that's what it is.

[@KelBelter]

The main focus of this video is the step of prototyping/making a dummy before printing your final work :-)

[@kateapple1]

🤦‍♀️ magaZINES as in a short magazine 😂

[@kateapple1]

At least she didn’t pronounce it ZYNES 😂

[@DanaKrystle]

😂 same

[@CrankyHermit]

Afraid of the maga?

[@whosaidcookies6600]

Feel huge impact by Van Neistat

[@KelBelter]

I am definitely a fan of his musical choices haha, so I ended up recording a bunch of synthy sounds of my own and they're really useful!

[@HarveySidney-r7o]

Young Patricia Thomas Amy Hernandez Ruth

[@bkgujdtuyt.l6407]

Bjork vibes

[@anamoarry3750]

I was the 1k like 😗🫧

[@jonadol]

The way i used to pronounce this as “zyne” 😭 I cringe

[@startpage717]

Why didn't you show us how to fold for those who do not know rather than so much talking?

[@KelBelter]

There’s a link to a tutorial on folding if you check the description and pinned comment. And video top-down in part two, which is the newest video on my channel

[@whatifitnt]

@startpage717 Why don't you go work on your own channel instead of criticizing others who are working hard give us helpful information?

[@MissMangakaChan]

I think your phrasing was way too harsh than needed. She's still giving us content completely for free, if you wish to see more of the process but can't ask politely just go find it on your own.

[@startpage717]

@@MissMangakaChan "Harsh" is subjective. "Polite"? Direct yep, explain "Polite"?

[@MissMangakaChan]

@@startpage717 saying “rather than so much talking” at a person that is making her own video is surely not nice. And very unnecessary I must say.