Introduction

Zines give artists, photographers, writers, and publishers a simple way to share work without large budgets or long production cycles. This guide shares zine examples from real creators and provides simple steps to print your own zine using Mixam’s professional, easy-to-use printing tools and features.

Zine Examples Explained

Zines come in many formats and subject areas. Some focus on images, while others use text, comics, or personal stories. The examples below show how different creators use zines to present their work, explore ideas, and connect with others.

Photo Zines

Photo zines act as portable galleries for photographers and visual artists. They work well for themed series, long-term projects, or collections of recent work. Some include artist notes or short essays that guide the viewer through the images, while others rely on a clean, image-first approach.

Example: Float Photo Magazine

One strong example of a photo zine is Float Photo Magazine. They curate work from emerging and established photographers around the world, bringing together artists under one theme. Printed in US Trade Large format with saddle-stitch binding, this zine offers a compact way for artists to display their work. It shows how creators can use print to reach new audiences and present a cohesive body of work.

Fanzines

The word ‘zine’ comes from ‘fanzine’, a format created by passionate communities who wanted to share stories, art, commentary, and ideas with each other. Fanzines can focus on any topic, including games, films, music, or characters.

​​Example: Newport Zine

One notable fanzine is Newport Zine, which features artwork from over 60 creators across a variety of fandoms. Their ninth issue uses perfect binding, measures 5 x 7.5 inches, and features a gloss laminated cover. This project shows the strength of collaborative publishing and highlights how print can bring communities together around shared interests. 

Comic Zines

Comic zines cover a wide range of styles: short comics, experimental layouts, one-panel-per-page stories, anthologies, or longer narrative pieces broken into issues. They allow artists to publish work at their own pace and share stories while keeping full control over the visuals, costs, and timeline.

Example: ‘Robosphere’ by Ethan Bates

Mixam customer Ethan Bates created a sci-fi zine called ‘Robosphere’, which imagines a future Earth where robots establish their own societies after humans depart. Characters draw from a broad mix of influences, and the printed issues give readers a closer look at the story’s development. He printed zines in A4 format, with saddle-stitch binding and a gloss-laminated cover, showcasing both his artwork and script excerpts. This example demonstrates how comic zines let creators bring complex worlds and characters to life in print, giving readers a tangible way to experience their stories. 

Poetry Zines

Poetry zines give writers a simple and flexible format to share work without traditional publishing barriers. They can include free verse, structured poems, short reflections, and experimental layouts. Some writers combine poems with personal photos or illustrations to set the tone and atmosphere from the very first page.

Example: String of Flings

‘String of Flings Poetry Zine’ by M. Marigold is a beautiful example of a zine that gathers short poems based on casual conversations and everyday moments. It shows how small, focused subjects can translate into a printed piece that feels personal and grounded.

Perzines

Perzines, or personal zines, focus on personal stories, reflections, and lived experiences. They often read like informal diary entries and can cover travel, family, daily routines, relationships, or personal milestones. Readers often connect strongly with these zines because they offer honest insight into another person’s life.

Example: Medellín to Montería

Mixam’s Social Media & Partnerships Manager, Chris Lesiak, created his own zine called ‘Medellín to Montería: A Colombian Adventure’. This digest-sized, staple-bound zine features a gloss-laminated cover and includes travel photos from his trip. The format keeps the reading experience casual and accessible, and demonstrates that photos and short observations can create a simple and effective piece of visual storytelling.

More Zine Examples

Beyond the core formats above, there are other types of zines that creators continue to explore. These categories can help you identify new directions for your own project.

Art Zines

Art zines focus on drawings, paintings, mixed media, or digital artwork. They often work as portfolios or themed collections. Some creators add short explanations about process or materials, while others let the images stand on their own. Art zines can help artists increase their visibility and share new work in a structured, physical format.

Music Zines

Music zines concentrate on artists, genres, scenes, and events. They may include interviews, reviews, concert photos, commentary, and behind-the-scenes insights. These zines have a long history of supporting independent music and helping fans document changes in local or global scenes. Music zines remain a strong option for writers, photographers, and music enthusiasts who want to contribute to wider conversations through print.

Political Zines

Political zines share ideas, experiences, and information about social issues. They may include essays, interviews, resources, or calls for involvement. Many movements have relied on zines because they allow fast, direct communication. Political zines continue to give individuals and groups a clear and accessible way to discuss topics that matter to them.

Graphic Design Tools for Printing Zines

Mixam offers several tools that help creators design zines with ease:

Downloadable Zine Templates

Mixam’s free zine templates help you set up accurate layouts with the correct margins and bleed settings. Choose your specifications in the Instant Quote Calculator and download the matching template. You can place the file into your design software as a guide and remove it before exporting your final print-ready PDF.

Design Online Tool

Mixam’s Design Online tool provides preset layouts, graphics, and typefaces. It’s useful for both new creators and experienced designers, and you don’t need additional software. You can rearrange elements, drop in images, and test your zine layout ideas before saving. 

Mixam’s AI Image Enhancer

If your images are low resolution, Mixam’s AI Image Enhancer can increase pixel density and sharpen them while maintaining detail. Save your files as PDFs before uploading to preserve fonts, images, and layout, and use 300 dpi resolution for the best results.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a zine, and how is it different from a magazine?

A zine is a self-published booklet that focuses on a specific topic, story, or idea. Zines are usually made by individuals or small groups and printed in short runs. Magazines are produced by larger teams, printed in higher quantities, and follow more formal publishing processes. To learn more about zines and zine culture, our What is a Zine? guide is a great place to start.

 

What size is best for printing zines?

The best size depends on your artwork, page count, and how you want readers to interact with your zine. 

Common zine format types include A5. It’s one of the most popular sizes for zines because it’s lightweight, cost-effective and works well for text, poetry, photography, and mixed-content zines. Another is A4 because it’s ideal for bold visuals, comics, artwork, or layouts that need more space.

There’s no single best size—choose the format that matches your design, reading experience, and budget.

 

What paper is best for zines?

Your choice of paper depends on your content and the finish you want:

• Silk paper: Smooth with a subtle sheen, making text and graphics bright and easy to read.
  
   
• Gloss paper: High shine that enhances photos and graphic-heavy content for vivid results.
  
   
• Uncoated paper: Soft, matt finish that gives colours a muted look and is easy to recycle.

Start Designing Your Zine Today

Zines continue to support artists, photographers, writers, and communities because they offer control, flexibility, and direct connection with readers. Mixam’s platform makes professional zine printing easy with clear pricing, fast turnarounds, flexible customisation and no minimum order requirements. Now is the time to start planning your zine, selecting materials, and preparing your files.

Visit Mixam’s zine printing page to explore more zine ideas and to start your project. You can also read our free Book Printing Guide for more details on print production and our PrintLink Guide to help you launch your own print-on-demand zine.

Main Image Credit: Float Photo Magazine