Using Your Home Office to Create a Booklet

Nowadays many people are using their computers for home businesses, school projects, personal and family document creation and scrapbooking. This transfers many people's need to use a professional printer for their printing needs; to more reliance on home computers and printers to fulfill these needs. Many people would not only like to create single documents; but they would also like to create booklets for home business advertising and other needs. Many people think creating a booklet can be something that's hard to do. But, it is actually pretty simple. You can create a pretty nice looking booklet with your home office.

In fact typing a booklet is one of the easiest things that you can do with your computer's basic document creation software-including Word Pad. If you have a basic system like Windows XP or one from a few years before; typing a booklet is pretty easy. The newer running systems and document creation software have many more functions and abilities. This can lead to a lot of confusion. But, most people that use more advanced document creation software are familiar with how to use this software before purchasing this type of software.

Most beginners will have the software to complete the simple functions listed below. Your software may do more; and you can play around with the extra functions if you like. But, if your software only does the following; then you will be fine. You will still create a nice booklet. Creating a booklet at home allows you to save money without having to hire a professional printer.

You can use just about any document creation software to type a booklet. The key truly lies in how you print the final copy. Most computer platforms allow you to turn any document with a series of pages into a booklet.

Colors and graphics in your document can make your booklet look really nice. If you have a color printer, colored ink and created graphics for your cover page and booklet; you might want to take advantage of these tools.

You must first have a saved document of at least 4 pages that you would like to turn into a booklet and a printer in good working condition that communicates with; and prints from your computer. Put paper in your printer.
You can also use a color printer and colored ink. This is optional as is using a graphics design software.

Here's how you do it:

1. Go to "FILE," and choose to "PRINT," your document.

2. After you hit, "PRINT;" an options menu will pop up. Select "PREFERENCES," or "OPTIONS," from the options palette. Choose "MULTIPLE PAGES," and choose to have two pages per sheet. Choose to have your booklet print on the front and back of the paper.

3. Print out your booklet and attach with staples in the center.

In addition; some document creation programs will allow you to type a booklet in booklet style from the beginning. In order to do this you must select "PAGE SETUP," from the "FILE," drop down menu. Select "MULTIPLE PAGES," and choose your desired margins for your document.

If you have graphics to add to the cover of your booklet; you can create a cover page by cutting and pasting the graphics to the beginning of your booklet and pressing "CONTROL," and "ENTER," at the same time to make a page break.
Remember that booklets will print out smaller than regular page size. Two pages will fit on each 8.5 by 11 inch page. Booklets look better with pages on the front and back. If you don't choose to print out your booklet with pages on the front and back; your booklet will seem to have blank pages.