Chapter 23. Creating Publications
Publisher 2016 simplifies publication design. Using many tools that are familiar to Word users, you can create professional-quality print and digital publications, including newsletters, brochures, cookbooks, thank-you cards, flyers, photo calendars, resumes, menus, catalogs, and much more.
An extensive collection of ready-made templates makes the process even easier—just select your preferred template, customize its text and pictures, and print or share online.
Creating a New Publication from a Template
Publisher offers an extensive collection of templates that can help make the publication process much easier.
Click the File tab.
Click New.
Click Built-In.
Click a template category.
Tip: Search Online for More Templates
Looking for even more templates? Use the search box at the top of the New page to search Microsoft’s online collection with thousands of additional options. 
Select the template you want to apply.
Optionally, customize the template.
Click Create.
Publisher opens a new publication using your selected template.
Note: Template Customization
Publisher enables you to customize a template’s color scheme, font scheme, business information, and more. See Chapter 24, “Enhancing and Managing Publications,” for more information about color schemes and business information sets.
Tip: More Options
Be sure to scroll down the page to view additional options, including those from manufacturers such as Avery and Staples.
Creating a New Blank Publication
Although starting with a template is the easiest way to create a publication, there are times when you might want to start with a blank canvas. This is particularly useful if you already have experience with Publisher and know exactly what you want to create.
Click the File tab.
Click New.
Click the blank page template you want to apply.
Click More Blank Page Sizes if you need a size other than 8.5” × 11”.
Note: Standard Page Size
The standard page size for a publication is 8.5” × 11” with options for portrait or landscape orientation. If you select a standard size, your blank publication opens automatically after step 3.
Select your preferred page size.
Optionally, customize the template.
Click Create.
Publisher opens a new blank publication.
Tip: Additional Blank Templates
Scroll down the page to view additional blank page templates by publication type (booklets, postcards, and so forth) or by manufacturer (such as 3M labels).
Tip: Customize Colors and Fonts
Optionally, you can customize the colors and fonts you use in your blank template by using the options above the Create button.
Viewing a Publication
Publisher offers several options for viewing your publications, including precise zooming, two-page spreads, and more.
Click the View tab.
Click Single Page to view each single page separately.
Click Two-Page Spread to display two pages at a time on your screen (only for multipage publications).
Tip: Pages Pane
If you have a long publication, you can view a specific page by selecting it in the Pages pane.
Click Whole Page to fit the page on the screen.
Click 100% to zoom into the page at 100 percent of its size.
Tip: Zoom Slider
Use the Zoom slider in the lower-right corner of the screen to precisely control the zoom level.
Replacing Text in a Template
If you create a publication using a template, your next step is to customize it. Publisher includes placeholder content that’s easy to replace.
View the number of words that can fit in the text box. Note that this information is available only for certain publication types.
Right-click the text box and select Delete Text.
Type your replacement text.
Tip: Plan Ahead
When using a template, plan your content to fit into the allotted space. Having a plan makes it much easier to create publications quickly.
Caution: Copy and Paste
An alternative to typing your replacement text into the text box is to copy and paste the text from another source, such as a text file. Be aware, however, that if you paste in too much text it won’t fit in the text box. An ellipsis (...) displays at the end of the box to alert you of this. Although you can make the text flow into a subsequent box, this is often complicated for a beginning user. When you’re just getting started with Publisher, it’s best to type in your text or ensure a fit before pasting.
Replacing a Picture in a Template
Replacing pictures in a template is another common Publisher task.
Double-click a picture to select it.
Right-click the picture and select Change Picture.
Click Change Picture.
Select a replacement picture from your computer, Bing Image Search, Facebook, or OneDrive.
Tip: How Do I Insert a Picture?
For a reminder of how to insert pictures in Office 2016, see Chapter 4, “Working with Pictures.”
Caution: Don’t Customize Too Much!
Although you can customize a template extensively using Publisher’s many tools, it’s best to focus on minor text, picture, and color changes if you’re a new user. As you become more familiar with Publisher, you can explore more advanced customization techniques.