How to Elevate Your Brochures With the Photo Editor
Brochures are one of the most versatile ways to market your business or nonprofit. A well-designed brochure allows you to clearly distill complex information in a small amount of space. This is particularly useful if you own a small business that provides a variety of different service options, or run a company that emphasizes values-driven messaging. Brochures don’t cost much to print, and with BeFunky’s Brochure Maker, you have access to free brochure templates that make the design process a breeze.
Another benefit of the Brochure Maker over other brochure designing platforms is that you have automatic access to the in-platform Photo Editor. This powerful photo editing platform allows you to instantly enhance images, add photo filters, remove background clutter, and more. In this article, we’ll show you how simple it is to edit photos directly in the Brochure Maker and elevate your marketing brochure design in seconds. Plus, check out our Inspo section for tips on making the best of the Photo Editor’s many tools.
How to Enhance Brochures With the Photo Editor
In printed marketing materials like flyers and brochures, good graphic design is essential – but a truly impactful design still needs to be supported by beautiful imagery. Using the in-platform Photo Editor to enhance your images can completely change the overall look and feel of your brochure: Here’s how to use it to take your marketing brochures to the next level.
Step 1: Choose a Brochure Template
To start, head over to the Brochure Maker and select a brochure template that suits your needs. These templates have been professionally designed and formatted for ultimate ease of use. Each brochure design has matching front and back templates so that you can effortlessly print bi-fold or tri-fold brochures.
Step 2: Customize Your Brochure
You can keep your design similar to the original template and simply change the content of the brochure text, but Brochure Maker templates are also fully customizable, from fonts to colors to graphics. Check out the Customize tab to adjust the color of the background, or change the brochure size using the Smart Resize tool.
Click on any element of your brochure design to customize it. You can replace or add additional graphics by selecting the Graphics tab in the sidebar, or add new text using the Text tool.
Once you’re happy with your overall brochure design, upload your photos to the Image Manager, or choose a few of BeFunky’s virtually unlimited stock photos. Click and drag them onto the canvas to replace the existing placeholder images.
Step 3: Enhance in the Photo Editor
The photos we’ve chosen for this brochure are great, but they could use a few touch-ups and effects for greater visual impact. Click on any photo and choose Edit Image to seamlessly enter the Photo Editor, where you’ll have access to an entire suite of professional editing tools.
Photo editing features are split into several different tabs for ease of use. This image is a little bright and high-contrast for our needs, so we’re going to head to the Edit tab and use the Exposure tool to fix it.
Using Warm Tones 3 in the Effects tab brings out the red and orange tones in the food while mellowing out the green colors in the rest of the image.
Then, follow it up with Film Grain effect lowers the contrast and makes the image feel more cinematic, which is perfect for this elevated brand.
And that’s it! Repeat the same steps with your other images to make all your photos as cohesive as possible.
Step 4: Save and Print Your Brochure
Once you’re satisfied with your edits, click the Save button at the top of the canvas. For printing purposes, make sure to save your brochure as a print-quality PDF. This way, you’ll get the highest quality print results.
Here’s how our photo edits have transformed the look of this catering brochure. With subtle changes to the exposure and some light effect layering, it's become more sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing.
How to Print a Brochure
Because tri-fold brochures require precision, it’s best to send them off to a professional printer. To create a single double-sided file for printing, first create the back of your brochure with the matching Brochure Maker template. Once that PDF is saved, you can stitch the two PDFs together into one file.
Inspiration for Your Next Brochure
The Photo Editor offers tons of tools for customizing your brochure depending on your goals and audience. Here are three ways you can use the Photo Editor to enhance your overall design and make your next marketing brochure stand out.
Draw Attention With Artsy Effects
To add a unique spin to your brochure, consider using an Artsy effect on background images. Painting and drawing filters like Oil Painting, Vector Art, or Watercolor make your brochure look like a handcrafted work of art. This is particularly useful for scenic landscapes in travel brochures, or as a backdrop for text when describing your creative services. This example uses Watercolor GFX 1.
Add Glamor With Lens Flares
Cool, concentrated lens flares add a sense of drama and sophistication for hair and beauty businesses. Warm, natural lens flares like Simple and Sunny Day used below can help evoke a sense of serenity in health and wellness brochures.
Increase Visual Interest With Textures
For businesses like lifestyle brands, wellness centers, or wedding venues, texture effects can enhance brochure backgrounds or featured images. The Textures tool includes various effects such as Bokeh, Grunge, and Paint, adding depth and engaging visual interest without overwhelming your design. Here, we’ve used Paper and Fabric textures.
Portrait Enhancer for Professional Services
Brochures for businesses such as real estate agencies, healthcare providers, or photographers often feature portraits and headshots. The Portrait Enhancer lets you smooth skin, brighten eyes, whiten teeth, and more, ensuring that all your subjects look their best.
Create Better Brochures With the Photo Editor
Brochures are highly informative marketing assets that can be combined with your website, social media, and other digital efforts to establish your brand and attract customers. As a primarily visual medium, brochures demand the best possible design and imagery - and luckily, the combined power of the Brochure Maker and Photo Editor can help you achieve just that. Start your first design today in the Brochure Maker!
