How to Design Your Own Multi-Page PDF With Shutterstock Editor

Shutterstock Editor has tons of easy-to-use tools that will help you make a multi-page graphic for print materials like magazine spreads or double-sided flyers.

In this quick tutorial I’ll show you how to use the Pages feature in our online photo editor to create a multi-page design. It’s perfect for things like magazine spreads, brochure design, or flyers. I’ll also show you how to save your design as a PDF so that you can easily share, send, and print it.

Follow along with this quick four-step tutorial, then apply it to your own multi-page design needs.

Step 1: Set Design Dimensions

In Shutterstock Editor you can change the canvas size in just one click. Head over to the Preset Sizes (P) tab to choose from a few digital media presets.

Since we’re making a design for print, I’m going to customize the document dimensions instead of using the presets. To do this, navigate to the Canvas Size tab on the right sidebar and change the dimension to Inches – that’s the typical measurement for print materials. I’ll use the standard page size of 8.5 x 11 inches. Be sure to unlock the dimensions using the padlock icon to ensure they aren’t constrained to each other. Save this size as a preset so that you can easily access it later.

Since I’m creating a multi-page document, I need to add another page. Navigate to the Pages (G) button on the left sidebar and select Add new page. This will create another page in the same dimensions as the original. You can add a few pages on this panel, and sort them by dragging and dropping in the order you want.

Step 2: Add Your Content

Shutterstock Editor lets you browse a collection of millions of images to use in your design, but you can also upload your own content. Simply click on the My Content tab on the left sidebar to upload content from your desktop, or to select images you have previously uploaded.

Select the image you want and use the handles to place and/or resize it on the page. I used the Shape Crop tool to crop the image in, and then the Align Right function to justify the image on the right of the page. After I place the first image, I’ll add an orange background from my saved content. Resize it to fill the page, then click on Send Backward in the Layers panel to move it behind the first image.

To work on the second page in the spread, go to the Pages (G) panel and select the second page you made in Step 1. Select your images and follow the same image placement and background steps as above to create a cohesive look across your multi-page document.

Step 3: Add Text

Now that I have the layouts finished, it’s time to add the text. Add headlines and subheadlines to your design with the Text (A) tool. Use headlines for big text, and subheadlines for any details you want to include. Remember that larger text is read first, then smaller text follows.

I chose Vidaloka for the headline. Change the Fill color to No Fill and increase the Stroke size for a headline with a simple, sharp outline. Copy and paste the text box to the second page and modify it there for a varying look.

Step 4: Save and Download as a PDF

Once your design is finished, click on the Download button on the top right of your screen. In this panel, select the checkbox that says “Download all pages” to make sure that you get both pages in your design. Then hit License and Continue. On the next page you can select the file format and DPI. Choose PDF – this file format makes it easy to send and print your design. Select 300 DPI, which is the standard for printing. Then hit Download.

Now you have a multi-page design in PDF format, ready to send to the printer!

See what else you can make with our photo editor in these helpful how-to’s. . .