In this tutorial, we will learn a few easy methods for converting an existing magazine template for use in another software. For this project, we will be using a template that we used in InDesign to create the many previous issues for MUSED, BellaOnline Literary Review. Once we have our template converted, we will use that template as a guide for building a new template in Affinity Publisher.

Any Changes Planned?

Now is a good time to make any changes to the magazine layout. As MUSED has always been about the art as much as the written content, we decided to keep the full-page cover image layout design. We also decided to keep the text on the cover limited to the name (masthead), dateline and issue number at the top of the cover and a list of the six categories at the bottom. Next, we decided to make some minor changes to the page layouts. Most of these changes would be very easy to make while building the new template.

The first step is to open the most recent issue of MUSED that was created in InDesign in to Affinity Publisher. We have three options for doing this. The first and easiest option is to open the .IDML file that was exported from InDesign. The .IDML file can be opened directly into Publisher. However, if you are like me and don't have access to InDesign or the .IDML file, you still have two more options.

The second option is good for those who have exported their previous magazine issues from InDesign as a .PDF file. Thankfully, we sell on-demand copies of each issue on LuLu.com. So I do have a .PDF version for every issue. As with the .IDML file, a .PDF file can also be opened in to Publisher.

Finally, if the first two options are not feasible, you can use a conversion app such as IDMarkz by Markzware. You can open your .INDD InDesign working file into the app, which will generate a preview of the issue pages. You can also use the app to export the .INDD file as a converted .IDML file, which can then be opened in to another software such as Affinity Publisher and many others. In fact, once you have your .INDD file opened in to the app, you can just click the button and the other software will open and display the new .IDML file.

Once we have our latest issue opened in to Publisher, we can evaluate each page and make any changes as needed.

https://markzware.com/products/idmarkz/