How to Create an Event Flyer Template in InDesign

Final product image — What You'll Be Creating

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to put together a colorful gradient flyer in Adobe InDesign. Adaptable to any event, such as parties or gigs, this is a versatile flyer template which you can easily customize with your own colors and content.

In this tutorial suitable for relative beginners to InDesign, you’ll pick up some transferrable print design techniques, including formatting typography and working with gradient swatches and layers.

Looking for easy-to-edit event flyers? These flyer templates on GraphicRiver and Envato Elements come in a huge range of customisable styles. Discover our picks for the best event flyer templates here:

Or try designing a flyer right in your browser, using an online flyer maker and an event flyer template:

24 Cool Event Flyer Templates Using a Flyer Maker (Without Photoshop)

Nona Blackman

23 Nov 2018

What You’ll Need to Create Your Flyer

We’ll be creating the flyer design in Adobe InDesign, and we'll also be dipping into Adobe Illustrator to edit the fireworks graphics. You can use any vector software you have to hand, such as Inkscape or Sketch.

You’ll also need to download the following fonts and graphics from Envato Elements:

Install the font on your computer and you’re ready to get started.

1. How to Set Up Your Flyer in InDesign

Step 1

Go to File > New > Document.

Set the Page Size to A4, and deselect Facing Pages.

Add a Bleed of 5 mm, and click Create.

Step 2

Expand the Layers panel (Window > Layers) and double-click on Layer 1, renaming it Background.

Choose New Layer from the panel’s main menu (at top-right), and name this second layer Shapes.

Create three more new layers in this order—Type, Noise, and, at the top of the pile, Title.

Then lock all the layers except Background, which we’ll work on first.

2. How to Create a Gradient Swatch in InDesign

Step 1

Expand the Swatches panel (Window > Color > Swatches), and choose New Color Swatch from the panel’s drop-down menu.

With the Color Type set to Process and Mode to CMYK, set the levels below to C=91 M=77 Y=0 K=0. Click Add and Done.

Repeat to create a second new swatch, C=0 M=86 Y=89 K=0.

Step 2

Choose New Gradient Swatch from the Swatches panel’s main menu.

Name this Gradient Swatch and set the Type to Linear.

Click on the left-hand stop on the Gradient Ramp at the bottom of the window, and choose your blue swatch, C=91 M=77 Y=0 K=0, from the Swatches list for this.

Set the right-hand stop to your coral swatch, C=0 M=86 Y=89 K=0.

Move both stops close together around the middle of the ramp.

Then click Add and Done.

Step 3

Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a shape across the whole page, extending the edges up to the bleed.

From the Swatches panel, set the Fill Color of the shape to Gradient Swatch.

Go to Window > Color > Gradient to open the Gradient panel. From here, you can adjust the angle of the gradient to -45 degrees.

3. How to Create a Typographic Pattern for Your Flyer

Step 1

Lock the Background layer and unlock the Type layer.

Use the Type Tool (T) to create a text frame on the page. Type in ‘New Year Party’ and from either the top Controls panel or the Character panel (Window > Type & Tables > Character), set the Font to Milano Sans, Size 100 pt and Tracking to 30.

For now, set the Font Color to [Paper], from the Swatches panel.

Step 2

On the text frame, Right-Click > Transform > Rotate.

In the Rotate window type in 45 and click OK. Position the frame over the top-left section of the page.

Step 3

Edit > Copy and Edit > Paste the text frame, moving the copy over to the right of the original frame.

Select both text frames and Copy and Paste them, building up a sequence of three rows of text frames.

Step 4

For the fourth row of frames, leave a gap on the left side, and create a small text frame for the date of the event. Set the Font to Milano Sans, Size 37 pt.

Paste another ‘New Year’ text frame to the left of the date frame.

Step 5

Add a text frame above the rows listing some details about the event, setting the Font to Milano Sans, Size 33 pt.

Then paste a couple more rows of ‘New Year’ frames above this.

Step 6

Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and, while holding Shift, drag to create a circle about 100 cm in diameter.

Position this over the bottom-right corner of the page, and make sure the Fill and Stroke Color is set to [None].

Step 7

Switch to the Type on a Path Tool (Shift-T), and click once on the edge of the circle to transform it into a text path.

Type in the venue and location of the event, and set the Font to Milano Sans, Size 35 pt, and Font Color to [Paper].

Step 8

Fill up any remaining gaps on the page, outside of the circle, with ‘New Year’ text frames.

Leaving just one instance of ‘New Year Party’ still with a [Paper] Font Color, switch the Font Color of the ‘New Year’ frames over the top of the blue section of the page to your coral swatch, C=0 M=86 Y=89 K=0.

Switch the Font Color of the lower text frames to your blue swatch, C=91 M=77 Y=0 K=0, to create a contrast against the red section of the gradient background.

4. How to Add a Firework Explosion to Your Flyer

Step 1

Open up the fireworks icons set in Adobe Illustrator or another vector program.

Select the second firework from the left, on the top row, and Edit > Copy it.

Step 2

Head back to your InDesign document and lock the Type layer. Unlock the Shapes layer.

Edit > Paste the firework graphic onto the page and scale it while holding Shift, fitting it into the circular gap at the bottom right of the page.

Switch the Fill Color of the vector to C=91 M=77 Y=0 K=0.

5. How to Add a Noise Texture to Your Flyer

Step 1

Lock the Shapes layer and unlock the Noise layer.

Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a shape across the whole page, setting the Fill to C=91 M=77 Y=0 K=0.

Step 2

With the rectangle selected, go to Object > Effects > Transparency. Bring the Opacity down to 30%.

Click on Inner Glow in the panel’s left-hand menu. Set the Mode to Normal, and bring the Opacity up to 100%.

Click on the colored square next to the Mode menu to switch the Effect Color to your coral swatch.

Back in the Effects window, set the Technique to Softer, Source to Center, Size to around 55 mm, Choke to 50%, and Noise to about 45%.

Then click OK.

6. How to Make Your Title ‘Pop’

Step 1

Lock the Noise layer and unlock the Type layer.

Select the text frames which contain the white ‘New Year Party’ text, and Edit > Copy, Edit > Paste in Place.

Step 2

Expand the Type layer in the Layers panel, and identify the new copies of the text frames (which will be highlighted with a colored square).

Unlock the top Title layer and drag these elements up, dropping them into the Title layer.

7. How to Export Your Flyer for Printing

Step 1

With your flyer artwork finished, you’re ready to export your artwork as a PDF and send it off to be printed.

First, head up to File > Save.

Then go to File > Export.

Name your file, and choose Adobe PDF (Print) from the Format menu, before clicking Save.

In the Export Adobe PDF window that opens, choose [Press Quality] from the Adobe PDF Preset menu at the top.

Step 2

Click on Marks and Bleed in the Export window’s left-hand menu.

Check All Printer’s Marks and Use Document Bleed Settings, before clicking Export.

Great job! You can send this PDF straight off to be printed.

Conclusion: Your Finished Flyer

This colorful event flyer can be used in its original style, or as a versatile template for creating your own unique flyer design.

Why not try mixing up the fonts and swatches for a fresh look?

Looking for more flyer designs? These easy-to-edit templates on GraphicRiver and Envato Elements come in a huge range of styles and customisable designs.