AI PORTRAITS
Zine covers with grain, collage and a face that grabs you
Zines grew out of photocopiers, scissors and glue, and their covers still carry that look: high-contrast faces, torn paper, halftone dots, two-color risograph prints with slightly misaligned layers. A portrait-led cover often sets the tone for a whole issue. In ImageQuarry you describe the cover or start from a photo, refine texture, color and layout in words, and keep each version to compare before you print.
Pick a print look first, then the face and the space for the title.
Last updated October 2026
How to make a zine cover with ImageQuarry
- 01
Describe the issue
Say what the issue is about and who is on the cover: a local skate scene, a portrait of a girl with a bleached buzz cut.
- 02
Choose the print look
Ask for photocopy contrast, collage, halftone or two-color riso.
- 03
Plan the title space
Ask for a calm band at the top or a corner for the hand-lettered title.
- 04
Compare and print
Compare versions, choose the cover and download it for your print run.
Zine cover requests
Photocopy
Harsh black and white is the original zine look.
Riso two-color
Riso layers give fluorescent color and offsets.
Collage
Cut paper layers feel handmade.
Halftone
Big dots feel punk and graphic.
Hand-drawn
Ink drawings suit comics zines.
Title corner
Zine titles are often hand lettered.
What makes a zine cover feel right
Print process as style
Photocopy, riso and screen print each leave marks; asking for them by name sets the look.
Limited color
Two or three colors suit cheap printing and look bold.
Handmade feel
Slight misalignment, tape and torn edges feel human, not glossy.
Lettering by hand
Zine titles are often drawn or set separately; leave space and add them yourself.
From a photo of a friend
Upload a portrait taken with their agreement and describe the cover treatment.
Keep each issue's covers
Earlier versions stay when you request a new one, so you can compare.
Zine print looks
| Look | Feels | Ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Photocopy | Raw, punk | Hard black, toner specks |
| Riso | Bright, playful | Two fluorescent layers, offset |
| Collage | Handmade | Torn paper, tape |
| Halftone | Graphic | Big dots, one color |
| Screen print | Bold | Flat ink, slight texture |
| Ink drawing | Personal | Cross-hatching |
What is a zine cover?
A zine cover is the front of a small, self-published magazine, often made with photocopy, collage or riso looks; an AI zine cover is that image created with an AI image tool before printing.
It is not a commercial magazine cover; zines favor handmade, low-budget print looks.
Zine cover questions
Can I make a riso look without a riso printer?
Ask for the two-color riso look in the request; print it however you print the zine.
Can I keep the portrait and switch the print look?
Name the face and crop as fixed and ask for the new look; then compare both covers.
Can I collage in my own photos?
Upload them and describe how they should be combined.
Can I try covers for several issues in one style?
Branch each issue's cover from one base version so they belong together.
Can I compare cover options with my collective?
Line up the versions and download the ones to discuss.
Where do I keep each issue?
In its own project in the persistent library.
Related cover pages
Create an image. Edit it with words. Keep refining.
Put a face on the next issue
Describe the issue, choose a print look, leave room for the title, and compare covers before printing.
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