Posters are a great way to advertise an upcoming event, share your opinion during a demo, or even just to decorate a room! Whether the poster will be drawn by yourself or designed and printed on a computer, you should consider how the poster looks up close and far. Once you've chosen a basic design, choose fonts, colors, and embellishments so that people who see the poster can immediately understand the message you're trying to convey!
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Method 1 of 2: Drawing Poster
Step 1. Prepare a large sheet of paper, poster board, or other poster material
A bold poster will look more professional, but you can make a poster from anything. You can also use high-quality cork from a craft store, poster board from a bookstore, or even regular printer paper glued together if you don't have an alternative.
- If you're making a poster to hang on the wall, it's ideal to use a poster board.
- If you're making a protest poster, choose a sturdy material like foam core, which is strong enough to last all day, but light enough so you don't get tired of carrying it around.
- For more complex presentations, such as book reports, opt for a tri-fold poster board.
Step 2. Write down a list of elements that need to be included in the poster
Think about what you want to convey and all the important information to include. At the same time, experiment with different styles of posters that you feel will support the main idea, and use them to define the design.
For example, if you are making a poster to announce the start of a new restaurant, the elements that need to be included include the date, location, and time of opening, as well as image ideas such as a can of vegetables, a plate of food, or a spoon and fork
Step 3. Sketch the design on a plain sheet of paper
Sometimes, it can take a long time to get the poster layout that you want. So it's best to practice on plain paper first, then scale your design. Focus on emphasizing the most important information as soon as possible, and use color and negative space to create contrast.
- The poster page should not appear too busy as the design will not make a strong visual impact.
- Try to space the letters evenly. In the world of design, this is called kerning. If you cram all the letters onto the page, the poster will be harder to read.
- If you want, you can use image manipulation software to design the poster, even if you end up drawing it manually.
Step 4. Place the main slogan or title in the center of the poster
Most people will look to the center of the poster before the rest. Use this to prioritize what you want to show your readers, whether it's a funny, witty sentence to emphasize a political point of view, or an announcement of an Earth Day party being held, and getting people to participate.
Make sure your poster is easy to read up close and far. The poster title should be large and clear, and use an easy-to-read font. If you include an image on the poster, make sure to choose one that is simple and clear enough so that it is easy to see in a variety of standing positions
Step 5. Use the top, bottom, and sides of the poster to include important details
If your poster contains a lot of information, be sure to include all the important information that readers need to know, such as phone numbers, addresses, ticket prices, or other details.
Make sure the poster answers the what, where, and when questions, and includes the date and time of the event
Step 6. Include a call to action if you want the reader to take further action
This prompt is an invitation to the reader to follow up on the information on the poster, and this is especially important if the poster is designed to promote an event. The call for action can be anything you want, but make sure the poster design is able to convey it clearly.
- Some common action calls for posters include “Call (this number),” “Visit (your location or event)” or “Stop (pollution, for example).”
- For example, if you are making a poster for a concert, your call to action could be, "To purchase tickets, visit our site!!" Make sure you include the site address in the prompt, or just below it.
Step 7. Draw the design onto the poster board using a pencil
Use the sketch drawn on the paper to guide you in drawing the design on the board. Don't forget to pay attention to the letter spacing so it's not biased on one side of the poster board, and try to make sure that all the letters are roughly the same size.
- We recommend using a pencil so that you can erase the mistakes made.
- Write lightly using a pencil and ruler to help you create straight letters.
- If you make too many mistakes, just flip the board and start over on the other side.
Step 8. Color the poster with colored pencils, crayons, markers, or paints
Color will make the poster stand out more, and help emphasize the message you're trying to convey. Consider the relationship of color and emotion when deciding which color to use.
- Red, orange, and yellow are energizing colors making them great for political message posters and event notifications.
- Blue and green are peaceful colors so they are great for posters that contain a lot of information.
- Plain black and white can also make a strong statement.
Step 9. Add decorations like symbols, graphics and glitter
When it comes to designing posters, the limit is your imagination. Channel your creativity and see what you get! You can use ribbon, glitter, stickers, or other decorations at a craft store, or you can simply use materials you have at home. However, don't overdo it because in most cases, minimal embellishments will make the most impact.
- If you're making a poster for a charity event or dance school event, try applying glitter glitter to the outline of the letters to make it stand out and make it livelier.
- Symbols can have a powerful impact on a poster without words of explanation. For example, a peace symbol can convey a strong message on an anti-war poster.
- You can also print an image and include it in a poster, but be sure to use a self-photographed image or a free stock photo. Do not use other people's proprietary work.
Method 2 of 2: Designing and Printing Posters Over the Internet
Step 1. Look for an image editing program or poster creation site
There are a number of options to choose from if you want to design and print your images digitally instead of drawing them by hand. You can design a poster using image editing software like Photoshop or Paint and then print it yourself, or use a site that lets you design your own poster and have it printed and mailed to you.
- If you decide to use a site to design and order posters, make sure you read customer reviews first to find one that is reputable and of the highest quality.
- If you plan to print your poster yourself, you may need to do so at a specialized printer.
- Some of the popular poster design sites in the United States include Canva, Adobe Spark Post, Venngage, and Piktochart.
Step 2. Determine the poster size
Whether you're printing your own poster or ordering it, you'll be able to choose from a variety of poster sizes and dimensions to suit your needs. Once you know how large your poster will be, scale the text and graphics so they match the page size.
- Choose a small poster with a size of about 30 x 45 cm if there are a large number of them that will be distributed, such as leaflets.
- A medium size poster, or about 45 x 60 cm, is suitable for displaying on a school wall magazine.
- Large posters are often used for films and advertisements, and are typically 70 x 105 cm.
Step 3. Choose a template for the poster if you want
Poster design websites and image creation programs usually have ready-made templates that you can use to help you organize text and graphics on your page. This template is customizable so you are free to tweak the location, font, and size of all the elements in the poster.
Step 4. Include all the required information on the poster
When someone stops and reads your poster, they should be able to find the information they need easily. For example, if you're advertising an event, make sure the poster says the date, time, and location of the event. You can also include website addresses or phone numbers that can help readers.
If you want poster readers to buy tickets, be sure to include the ticket price as well
Step 5. Choose a font that matches the message
The font chosen must match the purpose of the poster. A serious message will look silly if it's written in a childish font, while a bold font will look weird on a romantic restaurant opening promotion poster.
- Some examples of bold, easy-to-read fonts are Futura, Impact, or Clarendon and are suitable for political posters.
- Soft, curved fonts like Bickham Script Pro or Corsiva are perfect for fundraising or other formal events.
- If you want to design a poster for a kids party, consider a witty font like Comic Sans MS, School bell, or TomKid.
Step 6. Include color to liven up the poster
When choosing a poster design, think about what each color "says" about. Cool colors are more calming, while bright colors are uplifting and bold.
- If you're having a pool party, choose blue, green, and yellow.
- Black and white with a hint of red makes a strong protest poster.
Step 7. Print or order your poster
If you want to print your own poster, save the design on a flash disk and take it to the printer. You can also order posters from sites where you can design them and have them shipped directly to you.
If you don't have much money or don't have time to go to the press, print your design on several pieces of paper and glue it all together using tape or glue to make a large poster
Tips
- Use bright colors and strong contrasts to create striking designs.
- When designing a poster, think about where it will be installed. If the poster will be pasted on the wall, consider the color of the walls and other decorations that are already on the wall.
- If your poster will be placed next to another poster, use neon or glitter to make it stand out. You can also put a creative frame around the poster. If the poster looks unique, people will be interested to see it.
