The Ultimate Guide To Poster Printing

Poster printing can be an exciting way to showcase your creativity, advertise an event, or bring your art to life. But it’s easy to assume that designing and printing a poster is a walk in the park when actually, it takes real attention to detail and there are steps that should be adhered to if you want an attractive and effective poster. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer, this guide will walk you through the essential steps and provide useful tips for printing high-quality posters.

Planning Out Your Design

Before diving into the technical details, start with a solid plan for your poster design. It is worth considering the following elements:

What is the purpose of your poster printing? – Make sure you have defined the main objective of your poster. Is it to promote an event, advertise a product, or showcase an element of your business? Doing this will ensure you can direct your design and copy appropriately. Don’t focus on promoting too many elements on one poster as this will confuse your audience.

Who is your audience for this campaign? – Identify your target audience. Your design should appeal to their tastes and interests. Do your research here as it’s important to focus on their tastes and interests, NOT yours!

What is your main message? – Keep your message clear and concise. Use compelling headlines and minimal text to convey your message effectively. Don’t confuse your audience with too much information.

What do you want your visuals to say? – Choose high-quality images and graphics that enhance your message. Don’t clutter your design with too many elements. It can be tempting to show your audience many lovely images, especially if you have had a photoshoot specifically for poster printing. However, too many images are off-putting and should be avoided.

Choosing Appropriate Design Software for Poster Printing

Selecting the right software for your design is crucial. Popular choices include:

Adobe Illustrator – Ideal for vector-based designs and detailed illustrations.

Adobe Photoshop – Great for image manipulation and raster-based designs.

Canva – A user-friendly (and free!) software featuring templates, suitable for beginners.

CorelDRAW: Another powerful tool for vector graphics and layout design.

Selecting the Best Images

Low-resolution images can ruin your poster’s appearance. If the resolution of your image is too low for the size of your poster, it will appear pixelated or grainy resulting in an unprofessional finish. Follow these tips for selecting images:

• Use images with a resolution of at least 300 DPI.
• Choose high-quality stock photos if you don’t have your own. Websites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Shutterstock offer a wide selection. Be careful when selecting stock images, that they align well with your brand and look authentic.
• For illustrations and logos, use vector graphics. They can be scaled without losing quality.

Paying Attention to Typography

Typography plays a significant role in your poster’s readability and visual appeal. This should be taken into account when researching your audience, as outlined above.

Your font selection should be aligned with any existing branding. If this isn’t a factor for your business, you should choose fonts that can be easily read from a distance. Additionally, you should avoid using too many different fonts.

It’s important to establish a clear hierarchy with varying font sizes for headlines, subheadings, and body text. This helps guide your audience through the poster in the order that you want them to read it. You should create a journey that engages them and encourages them to take action.

Ensure your copy has adequate spacing between letters, lines, and elements to avoid a cluttered look. If the information on your poster looks jumbled, it will be off-putting to your reader and it’s unlikely to hold their attention.

Getting Another Pair of Eyes to Proofread and Review

Before printing, it’s always worth asking someone else to thoroughly review your design. It’s a common fact that when you’ve been looking at the same item or document for a long time, it’s easy to overlook or miss faults and inconsistencies. If it’s not possible for someone else to check it for you, take a break from your work and return to it with a fresh eye. Do this:

Proofread – Check for spelling and grammatical errors.

Consistency – Ensure your fonts, colours, and styles are uniform throughout and aligned with your brand.

Print a Test Copy – If possible, print a test copy to see how your design looks on paper. This helps identify any issues that might not be visible on screen. Make sure your copy is either the same size as the end one or as close to. A reputable printing service should do this for you as standard.

Choosing the Right Paper and Finish for Poster Printing

Your choice of paper and finish can significantly impact the final look of your poster and there are many types to choose from, so shop around a little to research what feels right. It’s best to select the paper that suits your design and purpose. Options include glossy, matte, and satin finishes. As a guide, heavier paper (e.g., 200-300 gsm) offers better durability and a premium feel and you could consider adding a UV coating or lamination for added protection and vibrancy.

Practical Printers – The Place to go for your Poster Printing

Printing posters is an art that combines creativity and technical know-how. At Practical Printers, we’ve got the know-how to help you create stunning posters that leave a lasting impression. Whether for personal projects or professional endeavours, our handy tips will help you achieve the best possible results but if in doubt, give us a shout and we can be on hand to help you.