Create your own posters

Let’s dive into the art of creating posters at home.

What is a poster?

A poster is a large picture that is hung on or plastered to a wall. Posters can take the form of a banner, billboard or sign and promote an idea, product, or event. They feature phrases, quotes, or basic information.

Marketers sometimes use posters to promote their products to a wide audience. People commonly place banners in public so others will know about an upcoming cause or event. Alternatively, people also use them for interior decoration.

Posters must be large enough, so the words on them are clearly visible. Small posters are around 11-by-17 inches. Large posters are around 27-by-39 inches.

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Why make a poster?

Posters work well for interior decoration. They are also an inexpensive, eye-catching way to get the word out about an event you’re hosting or promoting. But you can always buy a poster, or commission an artist to make one for you. Why make your own?

You may want to make a poster at home because:

• It’s not costly. It’s cheaper to make a poster than order one. They can cost a lot to buy and ship—especially if you want a large one.
• You want original art. You may wish to have a poster with a favorite quote or image that stores don’t have. Making a poster is the only way you can get that art on your wall.
• You need a new project. Making posters is fun. You need to combine creativity with critical thinking to create one that looks good. This project may be perfect if you’re looking for a new creative outlet.

What kinds of posters are there?

There are plenty of types of posters if you’re looking for ideas. Choose one based on your needs—and what interests you.

Popular types include:

• Event posters. People have used posters to advertise events for centuries. Event posters can also commemorate past events. They often feature catchy images. They also include details like dates and performers or speakers in small print.
• Ad posters. Marketers have used posters to advertise products in public spaces for a long time. Some product posters are so artistic that you can hang them in your home. This application is especially true for vintage product posters.
• Political posters. Political posters show your support for a certain candidate or political party. Politicians often hire artists to create unique posters to distribute and sell. These posters may or may not include campaign slogans.
• Movie or show posters. Theaters promote upcoming movies or shows with posters commonly referred to as a one sheet. Movie or show posters can feature bold, abstract designs or photos of main characters. They always include the movie or show title, and often list starring actors or singers.
• Motivational posters. Posters with quotes or phrases are popular for interior decoration. These posters often feature the text in large fonts. Background images are often simple in these cases.
• Travel posters. Travel posters are classics. They are often art-centric, brightly depicting city, town, or country landmarks. The name of the destination often rests at the bottom of the poster.

How can you design a great poster?

It can be intimidating to design a poster if you haven’t made one before. But you don’t need any experience to make a great poster. You just need to follow some best practices.

1. Think about how you will use your poster. Consider how you will use your poster before doing anything else. A little forethought will help you brainstorm and plan. For example, you may want to focus on the image if you are creating a decorative poster. You may want to focus on conveying information if you are creating an event poster.
2. Keep text simple. Use the least amount of words possible no matter what your poster is for. Posters should be sleek. People will be able to read it more easily if it has few words. Plus, the included words will stand out more.
3. Choose colors that work well together. Color theory can help you choose your colors. For example, you can use a color wheel to see which colors work well together. Colors that are next to or across from one another on the wheel combine nicely.
4. Use high-resolution photos. Find high-resolution pictures if you want real photos in your poster. They must be at least 300 pixels per inch. High-resolution images will come out as high quality, not grainy.
5. Add space. Don’t overcrowd your poster. Good artwork often features a balance of white space. Space allows your eyes to focus on the main attraction, whether it’s a central image or lines of text.
6. Create a draft. Create one (or a few) drafts once you decide on the basics. Use a sheet of printer paper or a notebook to sketch out potential designs. Test out different formats, colors, and text sizes. You can also experiment with poster templates for inspiration.

How do you create a poster at home?

You can create a good-looking poster at home a few ways. Choose the process that works best for you.

You can:

• Make it by hand. Handmade posters can be lovely additions to an interior. Choose a base material, like watercolor paper. Then select a background medium, like watercolors. Finally, decide on your writing utensil, like a marker. Start with your background, then add your text last.
• Print with a large printer. You can use a tool to help you create and print a poster. For example, Microsoft Publisher enables you to design a poster and print it out from a large printer. Publisher allows you to print posters up to 240-by-240 inches.
• Cross-print. You can still print your poster if you don’t have a large printer. Tools like Publisher empower you to print a large poster in multiple panels. All you have to do is tape the small panels together to make a larger work of art.

You’ll end up with a work of original poster art no matter how you choose to create your final product.