Microsoft Power Point Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Adobe Indesign Apache OpenOffice Impress Linux LaTex
There should be a point of focus on your poster which is where the viewer’s eye looks first. This could be a picture or a large font. Your design should be balanced. Try using a grid when you design to make sure items are centered when you want them to be. If you want your point of focus to be off center, having negative space on the other side will keep it balanced. Create a path for the viewer to follow. Use lines, color, font weight, and font size to make your poster flow.
Different fonts can create different emotions and feelings in viewers, so consider what your focus is to find a font that matches the idea you are trying to convey. Try using two different fonts that compliment or contrast each other to create a unique design. For example, use two modern fonts, two script fonts, or a serif font with a sans-serif font
The typical dpi for posters is 300 dpi. Look to your software’s user manual to find out how to change the dpi. Many user manuals are available to read free online.
Standard poster sizes in inches are 11x17, 18x24, and 24x36.
Click “Color Mode” or “Mode” Use the drop down menu to set it to CMYK
On some programs, you can set the bleed when you make a new document. There will be a setting that says “document bleed” where you can put in a specific size of the bleed. You can also set the bleed when you print or export into a pdf. In the marks and bleed section, set the bleed marks to the size you want. Typical bleed size is 3mm, but it can be larger. Check with your printer to find out what size bleed they would like.
To create crop marks, find the “marks and bleeds” tab when printing to a pdf. Check the “crop marks box” or the “printer’s marks box”. Some programs automatically create crop marks when printing to a PDF.
Print to PDF by clicking “file>print” and choosing pdf. Export to PDF by clicking “file>export” and choosing pdf. Save as a PDF by clicking “save as” and then choosing pdf. When you create a PDF of your poster it is also the time to set the bleed size, crop marks, and color format.
Posters are typically printed on paper with a greater weight like 24# or 28#. The bigger the poster, the thicker the paper should be. Coated paper works best for posters. Typically a silk or gloss coated paper is used on posters to make them resist dirt and smudges. A thicker coated paper will make brighter and more saturated colors pop.
Ask people for recommendations for a good printer to use. Make sure they will print on the paper you want. Ask what their turnaround time is to make sure you can get your poster when you need it.
Email the PDF as an attachment. Upload the PDF to the company’s website. Save the PDF on a zip drive or CD to bring to the store in person.
Most proofs will be a digital file sent to you. Sometimes you can request a paper proof for an additional charge. Some printers will let you check the poster as it is being printed. This is known as a “press pass” or a “pass on press”. You can ask if this is allowed, however because of time constraints many printers don’t practice this anymore.
