Poster Printing

There's nothing quite like a big flashy printed poster to get out the word. Whether they're covering a construction fence in Manhattan or plastered all over your small town, color posters are a time-honored marketing device. But over time, the methods used to print posters has changed dramatically--from the traditional serigraphic spot color methods to today's state-of-the-art seven-color digital on-demand presses.

Poster printing can be approached in a number of ways. The variables will determine the methods used. These include the amount of color, the size of the poster's print area, the number of prints required ... and your budget, of course.

No matter which route you choose, it's best to do your design work in a vector illustration program, such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, or Macromedia FreeHand. These apps will allow you the most creative flexibility while providing a format that your poster printer will be able to work with. When you finish your design work, knock those fonts down to outlines and/or ship out a PDF to the printer to ensure printability.

Here's a rundown on the different technologies you can use to print posters ...

  • While you can get away with doing short printing runs of small posters on a desktop inkjet, the size limitation is a serious drawback. 11" x 17" doesn't make for much of a poster ... but if it's all you can afford, you'll have to live with it.
  • For larger poster printing in small quantities, you'll use a large format inkjet plotter. These devices are notoriously slow and are best for onesie twosie jobs. The prices should drop in quantity, but you don't want to do any seriously long production runs with a plotter. You may also need to laminate the inkjet prints to protect them from the elements (and enhance the color) ... don't forget to add in this cost.
  • If you want to print a few hundred 11 x 17 posters, you may do best to look for a shop with digital color presses, such as the HP Indigo. And don't forget the RIP-equipped color copiers that fill this space.
  • If you're printing more than a few hundred posters--of any size--you'll likely end up on a commercial printing press. When you print posters on a real press, the sky's the limit with regard to color and size ... not to mention the cost. With a wide variety of printing press size capabilities, it's not a bad idea to shop around to find the right printer for your job.

Want to go retro? Try screen printing your posters for a look that evokes a county fair or circus. If your needs are relatively short run, and your color scheme is limited, this method can be quite cost-effective. While you can go the d-i-y route by purchasing supplies at an art supply store, you'll make your life easier if you find a local t-shirt printer that's willing to to help you out.