Poster printing is a form of art that has been around since the 1600s as a form of art called ukiyo-e during the Edo period in feudal Japan. Over the centuries, poster printing has transcended from Hokusai’s woodblock prints to modern forms of the art form, such as Shepard Fairey’s world-renowned “Hope” poster.
Today, modern technology has made it much easier to create posters through the process of bringing designs from a computer screen to the printer. It is worth noting, however, that creating an effective and captivating poster isn’t as simple as one may expect due to all the details that go into its creation.
From carefully curating your content and painstakingly putting the design together, making a poster consists of various tasks that are of equal importance. While content and design are crucial in putting a breathtaking poster together, the paper that your design is printed on is an essential piece of the puzzle.
Determining why the type of print paper is essential
The type of paper that a poster is printed on plays a crucial role in determining the final quality of your work. Printing your poster on the right type of paper can highlight every part of your design, elevating its impact in an instant once it comes fresh off the print.
Choosing the right paper for your poster
Admittedly, choosing the right type of paper to print your poster on can prove to be as difficult as creating the entire work of art itself. This is especially true when there are various options to take into consideration. With dozens of poster paper material options available on the market, making a choice can be overwhelming at times because of all the possibilities for your choosing.
When choosing the right paper option for your paper, here are a few questions that you should ask yourself when narrowing down your options:
1. “How long should it last?”
Depending on the purpose of your poster, your choice of poster paper can affect the longevity of your final product, allowing it to last a week, a month, half a year, a year, or a lifetime. When you fail to consider the factor of longevity, the process of printing a poster and putting it up can be both frustrating and costly due to all the extra costs that come with reprinting and reposting. To make the task of choosing the right poster much easier, here’s a guide to help you:
- Short-term: If you do not want your posters for the long run, go for 80 GSM fluorescent papers that easily grab attention during the short time your posters are up.
- Long-term: If you expect your poster to last for a long time, 170 GSM PVC poster paper is the way to go. This is especially true because they possess waterproof properties that can outlast any rain or storm.
2. “Where will I put them?”
Another factor to consider is the location that you intend to put it up. Generally, a 115 GSM blue back poster paper will suffice in keeping your poster around for both outdoor applications (such as boards, lamp posts, or walls) and indoor applications.
3. “How do I want them to look?”
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing the type of poster paper is the intended look or finish that you want your work to have. Whether you’d like to have your posters look more sophisticated, fun, or classy, choosing the right type of paper will help deliver your intended finish and overall look for every application. If you have a visual-heavy poster design, however, then it’s best to bring out its vivid colours and intricate details by printing it on a 190 GSM paper.
Picking out the right type of poster paper will help in ensuring the overall quality and functionality of your final product. Should you find yourself at a crossroads when choosing a poster paper option to go for, ask yourself the three questions mentioned above to find the best choice in a shorter time!
If you’re looking for cheap poster printing services in London, get in touch with us to see how we can help.
