PosterPoster PowerPoint PowerPoint

The Role of the Poster:The Role of the Poster: The basic difference The basic difference between the poster and other advertising media between the poster and other advertising media is that the poster speaks to the audience “on the is that the poster speaks to the audience “on the move.” Newspaper ads, magazine ads, and move.” Newspaper ads, magazine ads, and mailing pieces such as folders brochures and mailing pieces such as folders brochures and booklets are designed for the reader who has booklets are designed for the reader who has time to stand or sit and read for a while. On the time to stand or sit and read for a while. On the other hand, the poster must capture the attention other hand, the poster must capture the attention and get the message across in a matter of and get the message across in a matter of seconds. It must spark the reader to take the seconds. It must spark the reader to take the desired action through a brief message packed desired action through a brief message packed with punch or veiled in subtlety. with punch or veiled in subtlety.

The Purpose of the The Purpose of the Poster:Poster: While there While there are literally hundreds are literally hundreds of uses for the poster, of uses for the poster, it will have only one of it will have only one of the four purposes: the four purposes:

(1.)(1.)  To announce an   To announce an event. event.

(2.)  To promote a (2.)  To promote a service.service.

(3.)  To sell a product. (3.)  To sell a product.

(4.)  To develop an attitude. (4.)  To develop an attitude.

The Characteristics of the Poster:The Characteristics of the Poster: (1.) A (1.) A

successful successful poster tells the poster tells the story quickly.story quickly.

(2.)  It must be (2.)  It must be attention attention gettinggetting

(3.) The poster must be (3.) The poster must be convincing. convincing.

(4.)  A striking use of color is important. (4.)  A striking use of color is important.

(5.)  An effective poster reflects an almost (5.)  An effective poster reflects an almost stark simplicity. stark simplicity.

Design Qualities of the Poster:Design Qualities of the Poster: (1.) A basic quality, characteristic of all acceptable (1.) A basic quality, characteristic of all acceptable

design, is design, is balancebalance. There are two kinds of . There are two kinds of balance: balance: symmetrical balance and asymmetrical symmetrical balance and asymmetrical

balancebalance

(2.) Another quality, (2.) Another quality, movementmovement, is the , is the systematic directing systematic directing of the viewer’s eye of the viewer’s eye from one part of the from one part of the poster to another in poster to another in a way a way predetermined by predetermined by the artist. the artist.

3.) 3.) EmphasisEmphasis or focal pointor focal point developing of the developing of the poster design. Emphasis may be attained by poster design. Emphasis may be attained by making one part (slogan, illustration) of the making one part (slogan, illustration) of the design large then subordinating each of the design large then subordinating each of the other parts to this in order of importance. The other parts to this in order of importance. The quality of the emphasis may also be achieved by quality of the emphasis may also be achieved by using: using:

contrasting background shapes behind the contrasting background shapes behind the illustration or lettering. illustration or lettering.

strong contrasting colors and values. strong contrasting colors and values. a generous use of white space or open space. a generous use of white space or open space. contrasting styles, sizes and colors in the contrasting styles, sizes and colors in the

lettering a large illustration.lettering a large illustration.

  (4.) The component parts of the poster (4.) The component parts of the poster also should be arranged so that they “hold also should be arranged so that they “hold together.” This is the quality of design together.” This is the quality of design referred to as referred to as unityunity.. Unity may be Unity may be attained: attained:

through overlapping of the elements in the through overlapping of the elements in the design. design.

through the use of panels or a line.through the use of panels or a line. by the treatment of the background.by the treatment of the background.

  (5.) Another design quality that contributes to an (5.) Another design quality that contributes to an effective poster is specific appeal. A poster is effective poster is specific appeal. A poster is designed for a specific purpose based on a designed for a specific purpose based on a single theme. Aim to put into the design a single theme. Aim to put into the design a “feeling” for the product, service, event, or “feeling” for the product, service, event, or attitude. attitude.

a poster advertising perfume may be light, a poster advertising perfume may be light, delicate, feminine, or decorative.delicate, feminine, or decorative.

a poster selling trucks or heavy industrial a poster selling trucks or heavy industrial equipment should be strong, heavy masculine, equipment should be strong, heavy masculine, with bold colors.with bold colors.

a poster encouraging a winter vacation in the a poster encouraging a winter vacation in the south should be bright, sunshiny, happy, and south should be bright, sunshiny, happy, and carefree.carefree.

COLOR IN THE POSTER-:COLOR IN THE POSTER-: A prerequisite to A prerequisite to a successful poster design is knowledge of a successful poster design is knowledge of

the nature and the characteristics of the nature and the characteristics of colorcolor as as

well as how it should be used.well as how it should be used. color attractscolor attracts

color emphasizescolor emphasizes

color may be used simply because it looks color may be used simply because it looks goodgood

color may be symboliccolor may be symbolic

color may express a feeling for the idea color may express a feeling for the idea being presentedbeing presented

when used throughout the poster color when used throughout the poster color creates movement, unitycreates movement, unity

color background develops orderliness, color background develops orderliness, continuity and contrast.continuity and contrast.

LETTERING FORLETTERING FOR POSTERS: POSTERS: Lettering for Lettering for posters should be simple, legible, posters should be simple, legible,

appropriate and attractive. There is no place appropriate and attractive. There is no place in poster design for lettering that is overly in poster design for lettering that is overly tricky, confusing, or difficult to read. An tricky, confusing, or difficult to read. An

ability to letter can be developed by using:ability to letter can be developed by using:

guide lines. guide lines. spacing.spacing. uniformity.uniformity.

In a slogan of several words there may be In a slogan of several words there may be one word you wish to emphasize over the one word you wish to emphasize over the others. There are a number of ways you others. There are a number of ways you

may do this: may do this: (1.)  by making one word (1.)  by making one word larger.larger. (2.)  by changing (2.)  by changing the valuethe value or the or the color color of this of this

word. word. (3.)  by changing (3.)  by changing the stylethe style of lettering for this of lettering for this

word. word. (4.)  by lettering the word in capitals while using (4.)  by lettering the word in capitals while using

lower case letters for the rest of the slogan. lower case letters for the rest of the slogan. (5.) by underlining the one word. (5.) by underlining the one word. (6.) by lettering this word in (6.) by lettering this word in Italic Italic letters letters

With this background, you should With this background, you should now be ready to design your now be ready to design your

poster. A suggested procedure is poster. A suggested procedure is to develop small preliminary to develop small preliminary

sketches, often referred to as sketches, often referred to as “thumbnail sketches. They must be “thumbnail sketches. They must be

in pro portion to the finished, full-in pro portion to the finished, full-size poster. The purpose of these size poster. The purpose of these

sketches is: sketches is:

BackgroundsBackgrounds (1.)   to try different ways of arranging the (1.)   to try different ways of arranging the

information on the poster, to explore many information on the poster, to explore many design possibilities. design possibilities.

(2.)  to try different styles and sizes of letters. (2.)  to try different styles and sizes of letters. (3.)  to develop various color combinations. (3.)  to develop various color combinations. (4.)  to experiment with background shapes, (4.)  to experiment with background shapes,

panels, lines of movement. panels, lines of movement. (5.) try different emphasis. (5.) try different emphasis.