Poster Printing: Doing It the Right Way
Posters are a great way to get your message across, whether it’s about a club meeting, the latest sale at your store or an upcoming event. Posters are also an excellent medium for promoting healthy living and education about what’s going on in our community.
But when you’re ready to take that next step, there are some things you need to do if you want to do it right. That means choosing the right size poster, finding the perfect paper and printing company.
Why Size Matters
You should always choose the largest size that will make your message visible without going overboard. Poster sizes are determined by the number of square inches of print space on the page. That means if you go too small, you won’t have enough room to make all your points. If you go too big, there’s a good chance no one will look at it if it’s hard to display and store. The standard sizes are:
A 24-sheet poster measures 42×60″ and is usually posted on a wall or bulletin board; this is the largest size most companies can produce.
A 12-sheet poster measures 24×36″ and is commonly hung on a wall, but can also be posted on a bulletin board.
A 6-sheet poster measures 18×24″, which is a good size for being posted on a table.
How to Choose Your Poster Size
If you aren’t sure what size to go with, here are some guidelines: 36×60″ posters are best for large rooms or religious/school groups. They show off more information and don’t need to be reduced in size. Smaller-sized posters, like 24×36″ or 18×24″, are good for classrooms and offices where space may be limited.
Posters that measure 120×240″ are designed to be hung on the wall. They are also good for schools, businesses and community groups.
Using the right paper is important too. Paper comes in different weights, so you want to make sure it will stand up to being posted on a wall without buckling or looking cheap. The best choice for posters is either 89 lb semi-gloss poster paper with a thickness of between 24-36mil or 11 mil gloss poster paper.
How to Find a Printing Company You Can Trust
When choosing your printer, consider how long you’ll be using the poster over the length of time it takes them to print and ship it from their office. Here are some questions you can ask when choosing your company:
How long is the turnaround time? The more time they need to print and ship the poster, the longer you’ll have to wait before you can use it. Also make sure they can do rush printing if that’s necessary.
What size posters do they offer? You should ask what the minimum size is and what sizes you can order. For example, some printers might sell 24×36″ posters but only offer a few sizes up to 24×36″. That’s a sign that they only handle small orders or are cutting corners in other ways.
What kind of paper do they offer? Always use high quality paper for your posters, so ask about the paper thickness and type.
How much does it cost to print? Some printers charge per poster, which can be very expensive if you’re ordering a lot of them. Others are more flexible and will give you a group discount. If they charge by the poster, find out the price difference between different sizes to make sure you’re getting a deal.
You should also look into their shipping costs and options. You want to make sure they are using a reputable shipping service that won’t damage your posters in transit.
Getting Your Poster Printed
When you get your poster, it’s a good idea to get it framed as soon as possible. If you place your order with a printer who doesn’t offer framing, they may send you the poster without a frame. It’s best to get an expert to make the frame. If you don’t know anyone in that line of work, consider asking an employee of one of your local businesses or taking it to a framing store near you.
Once you’ve chosen the right size, paper and style for your poster, it’s back to our old friend, online ordering. If you opt for online ordering with your printer, make sure to browse their website often to see if there are any new styles on offer. This is a great way to be alerted when new designs are being added.
Make Sure It Gets Here On Time
Your poster printing company should always ship your order in a timely manner. Make sure they use a carrier service that will take care of any damage and get it to you as soon as possible or ask how far in advance you need to place an order so they can ship it at that time. You can also ask them to send you a tracking number or even a tracking link if you want to follow the progress of your order online.
If you’re planning on posting it in your classroom, here are some tips for you to get it there safely:
Ask the school to arrange for the poster printing company to deliver it instead of you. It will save a lot of time and money on shipping costs. This is especially important if your printing company doesn’t offer framing services. If they refuse, look into having your posters printed at another print shop nearby so you don’t have to deal with delivery yourself.
If you have to transport your posters yourself, make sure they are well protected. Use foam board and pressboard to ensure they stay in good condition while they’re being transported.
Once you’ve got them all delivered, take a look at your poster. If it looks okay, start planning where you’ll put it up so everyone can see it. If you notice some damage or the print is off-center or uneven, this should be reported to the company right away. You can then request a new one or ask to get a partial refund (if the company offers that).
Conclusion
No matter what you might be putting on your poster, it’s important to make sure it looks great. Don’t settle for a company that doesn’t have the right resources or simply doesn’t care about making your poster look great.
If you follow our suggestions, you should be able to find a great printer who can give you all the help you need to find exactly what you want. Good luck!
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