F.O.C.U.S. on Posters Tips for Making Successful Posters By Phillip Martin.

F.O.C.U.S. on PostersF.O.C.U.S. on PostersTips for Making Successful Tips for Making Successful

PostersPosters

By Phillip MartinBy Phillip Martin

F.O.C.U.S. on PostersF.O.C.U.S. on Posters

Focus on these five key points for Focus on these five key points for better posters. The first key is . . . better posters. The first key is . . .

FF OO CC UU SS


Focus on these five key points for Focus on these five key points for better posters. The first key is . . . better posters. The first key is . . .

FontsFonts OO CC UU SS

FontsFonts

The choice of fonts, or lettering, is The choice of fonts, or lettering, is very important. If you look at ads very important. If you look at ads in magazines, you’ll see that they in magazines, you’ll see that they rarely use more than three fonts or rarely use more than three fonts or sizes. Often, they use one font but sizes. Often, they use one font but in two or three sizes.in two or three sizes.

FontsFonts

The choice of fonts, or lettering, is The choice of fonts, or lettering, is very important. If you look at ads very important. If you look at ads in magazines, you’ll see that they in magazines, you’ll see that they rarely use more than three fonts or rarely use more than three fonts or sizes. Often, they use one font but sizes. Often, they use one font but in two or three sizes.in two or three sizes.

If an ad uses all capital letters, it is If an ad uses all capital letters, it is always a simple font. always a simple font.

Wow!Wow!

One One

font, font,

but but

inin

moremore

thanthan

one one

sizesize

FontsFonts

You will almost never see an ad You will almost never see an ad with rainbow lettering. with rainbow lettering.

FontsFonts

You will almost never see an ad You will almost never see an ad with rainbow lettering.with rainbow lettering.

It may be It may be

attractive butattractive but

it is harder toit is harder to

read than solidread than solid

colors on words. colors on words.

FontsFonts


You almost never see an ad that You almost never see an ad that has every other word in a different has every other word in a different color.color.

FontsFonts


You almost never see an ad that You almost never see an ad that has every other word in a different has every other word in a different color.color.

Most lettering in ads goes left to Most lettering in ads goes left to right; not going in spirals, up-and-right; not going in spirals, up-and-down, or diagonally. down, or diagonally.

FontsFonts

What is goodWhat is good

with the fontswith the fonts

on this poster?on this poster?

What could What could

have done better? have done better?

Find out on to Find out on to

the next slide. the next slide.

FontsFonts

And, most important of all, when And, most important of all, when you draw your own letters, use a you draw your own letters, use a ruler. If you use only capital ruler. If you use only capital letters, draw two lines. If you also letters, draw two lines. If you also make lower case letters, use three make lower case letters, use three lines. lines.

FontsFonts

And, most important of all, when And, most important of all, when you draw your own letters, use a you draw your own letters, use a ruler. If you use only capital letters, ruler. If you use only capital letters, draw two lines. If you also make draw two lines. If you also make lower case letters, use three lines. lower case letters, use three lines.

Don’t press hard with the pencil Don’t press hard with the pencil when you draw the lines. You will when you draw the lines. You will later need to erase them.later need to erase them.

Wow ! These letters were made with a Wow ! These letters were made with a ruler. The accent bubble for the “O” is ruler. The accent bubble for the “O” is also great!also great!


For successful posters, you must For successful posters, you must also focus on . . . also focus on . . .

FontsFonts Oops! Take Time Cutting!Oops! Take Time Cutting! CC UU SS

Oops! Take Time Oops! Take Time Cutting!Cutting!

When cutting out objects to glue to When cutting out objects to glue to a poster, plan ahead. If you want a poster, plan ahead. If you want them to be square, measure with a them to be square, measure with a ruler or use a cutting board for ruler or use a cutting board for perfect squares. perfect squares.

Oops! Oops!

The design The design

is GREAT,is GREAT,

but thebut the

edges of edges of

the yellowthe yellow

boxes areboxes are

not square.not square.


If the object is not square, take If the object is not square, take time to carefully cut.time to carefully cut.

Oops! Oops!

Great border!Great border!

Lots of goodLots of good

information!information!

But, smoothBut, smooth

cut edges cut edges

instead of instead of

jagged onesjagged ones

are better.are better.


When adding a border, be sure all When adding a border, be sure all sides are equal. sides are equal.

Oops! Oops!

A roundA round

border aroundborder around

the graph is the graph is

very clever, very clever,

but alsobut also

very hard tovery hard to

cut evenly. cut evenly.

Wow! Wow!

Great posterGreat poster

design!design!

The blackThe black

trim could betrim could be

more evenlymore evenly

cut, but whatcut, but what

a great poster! a great poster!


For successful posters, don’t forget For successful posters, don’t forget about . . . about . . .

FontsFonts Oops! Take Time Cutting!Oops! Take Time Cutting! Careful GluingCareful Gluing UU SS

Careful GluingCareful Gluing

Use glue sparingly. You want to Use glue sparingly. You want to use enough to properly hold your use enough to properly hold your papers in place. But, you don’t papers in place. But, you don’t want to use so much glue that it want to use so much glue that it leaks out on the front.leaks out on the front.

Wow!Wow!Wow!


This poster is so beautiful! Lots of This poster is so beautiful! Lots of cats were individually cut out. cats were individually cut out. However, the text and pictures However, the text and pictures were not secure.were not secure.


Keep your hands clean and glue-Keep your hands clean and glue-free.free.



Be careful in placing pieces on the Be careful in placing pieces on the poster so that they aren’t poster so that they aren’t accidentally crooked.accidentally crooked.



Be careful in placing pieces on the Be careful in placing pieces on the poster so that they aren’t poster so that they aren’t accidentally crooked.accidentally crooked.

Beautiful Borders but the text is crooked.Great illustrations,with a good layout, but this box is crooked.


For successful posters, you must For successful posters, you must also consider the . . . also consider the . . .

FontsFonts Oops! Take Time Cutting!Oops! Take Time Cutting! Careful GluingCareful Gluing Use of ColorUse of Color SS

Use of ColorUse of Color

Look at ads in magazines. Many Look at ads in magazines. Many kids’ posters have too many colors kids’ posters have too many colors with the lettering. As a rule, use with the lettering. As a rule, use no more than three colors with all no more than three colors with all the lettering. Two is even better. the lettering. Two is even better.


Look at ads in magazines. Many Look at ads in magazines. Many kids’ posters have too many colors kids’ posters have too many colors with the lettering. As a rule, use no with the lettering. As a rule, use no more than three colors with all the more than three colors with all the lettering. Two is even better. lettering. Two is even better.

It’s hard to get better than the slide It’s hard to get better than the slide on the next page. Only two colors on the next page. Only two colors were used for all the lettering.were used for all the lettering.


Look at ads in magazines. Many Look at ads in magazines. Many kids’ posters have too many colors kids’ posters have too many colors with the lettering. As a rule, use with the lettering. As a rule, use no more than three colors with all no more than three colors with all the lettering. Two is even better. the lettering. Two is even better.


Remember contrast is important. Remember contrast is important. Don’t use dark letters on dark Don’t use dark letters on dark paper or light letters on light paper or light letters on light paper. The lettering needs paper. The lettering needs emphasis to be easily read. emphasis to be easily read.

The green letters are very easy to read, butother letters are almost impossible to see.

The green letters are very easy to read, butsome letters are almost impossible to see.

Color, Cut carefully, Quality, Everything!Color, Cut Carefully, Contrast, Everything!

Color, Contrast, Carefully Cut -- Everything!


For successful posters, finally, you For successful posters, finally, you must . . . must . . .

FontsFonts Oops! Take Time Cutting!Oops! Take Time Cutting! Careful GluingCareful Gluing Use of Color Use of Color Stress for SuccessStress for Success

Stress for SuccessStress for Success

Some posters look like they are Some posters look like they are Where’s WaldoWhere’s Waldo ads. There is so ads. There is so much clutter you don’t know where much clutter you don’t know where to look. Like any ad in a magazine, to look. Like any ad in a magazine, a poster needs something a poster needs something emphasized, something stressed. emphasized, something stressed. It is usually the title and / or a It is usually the title and / or a piece of art.piece of art.


Science fair posters need to have a lot Science fair posters need to have a lot

of information. There is no way aroundof information. There is no way around

that. But, for other posters, less is that. But, for other posters, less is more.more.

Less wording and information makes for Less wording and information makes for

a more attractive poster.a more attractive poster.


This band-aid project is a clever idea This band-aid project is a clever idea for a poster. But, there is so much for a poster. But, there is so much information! Stress the title or art for information! Stress the title or art for success. success.


Some ads stress the title. It’s the Some ads stress the title. It’s the first thing you see. Other ads first thing you see. Other ads emphasize the artwork to grab emphasize the artwork to grab your attention. Other ads balance your attention. Other ads balance between the two.between the two.


No doubtNo doubt

about it. about it.

You are You are

supposedsupposed

to see theto see the

star first. star first.


Almost no ads focus on the written Almost no ads focus on the written text. It’s important, but when it text. It’s important, but when it comes to writing on a poster, comes to writing on a poster, remember less is more. remember less is more.


This poster is filledThis poster is filled

with lots of goodwith lots of good

information. But, information. But,

most people willmost people will

not take the time not take the time

to read all of it. to read all of it.

F.O.C.U.S. ReviewF.O.C.U.S. Review

Now that you have “F.O.C.U.S.ed” Now that you have “F.O.C.U.S.ed” on steps for making a good poster, on steps for making a good poster, look at these examples made by look at these examples made by students. What have they done students. What have they done well? What could they have well? What could they have improved upon? improved upon?

Example 1Example 1

Example 1Example 1

Wow! Clever lettering on titleWow! Clever lettering on title

Example 1Example 1

Wow! Clever lettering on titleWow! Clever lettering on title Wow! Ruler used for careful Wow! Ruler used for careful

lettering.lettering.

Example 1Example 1


lettering.lettering. Wow! Neat blue trim around text.Wow! Neat blue trim around text.

Example 1Example 1


lettering.lettering. Wow! Neat blue trim around text.Wow! Neat blue trim around text. Oops! A larger illustration would Oops! A larger illustration would

make this poster more attractive.make this poster more attractive.

Example 1Example 1


lettering.lettering. Wow! Neat blue trim around text.Wow! Neat blue trim around text. Oops! A larger illustration would Oops! A larger illustration would

make this poster more attractive.make this poster more attractive. Oops! Although the information is Oops! Although the information is

important, less is more.important, less is more.

Example 2Example 2

Example 2Example 2

Wow! Easy to read font, so using Wow! Easy to read font, so using all capital letters is no problem to all capital letters is no problem to read.read.

Example 2Example 2


Wow! Only one font, in different Wow! Only one font, in different sizes, is used. sizes, is used.

Example 2Example 2



Wow! Only two colors used for Wow! Only two colors used for fonts.fonts.

Example 2Example 2

Wow! Easy to read font, so using all Wow! Easy to read font, so using all capital letters is no problem to read.capital letters is no problem to read.


Wow! Only two colors used for fonts.Wow! Only two colors used for fonts. Wow! An evenly cut blue border Wow! An evenly cut blue border

around the text.around the text.

Example 3Example 3

Example 3Example 3

Wow! Very neatly assembled.Wow! Very neatly assembled.

Example 3Example 3

Wow! Very neatly assembled.Wow! Very neatly assembled. Wow! Careful hand lettering.Wow! Careful hand lettering.

Example 3Example 3

Wow! Very neatly assembled.Wow! Very neatly assembled. Wow! Careful hand lettering.Wow! Careful hand lettering. Wow! Cotton adds interesting Wow! Cotton adds interesting

appeal.appeal.

Example 3Example 3


appeal.appeal. Wow! Attractive trim around text.Wow! Attractive trim around text.

Example 3Example 3


appeal.appeal. Wow! Attractive trim around text.Wow! Attractive trim around text. Wow! Excellent coloring of Wow! Excellent coloring of

artwork.artwork.

Example 3Example 3


appeal.appeal. Wow! Attractive trim around text.Wow! Attractive trim around text. Wow! Excellent coloring of artwork.Wow! Excellent coloring of artwork. Oops! One large illustration works Oops! One large illustration works

better than several small ones.better than several small ones.

Example 4Example 4

Example 4Example 4

Wow! Beautiful lettering!Wow! Beautiful lettering!

Example 4Example 4

Wow! Beautiful lettering!Wow! Beautiful lettering! Wow! Creative border matching Wow! Creative border matching

the theme of the project.the theme of the project.

Example 4Example 4


the theme of the project.the theme of the project. Wow! Large title and central Wow! Large title and central

illustration to capture attention.illustration to capture attention.

Example 4Example 4


the theme of the project.the theme of the project. Wow! Large title and central Wow! Large title and central

illustration to capture attention.illustration to capture attention. Oops! Text should be carefully Oops! Text should be carefully

trimmed.trimmed.

Example 4Example 4

Wow! Beautiful lettering!Wow! Beautiful lettering! Wow! Creative border matching the Wow! Creative border matching the

theme of the project.theme of the project. Wow! Large title and central illustration Wow! Large title and central illustration

to capture attention.to capture attention. Oops! Text should be carefully trimmed.Oops! Text should be carefully trimmed. Oops! Non-Science fair projects should Oops! Non-Science fair projects should

have fewer illustrations.have fewer illustrations.


Now that you know how to Now that you know how to F.O.C.U.S. on good posters-making F.O.C.U.S. on good posters-making tips, you can have much more tips, you can have much more attractive displays. attractive displays.


Now that you know how to F.O.C.U.S. Now that you know how to F.O.C.U.S. on good poster-making tips, you can on good poster-making tips, you can have much more attractive displays. have much more attractive displays.

And remember, these suggestions are And remember, these suggestions are also good for ads, brochures, book also good for ads, brochures, book covers, bulletin boards, report cover covers, bulletin boards, report cover pages, menus, programs, post cards, pages, menus, programs, post cards, banners, and a whole lot more! banners, and a whole lot more!

Special thanks!Special thanks!

I’d like to thank my students at the I’d like to thank my students at the Antwerp International School in Antwerp International School in Antwerp, Belgium. All these Antwerp, Belgium. All these photos were taken from their photos were taken from their posters and science fair projects. posters and science fair projects.

F.O.C.U.S. on Posters Tips for Making Successful Posters By Phillip Martin.

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