Poster Printing

Choosing a size

Size follows viewing distance and placement. A3 (30x42 cm) is for close range — by a till, in a lift, at an entrance, where people look from one or two metres. A2 (42x59 cm) is the standard wall poster and reads from two to three metres. A1 (59x84 cm) suits shop windows and large spaces. A0 (84x119 cm) and above suit events, foyers and large halls. Practical note: most businesses choose A3 on budget grounds when A2 reads considerably better and costs only modestly more.

• A3 — 1-2 m, tills, lifts, entrances
• A2 — 2-3 m, the wall standard
• A1 — shop windows, large spaces
• A0 and above — events, foyers

Matte or gloss, and when lamination pays

Gloss paper intensifies colour and makes photography look livelier — good where lighting is controlled. Its problem is glare: under direct ceiling lighting or sun in a shop window the poster reflects and text becomes unreadable. Matte paper removes glare and looks more restrained. Lamination is a separate question: it protects against abrasion, fingerprints and moisture — worth it where the poster is within reach or will hang for a long time. A one-off event poster does not usually need it.

• Gloss — photography, controlled lighting
• Matte — no glare, better for text
• Lamination — long use, reachable placement
• One-off events — lamination is unnecessary

Artwork and resolution

The resolution rule for posters is the same as for banners: it follows viewing distance. An A3 poster is viewed from a metre, so 300 dpi is justified. A1 and A0 are viewed from three to five metres, where 150 dpi is entirely sufficient and the file stays manageable. Two practical notes: first, if the poster goes into a frame, one to two centimetres of the edge disappears under it, so text must sit further in. Second, vector elements (logo, text) should stay vector even when the background is raster — that keeps text crisp at any size.