Sound familiar?
- Your event poster has every detail on it and nobody can read any of it
- The photo looked fine on screen but went blurry at A1
- Posters in your window fade and look tired within weeks
- You need the same design at A4, A3 and a social post
- The media owner rejected your file for the wrong size or margins
Key facts
- Quoted as a fixed price, or £45 an hour + VAT for small jobs and edits
- A-series sizes: A3 (297 × 420 mm), A2 (420 × 594 mm), A1 (594 × 841 mm), A0 (841 × 1189 mm)
- Outdoor sizes such as 6-sheet (1200 × 1800 mm) built to the media owner's template
- Images at 300 dpi for A3 and A2; larger sizes often fine at 150 dpi at full size, checked with your printer
- Designed to be read from a distance: one headline, one image, one action
- Supplied as print-ready PDF in CMYK with 3 mm bleed, plus a social version
Posters are read from a distance
A poster has to work from across a room or a street. That changes the design rules compared with a flyer, which is held in the hand. dijitul designs posters with one headline big enough to read from several metres away, one strong image, and the essential details only: what, when, where and how to book. Everything else goes on the website or a QR code.
We test layouts by viewing them small on screen, roughly how they will look from a distance. If the main message still reads at thumbnail size, it will work on the wall.
Sizes, resolution and file setup
| Size | Trim (mm) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 297 × 420 | Window and noticeboard posters |
| A2 | 420 × 594 | Shop windows, events, receptions |
| A1 | 594 × 841 | Poster frames, A-boards |
| A0 | 841 × 1189 | Large display posters, academic posters |
| 6-sheet | 1200 × 1800 | Bus shelters and street panels |
For A3 and A2 we work at 300 dpi at final size. As posters get larger, most large-format printers accept 150 dpi at full size because the viewing distance hides fine detail, but we check with your printer rather than guess. Logos, text and shapes are vector, so they stay sharp at any size. Outdoor formats such as 6-sheet and 48-sheet billboards come with the media owner's own template, visible area and file rules, and we build to that exactly.
Bleed is 3 mm on standard sizes. Some large-format printers ask for more, such as 5 or 10 mm, and frames like snap frames cover part of the edge, so we keep text well inside.
Paper and print choices
For indoor posters, 170 gsm silk or gloss is common for short runs, and a heavier 250 gsm stock holds flat in frames. Window posters facing the sun benefit from UV-resistant inks or a laminate, which slows fading. Outdoor posters on hoardings are usually printed on blueback paper, which stops the old poster showing through. For something that needs to last, such as a permanent sign in reception, consider a rigid board instead: see banner and signage design.
Event and campaign poster sets
Most posters are part of something bigger: an event, a sale, a launch or a recruitment drive. We design the master poster first, then adapt it to the other pieces you need, such as an A5 flyer, a social post, an email header and a roller banner. Each version is laid out for its own shape rather than just shrunk, so the headline stays readable. For full event packs, see design for events.
Academic and conference posters (often A0 or A1 portrait) need a different approach: clear sections, readable charts and references, built to the conference's stated size. We can lay those out from your content too, and charts can be redrawn cleanly by our infographic design service.
Common poster problems we fix
- Too much information: we cut it back to the headline, date, place and one way to book, and move the rest online.
- Low-contrast text: white text over a busy photo disappears. We add a solid panel or choose a calmer part of the image.
- Blurry images: photos taken from websites are usually too small. We check every image at its printed size and source better ones where needed.
- Inconsistent branding: we use your exact colour values and fonts so posters match the rest of your print.
- Wrong proportions: A-sizes share one shape, so a design scales across them, but 6-sheet and square frames need their own layout.
What poster design costs
Poster design is quoted as a fixed price once we know the size, the number of versions and how much content there is. Small edits and resizes are charged at £45 an hour + VAT. Printing is separate; we can supply files to your printer or arrange it through print management. Send your size and deadline to get a quote.
What you get
- Print-ready PDF in CMYK with bleed at each size you need
- Versions resized for other formats (A4 handout, A3 window, social post)
- RGB PNG or JPG for screens, websites and social media
- Editable source file on request
- Printer note: size, stock and finish recommendation
How it works and what it costs
Logos from £150, brochures from £295, photography from £295 a half day and CAD at £45 an hour, all + VAT. You get a fixed price before we start.
Tell us the brief
What it is for, who will see it, where it will be used and any examples you like. Rough is fine.
Fixed price
We confirm the price and what you get, in writing, before any work starts.
First designs
We design, shoot or model it and share the first version for your comments.
Refine
We make the changes, check every detail, and prepare the files properly for print, web or manufacture.
Final files
You get the finished files in the formats you need, ready for your printer, website, social channels or manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does poster design cost?
dijitul quotes poster design as a fixed price after seeing the brief, based on size, versions and content. Small edits and resizes are £45 an hour + VAT. Printing is priced separately, and we can arrange it for you if needed.
What resolution should a large poster be?
For A3 and A2, photos should be 300 dpi at final size. For A1, A0 and larger, many printers accept 150 dpi at full size because people stand further away. dijitul checks your printer's requirement and keeps text and logos as vector so they stay sharp.
Can you design for bus shelter or billboard sites?
Yes. dijitul builds outdoor artwork such as 6-sheet (1200 × 1800 mm) and 48-sheet billboards to the media owner's template, including their visible area and file specification. Booking the site itself is done through the media owner or a media agency.
Can one poster design be resized for other uses?
Yes. dijitul adapts the master poster into other formats such as A5 flyers, social posts and roller banners. Each is laid out for its own shape so the headline still reads, rather than simply being scaled.
Do you design academic conference posters?
Yes. dijitul lays out A0 and A1 conference posters from your text, figures and references, built to the conference's size rules. We can redraw charts so they read clearly from a distance and supply a print-ready PDF.
Related
Get a fixed price
Send a rough brief. You'll know exactly what it costs before we start.