Designing effective posters, signs and banners requires somewhat of a unique approach when compared to the design of smaller items such as postcards and brochures. Larger format items are typically viewed from a distance, sometimes for a just a few seconds or while the viewer is on the move. This gives the viewer only seconds to absorb your message visually, and creates a unique set of design requirements. We created the following tips to assist you as you design your large format piece.
Five things to consider when designing a large format piece:
What is it? Where will it be placed? At what distance will people be viewing it? How much time will people have to look at it? What is the desired effect?
With these thoughts in mind, try to avoid the following:
A simple way for you to test the legibility of your piece: keep taking steps back from your computer screen to see if you can still quickly and easily read the message. If you need us to design your poster, sign or banner for you, simply contact us.
Five things to consider when designing a large format piece:
What is it? Where will it be placed? At what distance will people be viewing it? How much time will people have to look at it? What is the desired effect?
With these thoughts in mind, try to avoid the following:
- Delicate, decorative or bulky fonts can be distracting and decrease legibility.
- Be aware of the space between lines.
- As you increase the size of the font, watch the spacing between characters. White space helps the viewer read your message.
- Do not use all capital letters in a script font.
- Do not use too many fonts.
- Ensure your images are high enough resolution as clarity will be reduced as you enlarge them. Avoid multiple or busy images that distract from your message.
- Avoid placing text over an image. Ensure your message stands out clearly from the background.
- Contrast in text colour increases legibility.
- Make sure your text can be read at a distance.
- Keep text simple. Special effects reduce legibility.
- Watch out for colour combinations that ‘vibrate.’
- Keep your message short and simple.
- Don’t feel the need to fill every inch of the surface.
- Vertical text is harder to read than horizontal text.
A simple way for you to test the legibility of your piece: keep taking steps back from your computer screen to see if you can still quickly and easily read the message. If you need us to design your poster, sign or banner for you, simply contact us.
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