Graphic Design
How do I design a simple poster?
How do I design a simple poster?
A poster has one job: the reader sees the most important words first, then what to do. Write that headline before you open a tool. If the words are vague, no typeface will save them.
Limit the system. One typeface. A few colors that still work in black and white. The same spacing. A logo is optional. Decoration that competes with the headline is the usual beginner mistake.
Canva, Figma, or a pen?
Sketch the headline on paper first. Then use a tool that can set type and export. Canva is the usual start for a poster, a story, or a social post. Figma is the usual start when you are designing a screen or a set of layouts you will reuse. Adobe's apps are for later, when a job needs their specific tools.
Both Canva and Figma have a free way to start. Paid plans, taxes, and what the free plan locks change by country. Read the price on canva.com/pricing or figma.com/pricing before you subscribe. A search result is not a photo license. Export the size the destination's own help page asks for.
Type, photos, and export
Keep text large enough for a phone if the poster will be posted there. Do not put the only copy of the message inside an image if a screen reader should read it. Use photos you made, the client supplied, or assets whose license allows the use.
Canva's free plan is enough to practice. Paid plans and prices differ by country and tax. Check canva.com/pricing before you subscribe. Export the size the destination asked for, not a guess.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
What comes first, the words or the colors?
The words. Color and type support the headline. They do not replace it.
How many fonts should I use?
One is enough. Two if you need a contrast. More than that usually looks unfinished.
How do I check contrast?
Squint. If the headline disappears, it is too close to the background. Also look at it in grayscale.
Can I use any image from a search?
No. Use an image you have a license for. A search result is not a license.
What size should I export?
The size of the place it will appear. A phone post, a print flyer, and a thumbnail are different files.
Do I need a paid design app?
Not to learn. A free plan that sets type, alignment, and export is enough until a specific paid feature blocks real work.
Continue
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