Poster Printing

Not exactly. The posters you see in theaters are typically produced at only one size, printed onto non-archival paper, and printed using traditional offset technologies (which are great for producing vast quantities of the exact same product – but cannot realistically be used for one-off, custom posters, signs, or other products). However, Signs.com prints our posters on archival paper, and in a variety of sizes (see below). And because we print digitally, we can make changes to each individual poster – so each poster can carry its own specific, individualized message if you wish.

Yes, they are three different types of posters. The standard posters on this page are photo-printed onto archival paper (gloss, matte, or metallic), in sizes up to 96” x 48.” Our cardstock posters are, as the name indicates, printed onto 24-pt cardstock – a material that’s rigid enough to stand by itself and be displayed on an easel. Printed with UV inks, they’re available single- or double-sided, and in sizes up to 94” x 46”. Our mounted posters, meanwhile, are directly printed with UV inks, onto 5mm foamboard or 3mm PVC plastic (sintra); they, too, are available in sizes up to 94” x 46” and single-side or double-sided.

We use our top-of-the-line digital photo printer to print onto glossy, matte, or metallic archival paper (see below). The printer we use is a hyper-resolution film processor that can produce continuous-tone prints up to 96” x 48”. Simply put, you’ll be getting top notch print quality with these custom posters.

Yes, we offer a trio of paper choices: glossy, matte, or metallic finishes. All three are archival-quality papers designed for superior image clarity and vivid color reproduction, plus a permanence you simply won’t find in non-archival papers. Our glossy and matte papers are .008-inch thick; our metallic paper is .010-inch thick.

A glossy finish is bright, reflective and provides a look that says “valuable”; it works especially well with high-contrast images and in low-light conditions. A matte finish provides softer, more muted colors, and can ward off fingerprint smudges; it works well under bright lights because the matte finish doesn’t offer up reflections. As the name indicates, a metallic finish gives a metallic, pearl-like effect, making colors pop; keep in mind that this finish requires good lighting to get the full metallic effect.

Our posters are printed on archival paper, which helps ensure the images and messaging will remain clear and crisp over time—with care, they will last for decades to come. That said, our posters are primarily intended for indoor use and can be sensitive to UV rays.

We offer our posters in sizes as large as 96” x 48” and as small as 4” x 4”.

We have found that the most common poster sizes are: 8" x 10", 11" x 17", 16" x 20", 18" x 24", 24" x 36," and 36" x 48". As noted above, however, we do offer smaller and larger sizes. You can read about a few of these common poster sizes in greater detail in our blog post on standard poster sizes.

The only limits are your imagination and what can realistically fit on the size of poster that you choose. In addition, you must abide by our terms of service when it comes to copyrighted content, trademarks, and offensive or demeaning materials; please peruse our terms of service here.

We do offer a lamination option for our posters. From the options menu above you can select the protective laminate which will add a glossy lamination to your poster. Adding this provides protection for your poster from scratches and allows you to easily clean and maintain the poster finish.

No, we only print our posters one-sided; this ensures the printed image is of the highest quality. We do offer two-sided printing on our cardstock posters and mounted posters as well as a number of our rigid signs – plastic, acrylic, and aluminum.

Our posters are offered only in standard rectangular shapes, in the sizes we’ve noted above. If it’s a custom shape you’re looking for, you can print any shape you desire with our 24pt cardstock posters. For custom shape signage you might also consider plastic, acrylic, or aluminum signs – all of these rigid signage materials can be cut into just about any shape you choose.

Definitely, and that’s a prime advantage to our printing process – the ability to change out your message and/or graphic with each individual poster, without any additional cost.

Your best finish options for environments with bright lights are metallic or matte. The metallic finish will accentuate your image’s colors and make it really pop, while the matte finish will “play nice” with the bright lights and minimize reflections. Avoid a glossy finish for spaces with very bright lights because reflections will wreak havoc with your image and your poster’s messaging.

No, there’s never a charge for printing as many –or as few – colors as you’d like here at Signs.com. From a design standpoint, however, we typically suggest avoiding the “jumbo crayon box” mentality when it comes to the number of colors you choose to utilize – too many colors can result in confusing the viewer’s eye.

No, we do not offer blacklight posters. Blacklight posters are posters that have been printed with special inks featuring luminescent qualities, allowing them to glow under a blacklight’s ultraviolet light. One option you might consider is a backlit decal – a digitally printed translucent vinyl film that will exhibit a vibrant, luminous glow when you place a light source behind it.

Depending upon your conference’s poster specifications, our posters should be ideal. Check the specifications for size requirements and/or how the poster will be displayed at the conference (displayed on a board/wall, tabletop display, floor display, etc.) and then design and choose your poster type accordingly. Tip: A matte finish will usually help in adding to your poster’s readability; reflections from a glossy finish can make content difficult to read.

Yes, these posters will work fine in a child’s room. If you’re concerned about fingerprints and other smudges, you might want to select a matte finish – it will do a better job of rejecting fingerprints than will a glossy finish.

Absolutely! Quick Response (QR) barcodes are a great way to direct customers and prospects to your website, online ordering, virtual store, menu, etc. You can find various QR code generators online, many for free. Once you’ve created your QR code, simply integrate it into your design. A few quick QR code tips: larger is better than smaller; place your QR code in a spot within the poster design so the viewer won’t have to kneel down or get a ladder to scan it; and be sure to test your QR code before and after adding it to your design.

No, our posters are not waterproof. In fact, direct contact with water or moisture can prove damaging to your poster, which is why we don’t recommend them for outdoor use (or installing them in your shower).

Yes, we offer quality rear loading metal frames for four poster sizes: 8 x 10, 11 x 17, 16 x 20, and 24 x 36. Our frames have a brushed, black finish and have a clean, rounded profile. Our 8 x 10 frame comes with an easel back for tabletop display along with V-clips which make loading easy and wall hanging a breeze. The larger three sizes include V-clips for easy loading and wall hanging.

Placing them behind glass or plastic will, of course, provide added protection, but there’s usually no need to do so as long as you’re using them in their intended interior environment. If your poster will be exposed to UV light for any extended period, glass providing UV protection will shield it from UV rays. Keep in mind that glass or plastic might cause viewing problems for glossy or metallic prints due to added reflections. We offer optional metal frames for those posters measuring 8 x 10, 11 x 17, 16 x 20, and 24 x 36 inches.

Typically, we ship most of our posters rolled, in a shipping tube. For smaller posters, however, we will ship these in a stay-flat envelope.

Because we print our posters on archival paper, they’re quite durable as long as they’re installed indoors. That said, however, they are paper posters and so they can be damaged or torn if, for instance, a player crashes into them. Posters with a metallic finish are a bit thicker than those with a glossy or matte finish, so will tend to be more durable.

Our posters are intended for indoor environments only. Because they can be damaged by water and moisture, as well as UV light (they’ll fade when exposed to sunlight over time), we don’t recommend using them outdoors.

Because we print on archival-quality paper, our posters can last for decades when installed indoors. Keep in mind that frequent handling and abuse, as well as excessive UV light, can substantially shorten a poster’s lifespan.

Use a dry, non-abrasive cloth to clean your poster. Do not utilize any kind of cleaning product when cleaning your poster.

The best way to store your poster is by storing it flat, ideally in a protective envelope or sleeve. Avoid placing heavy objects on your stored poster, to minimize the chance of creases or other damage. Another option is to loosely roll your poster and store it inside a protective tube; be sure to avoid creasing while rolling.

You have a few options when it comes to displaying a poster. You can use 3M Command Strips (available for purchase from us as an accessory option) or hook-and-loop fasteners like Velcro. You can also boost your poster’s aesthetic – as well as provide some increased protection – by placing it in a frame. Check out our guide on the best way to hang posters on our blog.

Posters work well in business environments as well as personal spaces. In a business, consider displaying a poster in a company lobby, corridor, conference room, kitchenette, employee lounge area, rest room, or individual office. Of course, they can also be used on the home front – in bedrooms, living rooms, basements, man caves/she sheds, kitchens, hallways, foyers, and just about everywhere else.

Yes, of course, as long as your frame’s dimensions match up with the poster’s dimensions.