Poster is a large printed image (size usually larger than A3) used for decoration or marketing purposes. Digital print poster is usually printed by inkjet printers which uses ink to print the poster instead of toner. There are many types of inkjet printers in the market but only two sizes are commonly used by print shops; 24 inches wide and 36 inches wide. The 24 inches wide inkjet printer can print posters up to the width of A1 whereas the 36 inches inkjet printer can print posters up to the width of A0. The length of poster is limited by the total length of paper rolls, which means a paper roll with 30 meters long allows the poster to be printed up to 30 meters of length.

There are a few types of paper rolls commonly used for poster printing, i.e. Simili paper, Coated paper, Matte paper (Synthetic / Matte PP), Semi-gloss paper, High-gloss paper, Stickers paper, and Canvas. The thickness of the paper used is usually more than 80gsm because any paper thinner than that will cause the poster to tear easily. Simili paper and Coated paper are usually used for assignment submission, rendering job and job tendering purposes because they are least durable and can only be used for short-term usage. For other purposes that require the poster to be more durable, Matte paper (Synthetic / Matte PP), Semi-gloss paper, High-gloss paper, Stickers paper, and Canvas are used.

Matte paper, Semi-Gloss and High-gloss paper are suitable for picture print and photo print. For this type of printing, the printout does not only require the careful selection of suitable paper but also serious consideration of the numbers of color combination. Most inkjet printers provide at least 4-color print (CMYK) but this is usually not enough for a good quality photo printout. The professional large format photo printers offer 8-color and 12-color print, hence are able to deliver the most accurate color combinations for the poster printout.

Poster photo is usually displayed in a photo frame. However, some posters intended for marketing purpose may apply different mounting method depending on one’s budget. The sticker poster is the most cost-effective option when it comes to marketing purpose. You can stick the poster on a foam board and trim it to the expected size, then display it on the wall or on an easel stand.

Canvas is a strong and coarse unbleached cloth made by flax, hemp or yarn. The surface of canvas has textures that exudes a very strong character. The material is very durable and not easily tearable. Therefore, the canvas can be gallery-wrapped and can withstand the stapling and nailing required to achieve that. This canvas poster is usually the best choice for decoration purpose.