One of the best things about designing promotional posters is that they are versatile and can be made from different materials. Some shine under bright light. Others can resist moisture, bending, or UV exposure. And some are simply better for high-volume, cost-efficient campaigns.
You can easily choose the best poster that works best for your current promotions, but if you want to expand your options, you can start by choosing the proper materials and finish.
This guide walks you through every poster option UPrinting offers, what each material is, how it performs, and when to use it.
Large Format Posters
The most common and widely known posters to grab attention are the large format posters. They come in different materials and finish, each offering distinct presentations when displayed.
Some of the common materials for large format posters include:
- Photo Paper. Ideal for image-heavy designs meant for indoor use. They come in semi-gloss or high-gloss finishes that make colors pop and shine vibrantly.
- 20 mil Styrene. This plastic board adds durability to your poster design and is a great long-term promotional tool. The smooth matte finish also lets it stay visible indoors without glare.
Bulk Poster Materials
If you are looking for an affordable poster material that’s easy to mass produce, these bulk poster materials are the way to go. The paper stock you choose will also determine how long your posters will last and how professional they feel.
- 80 lb. Gloss Paper. Thin, lightweight, and ideal for mass distribution. These are best for short-term campaigns where quantity wins over durability. You can also distribute these as freebies that customers can mount on their doors.
- 100 lb. Gloss or Matte Paper. The 100 lb. paper stock is a step up in thickness with a slightly better lifespan. You can also create variety depending on their finish: gloss makes colors pop while matte helps reduce glare.
- 10 pt. Cardstock. This thicker poster material delivers added sturdiness and structure to the posters, making them easier to display indoors.
- 14 pt. Cardstock. The toughest option in this category and an option suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The High Gloss UV coating offers added protection and shine to the vibrant poster design.
Mounted Posters and Poster Boards
These poster variants are designed to look polished and stay rigid. They are often easy to transport and work well for presentations, exhibits, and educational signage. The best part is that you can easily display these posters without the necessary frames or support.
- White PVC Boards. PVC posters are stable signs that you can display easily indoors. They exude a clean and sturdy appearance, fitting gallery-style setups where the poster needs both quality and structure.
- 3/16" Foam Board. A user-friendly poster board that’s affordable and easy to carry. While it’s not made for long-term use, the material exudes artistic design that makes it perfect for exhibits and school presentations.
- Dry Erase PVC Board. This unique poster material adds printed graphics on a smooth dry-erase board with a great writing surface. These posters combine digital art with hand-written and hand-drawn visuals that attract customers.
Wall Posters
Wall posters prioritize aesthetics and ease of installation. These semi-permanent materials are designed to stick to walls without damaging the wall’s surface, making them great for décor and professional environments.
- Adhesive Fabric. If you are looking for vibrant posters with a textured look, the fabric material can turn your design into a premium poster that can be repositioned without leaving any residue.
- Adhesive Vinyl. This durable material brings out your poster’s detailed designs and can fit most commercial spaces. You can enhance your office or home ambiance by displaying creative posters made from shiny and durable vinyl.
Other Poster Designs
Knowing the different poster materials available to you also lets you create other poster design ideas for brand promotions. Some of these creative ideas include:
- Poster Signs. You can maximize the durability of some poster materials to create visually pleasing signs that promote a message. You can use:
- White PVC boards. rigid and sturdy poster material that can resist the changing weather, ideal for permanent or semi-permanent business signs.
- 20 mil Styrene. The lightweight but thick styrene material balances cost and quality. You can easily move and position this poster sign material indoors and catch many people’s attention with its design.
- Poster Calendars. Combine aesthetics with function by adding calendar dates to your posters. Some calendar posters would even extend beyond their dates, proving that a pleasing design is timeless. You can choose between a shiny gloss-finish poster calendar that improves on the design, or a matte texture finish that adds a writable surface to your calendars.
- 100 lb. Paper. A simple but excellent material for calendar posters with tear-away dates.
- 10 pt. Cardstock. Go for this material if you want your calendars to continue attracting attention, even if it’s past its year.
In Summary
Poster materials vary widely, and picking the right one is the first step to printing posters that fit your purpose and last as long as you need it to. Match the material to the environment, the finish, and the expected lifespan, and you’ll get better results with fewer surprises. UPrinting offers high-quality poster printing and lets you choose the best materials for every marketing campaign.
From quick-run promotions to permanent business signage, you can confidently decide on what to print and focus on your message and let UPrinting handle the rest.
