What is a Poster? The Complete Guide — Sizes, Printing, and Design Techniques 2026
โปสเตอร์ คืออะไร? คู่มือฉบับสมบูรณ์ — ขนาด ระบบพิมพ์ และเทคนิคออกแบบ 2026

Posters are printed media designed to communicate messages through images and text on a single page – a form of advertising that has been used since the late 19th century in Europe and remains one of the most effective print media today due to its ease of design, fast production, and low cost per piece compared to other media.

This guide compiles all the essential information you need to know before ordering posters, from standard sizes A0–A5 and B-Series, types of paper and printable materials, digital printing systems suitable for high-quality work, to design techniques and choosing the printing system that delivers the most beautiful and sharp colors – all written from the real production experience of Octopus Media Solutions, with over 10 years in poster printing.

Topics in this article
What is a Poster? What can Posters be used for? Standard Poster Sizes A0–A3 (+ Flyers/Postcards) Paper and Printing Materials 2 Poster Printing Systems What is Konica High Chroma? UV Inkjet 8 Colors (Lc/Lm/W/V) Poster Design Techniques Price and Production Time Frequently Asked Questions How to Order and Files to Prepare

What is a Poster?

Definition

A poster is a type of printed media used for advertising, public relations, or communicating messages in the form of images and text on paper or other printing materials. Sizes range from A3 up to A0 or larger – sizes A4 and smaller are usually called flyers or postcards instead. They are installed by being affixed to a wall, placed on a stand, or framed to be displayed in desired communication areas.

โปสเตอร์หลากหลายประเภทติดผนังสำนักงาน

Various types of posters – advertising, events, corporate, and decorative

In Thailand, the term "poster" covers product advertising posters, movie posters, campaign posters, decorative posters, and conference posters – with different sizes and print qualities. A4 prints are often called flyers if using thin paper (80–130g) or postcards if using thick paper (300g+) for in-store display, promotion announcements, or portfolio work. Large posters (A2–A0) are used for billboards in prominent locations such as mall walkways, BTS/MRT stations, or storefronts.

Frequently Asked Question — "How do posters differ from banners?" — Posters are printed media on paper or rigid materials for wall mounting, stands, or framing indoors. Banners (vinyl signs) are printed on waterproof PVC plastic materials for hanging or stretching outdoors. They clearly differ in size, durability, and cost.

What can Posters be used for? — 8 Popular Types

ADVERTISING

Advertising Posters

Products, promotions, campaigns. Displayed in stores or walkways.

EVENT

Event Posters

Concerts, Conferences, Workshops, Sale Events

EDUCATIONAL

Educational Posters

Research Posters, Academic, Exhibitions

CAMPAIGN

Campaign Posters

Health, Safety, Environment, CSR, Government agencies

DECORATIVE

Decorative Posters

Wall Art for bedrooms, cafes, restaurants, hotels

MOVIE/MUSIC

Movie/Music Posters

Movie Posters, Concert Posters, Limited Collectibles

RETAIL POSM

Storefront Posters

POSM, Sale Signs, New Products, Buy 1 Get 1

CORPORATE

Corporate Posters

Vision, Values, Mission, Vision. Displayed in offices

Standard Poster Sizes — A-Series + B-Series

Poster sizes in Thailand and internationally mainly use the ISO 216 standard (A-Series) — each size has the same aspect ratio (1:√2), allowing for scaling without distortion. The most commonly used sizes are A3 (29.7×42 cm) for general use and A2 (42×59.4 cm) for prominent displays.

เปรียบเทียบขนาดโปสเตอร์ A-Series

Comparison of standard poster sizes A4, A3, A2, A1

Table of all standard poster sizes — A-Series + B-Series
Size Millimeters Centimeters Inches Best for
A0 841 × 1189 mm 84.1 × 118.9 cm 33.1 × 46.8 in Large posters for Conferences, Trade Shows
A1 594 × 841 mm 59.4 × 84.1 cm 23.4 × 33.1 in Advertising posters for BTS/MRT walkways
A2 ⭐ 420 × 594 mm 42 × 59.4 cm 16.5 × 23.4 in Storefront POSM · Event Signs · Wall Art
A3 ⭐⭐ 297 × 420 mm 29.7 × 42 cm 11.7 × 16.5 in Most popular size · In-store · Office
A4 210 × 297 mm 21 × 29.7 cm 8.3 × 11.7 in Flyers (if using thin paper 80–130g) or Postcards if using thick paper 300g+ · Notices, hand-outs, in-store
A5 148 × 210 mm 14.8 × 21 cm 5.8 × 8.3 in Postcards (standard international postcard size) or Flyers if using thin paper · Event giveaways, souvenirs
B0 1000 × 1414 mm 100 × 141.4 cm 39.4 × 55.7 in Posters larger than A0
B1 707 × 1000 mm 70.7 × 100 cm 27.8 × 39.4 in Subway station posters
B2 500 × 707 mm 50 × 70.7 cm 19.7 × 27.8 in Collectible concert posters
Custom — Specify size — According to requirements — max 1.6 × 50 m
Team's Perspective — Sizes A3 and A2 are the two sizes most frequently ordered by customers, making up 70% of poster orders — because A3 fits perfectly into standard IKEA and HomePro frames, and A2 is large enough to be read from 3–5 meters away, suitable for POSM and store walkways. If unsure, choose A3 first, as it is the most economical and fastest to print.

Poster Paper and Printing Materials

Octopus supports all types of printing materials according to purpose of use — standard paper for indoor applications, special materials for specific jobs, and waterproof materials for long-lasting outdoor applications.

วัสดุพิมพ์โปสเตอร์ชนิดต่างๆ

Various poster printing materials — Art paper, Canvas, Film, Vinyl

Art Paper 160g

Standard matte/gloss art paper, suitable for A3, A4 indoors

Art Card 250–350g

Thick art card, can stand on its own, POSM

Photo Paper 200g+

Glossy/matte photo paper, Photo Studio quality

Synthetic Paper

Tear-resistant, waterproof, durable synthetic paper

Canvas

Canvas for Wall Art, decorative posters, cafes, hotels

Backlit Film

Backlit film for lightboxes

Vinyl Sticker

Sticker poster, can be applied to walls/glass

Foam Board

Foam board, strong, self-standing, POSM

Choosing the right printing system for the desired size and quality is the most important factor in getting posters with beautiful, sharp colors and good value. Octopus has 2 main printing systems that cover all poster printing sizes and qualities.

เครื่องพิมพ์โปสเตอร์ดิจิตอล large format

Large format digital poster printers deliver sharp colors, available in all sizes

Konica High Chroma Digital Press · A3 and smaller
MachineAccurioPress C83hc
Color SystemHigh Chroma CMYK 4 colors
GamutExpanded towards RGB · Wider than typical CMYK
Max SizeA3 (29.7 × 42 cm)
Resolution1200 × 1200 dpi × 8-bit
Lead Time1–2 days · Express 1 day
Suitable forPhotos, Portraits, Brands with vivid colors, Pantone
UV Inkjet 8 Colors Wide Format · A2 and larger
MachineCanon UV / Mimaki UV / HP Latex
Color SystemCMYK + Lc + Lm + W + Varnish
GamutExpanded with Light Cyan + Light Magenta
Max Size1.6 × 50 m (Roll)
Resolution1200–1440 dpi
Lead Time2–4 days · Express 1 day
Suitable forLarge posters, billboards, POSM

Konica High Chroma — A Printer That Extends Color Gamut Beyond Standard CMYK

EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY

Konica AccurioPress C83hc — High Chroma Polymerised Toner

The Konica AccurioPress C83hc is a production digital press that uses a 4-color (CMYK) toner ink system, similar to other digital presses, but its "ink is special". Konica developed "High Chroma Toner" which has purer pigments than normal toner, especially for Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow, with higher L* values (lightness) than standard. This expands the color gamut to cover a wider range closer to RGB displays.

The result is the ability to print colors that typical CMYK toner systems cannot reproduce — such as vivid reds, emerald greens, clear sky blues, deep purples, bright pinks. These are the "colors seen on display but dull when printed" by typical CMYK machines. Konica HC directly addresses this problem. It offers a resolution of 1,200 × 1,200 dpi × 8-bit full color, a speed of 81 pages/minute, and supports paper thickness up to 350 gsm.

This machine is one of only a few in Thailand that is actually installed. Octopus uses it for printing posters up to A3 size that require Photo Studio level quality. Lead time is only 1 day for standard MOQ.

What kind of work is it suitable for? — Portrait photography, Brand posters, Premium restaurant food posters, Wedding posters, Calendars, Photo Books, Apparel Catalogues, Art Reproduction that requires colors to match the original display or camera.

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Interested in printing A3 High Chroma posters? See products and prices at Inkjet Poster Printing — Lead time 1 day · Express same-day · Nationwide delivery

UV Inkjet 8 Colors — The CcMmYK + W + V System Used by Octopus

Most UV Inkjet machines on the market use only 4 colors (CMYK), but Octopus chooses machines with a full 8-color system because the addition of Light Cyan, Light Magenta, White, and Varnish significantly improves print quality, especially in light color gradients, smooth color surfaces, and work requiring special effects.

8 Colors of Production Grade UV Inkjet System — What roles do they play in printing?
Color Abbreviation Function Visible Effect
Cyan C Primary ink, blue-green tones CMYK basic
Magenta M Primary ink, pink-red tones CMYK basic
Yellow Y Primary ink, yellow tones CMYK basic
Black K Primary ink, black CMYK basic
Light Cyan ⭐ Lc Diluted Cyan for bright areas Smooth cyan gradient · Smooth skin tones
Light Magenta ⭐ Lm Diluted Magenta for bright areas Smooth skin tones, sunset pastel gradients
White W Opaque white ink — Underbase Achieves true colors on clear/dark materials
Varnish V Clear ink for Spot UV / Gloss / Matte Gloss coating · Embossing · Special effects
Our Team's View — Light Cyan and Light Magenta are "colors customers don't see but feel" — In posters with people, skin tones will be smooth, not spotty or grainy · In sunset images, the gradient from blue to orange will be seamless without color bands · In pastel flower images, light colors will be clear, not "blurry" — This level of smoothness is something that standard 4-color CMYK machines cannot achieve, no matter how high the DPI, because the problem lies in the basic ink dots being too thick for bright areas.
White Ink Underbase: For printing on clear materials (clear acrylic, glass) or dark colors (black acrylic, dark wood, metal) — The system prints a white layer first, then CMYK on top — This ensures colors match the original and are not absorbed by the background — This feature cannot be done with 4-color CMYK alone.
Varnish (Spot UV): Clear ink used for spot gloss coating, such as highlighting a logo with gloss while the background is matte — Or printing multiple layers to create 3D embossed textures (Texture, Braille) — Used in Premium Packaging, Book Covers, Cards.
Price Comparison with Competitors: 4-color (CMYK) UV printers cost approximately 500K–2M Baht · 6-color UV (+ White + Varnish) about 2–4M · 8-color UV (+ Lc + Lm) are Production Grade and cost 4M+ — Octopus invests at this level to ensure print quality is not limited by machine capabilities.
When You See the Difference: 4-color vs 8-color: Clearly visible in jobs with (1) many portrait photos of people (Lc/Lm makes skin smooth) · (2) Sunset / Sunrise / Sea images (smooth gradients) · (3) Pastel flowers (clear light colors) · (4) Printing on clear acrylic (using White) · (5) Jobs requiring Spot UV (using Varnish) — For text-only jobs like Sale Signs, 4 colors are sufficient.

Design Tips for Beautiful, Sharp Posters

Original File Resolution: For Photo Studio quality prints, set the resolution to 300 dpi at actual size — A3 poster (29.7×42 cm) = image 3508 × 4961 px · A2 = 4961 × 7016 px · A1 = 7016 × 9933 px — Images with lower resolutions will show pixelation when printed, especially photos and gradients.
Color Mode CMYK vs RGB: General printing uses CMYK · but with our Konica High Chroma printer, it accepts both CMYK and RGB — We recommend sending files as designed (RGB if original was RGB · CMYK if original was CMYK) — The Konica HC printer will convert to its own Color Profile with a wide Color Gamut — The Octopus team will Proof before printing to confirm color accuracy.
Bleed Area: Design with a 3mm bleed on all sides for trimming — Images and background colors must extend beyond the 3mm edge to prevent white edges after trimming — Our CO2 Laser cutter has an accuracy of 0.1mm, but each sheet of paper may shift slightly.
Safe Zone: Important text, logos, and main design elements should be within 5mm from the edge — Because actual trimming may cut slightly inward during production — The Safe Zone prevents text from being cut in case of minor trimming errors.
Font Selection: For poster text, headlines should use a bold font, 60–120pt, readable from a distance · Subheadings use 20–40pt · Small details should not be less than 10pt because they won't be readable from 1–2 meters — See recommended free Thai fonts
Hierarchy of Importance: A good poster has "three levels of visual focus" — (1) Headline, large title visible from 5 meters · (2) Hero Image, main image that draws the eye · (3) Body + Call-to-Action readable when closer than 1–2 meters — This structure multiplies communication effectiveness.
Using White Space: Posters with appropriate white space look more professional than posters packed with text — Maintain 20–30% of total area as White Space, especially around headlines and main images.
Recommended File Types: Send PDF/X-1a (for print) or AI/EPS (original Vector) or high-resolution TIFF/JPEG files — Avoid JPGs from the Web or PNGs with high compression, as color data is compressed and can cause incorrect print colors.

Price and Production Time — Estimated Starting Prices

A4 Starts from 80 ฿ per sheet
A3 ⭐ Starts from 150 ฿ per sheet · Konica High Chroma
A2 Starts from 280 ฿ per sheet · UV Inkjet
A1/A0 Starts from 480 ฿ per sheet · Wide Format

Price Note — The prices above are starting prices for 160g Art Paper. If using special paper such as Photo Paper, Canvas, Backlit Film, prices will adjust according to material type — For large orders 50+ sheets, get 10–15% off · 100+ sheets, get 20% off — Request a specific quote based on your actual artwork via LINE @octopusdesign

Poster Printing Process — 5 Easy Steps

1

Send File

PDF/AI/EPS or high-resolution JPEG

2

Choose Size

A4 / A3 / A2 / A1 / A0 or Custom

3

Choose Paper

Art Paper / Photo Paper / Canvas / Vinyl

4

Approve Mockup

Check Color Proof before actual production

5

Receive Order

1–4 days depending on size · Nationwide delivery

Frequently Asked Questions about Posters

A3 (29.7×42 cm) is the most popular size because it fits standard picture frames (IKEA, HomePro, general frame shops) + it's clearly visible from 1–3 meters + it has an affordable starting price — Followed by A2 (42×59.4 cm) for POSM and A4 (21×29.7 cm) for flyers or notices — Over 70% of orders at Octopus are A3 and A2.
Regular CMYK uses 4 inks (C, M, Y, K) with a standard "Color Gamut" (range of printable colors) — Vibrant colors like deep red, emerald green, sea blue, vivid purple often appear dull · Konica High Chroma also uses 4 colors, but the pigments (toner) are purer than standard — The Color Gamut expands towards RGB, allowing for better printing of vibrant/intense colors, up to A3 size · As for Octopus's 8-color UV Inkjet system, it uses CMYK + Lc + Lm + W + Varnish — Light Cyan and Light Magenta make light color zones smooth with seamless gradients · White is used for printing on clear/dark materials · Varnish is used for Spot UV gloss coating — It's Production Grade, suitable for larger jobs from A2 upwards.
Octopus Media Solutions is located in Bangkok + accepts online orders nationwide — Send files via LINE @octopusdesign, and the team will provide a quote within 30 minutes — Prints are completed in 1–4 days depending on size and quantity — Delivery is via Kerry Express, Flash Express, J&T, or EMS nationwide — Customers in Bangkok and surrounding areas can pick up at the factory to save on shipping and receive their order faster.
An A3 poster on 160g Art Paper starts at 150 Baht/sheet for a MOQ of 1 sheet — For 10+ sheets, the price is approximately 100–120 Baht/sheet · For 50+ sheets, approximately 80–90 Baht/sheet · For 100+ sheets, approximately 60–70 Baht/sheet — Prices depend on paper type and quantity — Photo Paper or Canvas adds 30–50% — Request a quote based on your actual file via LINE.
Yes, we can — Octopus has UV/Latex Inkjet Wide Format machines that can print up to a maximum width of 1.6 meters × continuous length up to 50 meters — Used for extra-large posters, advertising signs in malls, stations, and on electric trains — Resolution of 1200–1440 dpi for sharp image quality at viewing distances of 2–10 meters — Lead Time 2–4 days · Express 1 day for urgent jobs.
Tips for sending files for accurate color matching — (1) Send files in PDF/X-1a or AI/EPS Vector format with an embedded ICC Profile · (2) For Konica High Chroma, both RGB (sRGB / Adobe RGB) and CMYK (FOGRA39 / ISO Coated v2) are accepted — Send as designed · (3) For 8-color UV Inkjet, send CMYK using FOGRA39 or ISO Coated v2 — The machine will automatically use Lc/Lm to enhance light areas · (4) If you need colors to exactly match a Brand Identity, send the Pantone Number for each color along with the file — The Octopus team will Color Proof before actual printing.
"โปสเตอร์" in English is Poster — The root comes from the word "Post" (to put up a notice) — In advertising, interchangeable terms include "Bill" (large outdoor poster) · "Placard" (handheld sign) · "Broadside" (old-fashioned wall poster) · "Flyer" (small poster, A4 or smaller) — For ordering prints in Thailand, "Poster" is the standard term.
There are 4 popular types of poster stands — (1) X-Stand / X-Banner: X-shaped metal stand, portable, foldable · (2) Roll Up: Stand with a roll-up mechanism in a metal casing, pulls up for use · (3) Standy / Standee: Sign displayed on rigid Foam Board or Plastic · (4) A-Stand / Sign Holder: Metal frame stand (front/back) where paper can be changed — Octopus offers services with all types of stands, delivered with your posters.
Yes — Octopus offers an Express Service for poster printing — Sizes A3 and smaller via Konica High Chroma are completed within the same day (order before noon, pick up in the evening) · Sizes A2 and larger via 8-color UV Inkjet are completed in 1 day if ordered before 10:00 AM — Express Service incurs an additional 20–30% charge — Suitable for event jobs requiring immediate delivery.
Outdoor posters do not use paper — Water-resistant materials must be used, such as Vinyl Sticker, Synthetic Paper, Backlit Film, or Vinyl fabric — Octopus recommends Synthetic Paper for temporary jobs (1–3 months) · Vinyl Sticker for longer-term applications (1–3 years) · For long-term outdoor vinyl banners (Vinyl Banner), use inkjet printed vinyl banners instead.
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Ready to print your poster? Order posters at Inkjet Poster Printing · Or see all promotional materials · For large signs, see complete advertising signs

Start Printing Photo Studio Quality Posters Today

Send your file + specify size, and the team will provide a quote within 30 minutes · Konica High Chroma for A3 and smaller · 8-color UV Inkjet (CcMmYK + W + V) for A2 and larger · Express within a day

LINE @octopusdesign View products and prices