Margins, fonts and colours
A margin is the empty space between the edge of the poster and what is on it. Leave it empty. If you put things too close to the edge, the poster looks crowded and tiring to look at. Use the same margin all the way round, for example about the width of your thumb. The font is the shape of the letters. Choose a simple font that is easy to read, and a size that people can see from a little distance: if the letters are too small, readers struggle; if they are too big, you have to cut your information. Choose colours that help your message, and use no more than three. Think about the background: dark letters on a light background, or light letters on a dark one, are easy to read.
| Idea | Good | Not good |
|---|---|---|
| Margin | empty space round the edge | words touching the edge |
| Font | simple and big enough | fancy and tiny |
| Colours | up to three that go well together | many colours |
| Background | strong contrast with the letters | yellow letters on white paper |
| Length | Width | |
|---|---|---|
| The sheet | 30 cm | 20 cm |
| Writing area | 26 cm | 16 cm |
The poster frame. Take a sheet of paper and a ruler. Draw a margin line 2 cm from every edge. Inside the lines, write a title in big letters and one short sentence. Use no more than three colours. Show your partner: is it easy to read from across the table?