Flyers & Posters - Printery | Print Production for Figma

Project Overview

Flyers and posters are essential marketing tools for events, promotions, and announcements. This guide covers everything from small handbills to large-format posters.

Time to Complete: 45-90 minutes (design + setup) Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate

Common Sizes

Flyers

Size	Dimensions	Use Case
Letter	8.5” × 11” (216mm × 279mm)	Most common US flyer
A4	210mm × 297mm (8.3” × 11.7”)	International standard
Half Letter	5.5” × 8.5”	Handouts, mailers
A5	148mm × 210mm (5.8” × 8.3”)	Compact flyers
DL	99mm × 210mm (3.9” × 8.3”)	Rack cards, slim flyers

Posters

Size	Dimensions	Use Case
11×17	11” × 17” (Tabloid)	Small posters, menus
18×24	18” × 24”	Standard event poster
24×36	24” × 36”	Large posters, retail
27×40	27” × 40”	Movie posters
A2	420mm × 594mm (16.5” × 23.4”)	International poster
A1	594mm × 841mm (23.4” × 33.1”)	Large format
Custom	Any size	Special applications

Specifications

Standard Flyer (8.5×11”)

Specification	Value
Final Size	8.5” × 11”
With Bleed	8.75” × 11.25”
Bleed	0.125” (3mm) all sides
Safety Zone	0.25” (6mm) from edge
Resolution	300 DPI minimum
Color Mode	CMYK
ICC Profile	ISO Coated v2 300%

Standard Poster (18×24”)

Specification	Value
Final Size	18” × 24”
With Bleed	18.25” × 24.25”
Bleed	0.125” (3mm) for small posters
	0.25” (6mm) for large format
Safety Zone	0.5” (12mm) from edge
Resolution	300 DPI (close viewing)
	150-200 DPI (far viewing OK)
Color Mode	CMYK

Design Considerations

Flyer Design

Visual Hierarchy

Priority order:

Headline - Largest, most prominent
Key image - Eye-catching visual
Subheading/details - Medium size
Call to action - Clear and bold
Contact info - Smallest but legible

Reading pattern:

Z-pattern (top-left → top-right → bottom-left → bottom-right)
F-pattern (for text-heavy flyers)

Test: Squint test - Can you read headline from 3 feet away?

Typography

Recommended sizes:

Headline: 36-72pt
Subheading: 24-36pt
Body text: 10-14pt
Fine print: 8-10pt (minimum)

Font choices:

Headlines: Bold, impactful (Impact, Bebas, Montserrat Bold)
Body: Readable (Helvetica, Arial, Open Sans)
Limit: 2-3 font families maximum

Contrast: Ensure text readable over backgrounds

Color Strategy

Effective approaches:High contrast:

Dark text on light background
Or light text on dark background
Avoid mid-tone on mid-tone

Brand colors:

Use consistently
Consider spot colors for logos

Attention-grabbing:

Bright colors (yellow, orange, red)
High saturation
But ensure printability (CMYK limits!)

Test: Convert to grayscale - still readable?

Images

Resolution requirements:

Minimum: 300 DPI at final size
Photos: High resolution
Graphics: Vector when possible

Placement:

Hero image: Top or center
Supporting images: Smaller
Don’t crowd - white space helps

Quality over quantity: One great image > many mediocre onesLicensing: Ensure you have rights to all images

Call to Action (CTA)

Essential elements:

Clear action verb (“Register Now”, “Visit Us”, “Call Today”)
Contact information
Website/QR code
Deadline (if applicable)

Placement: Bottom or highlighted areaSize: Large enough to not missExample:

REGISTER NOW
www.event.com
Ends March 15

Poster Design

Viewing Distance

Rule of thumb: Poster size ÷ 100 = viewing distanceExamples:

18×24” poster → View from 18-24 feet
24×36” poster → View from 24-36 feet

Impact on design:

Larger viewing distance = Larger text OK
Can use lower DPI for large, far-viewing posters

Text sizes:

Close viewing (< 10 ft): 300 DPI, smaller text OK
Far viewing (> 20 ft): 150-200 DPI, larger text required

Bold Simplicity

Less is more:

Strong single image or graphic
Minimal text (headline + essential info)
High contrast
Clear focal point

Avoid:

Too much text (won’t be read)
Tiny details (won’t be seen)
Cluttered layouts

Test: Can passerby understand message in 3 seconds?

Large Format Considerations

For posters > 24×36”:Resolution:

150-200 DPI acceptable (viewed from distance)
300 DPI only if close viewing

File size:

Can be very large (50-200+ MB)
Use efficient formats
Compression carefully

Colors:

Vivid colors work well
Gradients need careful handling
Watch for banding

Finishing:

Mounting options (foam board, etc.)
Lamination for durability
Grommets for hanging

Paper & Finish Options

Flyer Paper

80-100 lb Text
100 lb Cover
Cardstock

Weight: 80-100 lb (120-150 gsm)Type: Coated or uncoatedCharacteristics:

Standard flyer weight
Easy to handle
Economical

Best for: Event flyers, handouts, mass distribution

Poster Paper

Standard Poster Paper
Photo Paper
Synthetic/Waterproof
Mounted/Rigid

Weight: 80-100 lb textFinish: Gloss or matteCharacteristics:

Economical
Suitable for indoor use
Limited durability

Best for: Indoor events, short-term use

Step-by-Step: Creating a Flyer

1. Document Setup

Create Frame in Figma

Size: 8.75” × 11.25” (with bleed)Press F for Frame toolEnter dimensions:

Width: 8.75”
Height: 11.25”

Name: “Flyer - [Event Name]”

Add Guides

Bleed line (trim edge):

0.125” from all edges

Safety zone:

0.25” from all edges (or 0.375” total from canvas edge)

Enable rulers (Shift + R), drag guidesOr use Printery guide generator

Set Background

Full bleed:

Background extends to frame edges
Covers entire 8.75” × 11.25” area

Color/image: Your choiceSafety: Keep critical content inside safety zone

2. Design Content

Add Headline

Text: Main messageSize: 48-72ptFont: Bold, impactfulPosition: Top third or centerEnsure: Inside safety zone (0.25” from trim)

Add Key Image

Requirements:

High resolution (300 DPI at size)
Relevant to message
Eye-catching

Position: Prominent areaTip: Use large, simple images

Add Details

Include:

Date, time, location (if event)
Key benefits
Pricing (if applicable)

Font: 12-18ptReadability: High contrast with background

Add Call to Action

Text: “Register Now”, “Visit Us”, etc.Size: 24-36ptStyle: Button, box, or highlightInclude: Website, phone, QR codePosition: Bottom or highlighted area

Proofread

Check:

Spelling
Dates
Phone numbers
URLs
All info accurate

Get second pair of eyes: Fresh review catches errors

3. Prepare for Print

Check Design

Open Printery

Select frame → Launch plugin

Configure Settings

Document Tab:

Bleed: 0.125” ✓
Crop marks: Enabled ✓
Safety zone: 0.25” ✓

Color Tab:

Convert to CMYK: ✓
ICC Profile: ISO Coated v2 300% ✓
Black handling: Automatic ✓

Export Tab:

DPI: 300 ✓
Compression: 85% ✓
Format: PDF/X-1a ✓

DPI Check

DPI Checker tab:

Verify all images ≥ 300 DPI
Replace any low-resolution images

Critical: Low-res images will look pixelated when printed

Export PDF

Click “Export PDF”Save as: Flyer_[EventName]_FINAL.pdfWait for processing

Verify PDF

Open and check:

Crop marks visible and correct
Text sharp and clear
Images crisp
Colors look reasonable (remember screen ≠ print)
PDF size: 8.75” × 11.25”

Large Format Posters

Special Considerations

DPI for Large Format

Viewing distance matters:Close viewing (< 5 feet):

300 DPI required
Example: Retail wall posters

Medium distance (5-15 feet):

200-250 DPI acceptable
Example: Office posters

Far viewing (> 15 feet):

150-200 DPI sufficient
Example: Street posters, billboards

Formula:

Required DPI = 300 ÷ (viewing distance in feet ÷ poster height in feet)

Example:
24" poster viewed from 20 feet
300 ÷ (20 ÷ 2) = 30 DPI absolute minimum
Use 150-200 DPI for quality

File Size Management

Problem: Large posters = huge files24×36” at 300 DPI:

Pixel dimensions: 7200 × 10800
Uncompressed: 200+ MB

Solutions:

Use lower DPI (150-200) if appropriate
Compress images before import (Photoshop/TinyPNG)
Use vector graphics where possible
Enable downsampling in export

File size targets:

18×24”: < 25 MB
24×36”: < 50 MB
Larger: < 100 MB

Bleed for Large Format

Larger bleed recommended:Small posters (< 18×24”):

0.125” (3mm) bleed

Medium posters (18×36”):

0.25” (6mm) bleed

Large posters (> 36”):

0.5” (12mm) bleed

Why: Larger cutting tolerances at larger sizes

Color Intensity

Large posters need bold colors:Why:

Viewed from distance
Need to stand out
Lighting conditions vary

Recommendations:

High saturation colors
Strong contrast
Avoid subtle gradients (can band)
Test color vibrancy in CMYK

Printing & Ordering

Quantity Pricing

Flyers (8.5×11”):

Quantity	Unit Cost	Total	When to Order
100	$0.15-0.30	$15-30	Small event
250	$0.10-0.20	$25-50	Medium event
500	$0.08-0.15	$40-75	Most common
1000	$0.05-0.10	$50-100	Large distribution
5000+	$0.03-0.05	$150-250	Mass marketing

Posters (18×24”):

Quantity	Unit Cost	Total
1-10	$5-15	$5-150
25	$3-8	$75-200
50	$2-5	$100-250
100+	$1-3	$100-300

Distribution Methods

Hand Distribution
Rack/Counter Display
Wall Posting
Direct Mail

Best for: FlyersLocations:

Street corners (permit may be required)
Events
Door-to-door

Tip: Include tear-off tabs with contact info

Design Templates

Flyer Layout Templates

Event Flyer
Promotional Flyer
Information Flyer

Structure:

┌────────────────────┐
│   HEADLINE         │ (Top 1/4)
│                    │
├────────────────────┤
│                    │
│   HERO IMAGE       │ (Middle 1/2)
│                    │
├────────────────────┤
│ Date • Time • Loc  │ (Bottom 1/4)
│ www.event.com      │
└────────────────────┘

Best for: Concerts, conferences, parties

Structure:

┌────────────────────┐
│ BIG HEADLINE       │
│ Special Offer!     │
├────────────────────┤
│ [Product Image]    │
│                    │
│ • Benefit 1        │
│ • Benefit 2        │
│ • Benefit 3        │
├────────────────────┤
│ CALL TO ACTION     │
│ Limited Time!      │
└────────────────────┘

Best for: Sales, promotions, offers

Structure:

┌────────────────────┐
│   TOPIC TITLE      │
├────────────────────┤
│ Section 1          │
│ [details]          │
├────────────────────┤
│ Section 2          │
│ [details]          │
├────────────────────┤
│ Section 3          │
│ [details]          │
├────────────────────┤
│ Contact Info       │
└────────────────────┘

Best for: Informational, educational content

Common Mistakes

Top 10 Flyer/Poster Mistakes:

Too much text (won’t be read)
Text too small (can’t be read)
Low-resolution images (pixelated)
Poor contrast (hard to read)
Missing contact info
Wrong date/time
No bleed (white edges)
Important info too close to edge (cut off)
Busy, cluttered design
No clear call to action

Flyer/Poster Checklist

Before printing:

Learn More

Design Basics

Principles of print design

DPI Guide

Image resolution explained

Color Accuracy

Get colors right

Large Format

Specialized large printing

Pro Tip: Order a single proof first! Check quality before printing 500 copies. It’s worth the extra $5-10.

Business Cards Brochures

Documentation Index

​Project Overview

​Common Sizes

​Flyers

​Posters

​Specifications

​Standard Flyer (8.5×11”)

​Standard Poster (18×24”)

​Design Considerations

​Flyer Design

​Poster Design

​Paper & Finish Options

​Flyer Paper

​Poster Paper

​Step-by-Step: Creating a Flyer

​1. Document Setup

​2. Design Content

​3. Prepare for Print

​Large Format Posters

​Special Considerations

​Printing & Ordering

​Quantity Pricing

​Distribution Methods

​Design Templates

​Flyer Layout Templates

​Common Mistakes

​Flyer/Poster Checklist

​Learn More

Design Basics

DPI Guide

Color Accuracy

Large Format

Project Overview

Common Sizes

Flyers

Posters

Specifications

Standard Flyer (8.5×11”)

Standard Poster (18×24”)

Design Considerations

Flyer Design

Poster Design

Paper & Finish Options

Flyer Paper

Poster Paper

Step-by-Step: Creating a Flyer

1. Document Setup

2. Design Content

3. Prepare for Print

Large Format Posters

Special Considerations

Printing & Ordering

Quantity Pricing

Distribution Methods

Design Templates

Flyer Layout Templates

Common Mistakes

Flyer/Poster Checklist

Learn More