Suman Chhabria- Addepalli creates a poster for your thoughts

NOPE, this is not about posters made in printing presses by professional geeks. They are produced in thousands and available to all. The fun is when the poster is unique to you. So, instead of walking down Hawkers Zone to buy an ordinary one, make your own unique poster free of cost!

Start Up
You need a wacky idea, a title and an image to trigger a simple poster. The idea could be anything from downloading a boring film star's picture from the Net (that will make a very 'filmi' poster) to artistic sketches and wacko designs.

Keep It Simple
Use a simple, striking punch line that shouts at you! Studies show that you can hold the attention of an average human on a single object for a maximum of 10 seconds.

Clearly...
Now, use a BIG font to convey your idea. Also, you could scan your handwriting on your PC with a pen mouse, add it to your photo and print it out. Then stand back and observe. If you cannot easily read it from five metres away without squinting, just increase the font size. Nuff said!

Layout & How
Take a chart paper and stick it on cardboard or thermocol, using Fevicol. That's one way to recycle your old poster board by peeling off the chart paper from the cardboard and sticking on new material. Of course, this means that you stick to the same style next time, and also means you save money and trees.
Measure the space you have and roughly lay out your elements (photos and foils).
Remember that our eyes first track a poster vertically from centre to top to bottom, and then horizontally from left to right.

Breathing Space
White space is important. Posters crammed with information, unless pornographic, are boring to read. Moreover, it helps to leave some space to add a last-minute idea. This flexibility is handy if you are going to alter your graffiti out of sheer boredom.

Style
A roll-up poster instead of a straight one, maybe? Simply paste just the upper end of the poster.

Colour In
Now, of course you want your friends to see your poster. So, make it visually interesting. Of course you can add some foil to your poster if you want to shine the daylight out of their eyes!

Get on with it and once completed, display your finished work to yourself first. If you don't rip it up, stick it up.
Remember that a good poster is contagious. If yours turns out good, a lot of your friends will be trying to imitate it.
• A picture of yourself — the superstar! A full size image that occupies the length of your wall!
• The arty kind? Scan a sketch of yourself into a computer and ‘pretty up’ the image further with a graphics program such as Aldus Freehand.
• Better and simpler still, your scanned photographs can be metamorphosed into the image desire...whether you want to look like a Greek goddess or a vamp, Adobe Photoshop makes it all possible.
• This is for some of us who are Zodiac sign freaks. Make one of your own sun sign – graphically display all the great endearing qualities and the images of famous personalities who share the zodiac sign with you. And put yourself in their midst, of course!
• Yes, yes. Our friends mean a lot to us. Create a cloth poster with their coloured palm imprints on it. The poster gets even more exciting when you stick their photos on their respective palm prints (after the paint dries), and add some graffiti around their faces!

What you need to create a poster
• Chart paper and cardboard of the required size.
• Mount board
• Plain, clean sheets of paper, coloured paper, foil and other material that you want to use.
• Good quality adhesive and sticking tape.
• A pair of scissors, razor and sharp paper knife.
• Ruler, pencil and eraser
• Watercolours, oil paints and fabric paints

Seven Steps To Create A Great Poster
Zero in on an idea
Choose a simple, in-the-face message
Pick a clear and readable font size
Measure: Pay attention to layout and the material
Allow ample space around
Choose your style
Opt for attractive colours