Create Posters Using Drawing Tools

Before computers existed, making a poster meant scissors, glue, markers, and a lot of mess! Today your tablet or computer contains a complete art studio — paint programs let you draw, color, add shapes and text, and undo any mistakes instantly. Plan it with a sketch on paper first, then make it on screen: no mess, and you can always press Undo!

Common drawing tools in a paint app

• Brush / Pencil — draws freehand lines. You can change the size (thin to thick) and style (solid, soft, dotted).
• Eraser — removes marks, just like a real eraser. Change its size to erase large or small areas.
• Fill (paint bucket) — floods an area or the whole background with a chosen color instantly.
• Shapes tool — draws perfect rectangles, circles, triangles, and stars with a single drag.
• Text tool — adds typed words to your artwork. Choose the font, size, and color.
• Color picker / palette — choose any color from a color wheel or preset palette.
• Undo (Ctrl+Z) — goes back one step. Pressed it too many times? Redo with Ctrl+Y.

Designing a clear poster — layout tips

• Title first — put the most important text at the top in large, bold letters. A reader should know in one second what the poster is about.
• One main image — choose one clear, large illustration or drawing that relates to your topic. Too many images look cluttered.
• Background color — choose a background that makes text and images easy to read. Light background + dark text = easy to read. Dark background + light text also works.
• Contrast — make sure the text color stands out against the background. Yellow text on a white background is hard to read!
• White space — do not fill every corner. Empty space around elements makes the poster look clean and professional.

Save as you go

• Use Ctrl+S (or the app’s Save button) every few minutes — just like in Lesson 12!
• When you are finished, save the poster as an image file (.png or .jpg) so it can be printed or shared.