Design fast, share faster
Need a poster for a birthday, club meetup, or sale? You don’t need heavy software. With a browser and three free tools—Drawing Board, Online Text Editor, and Text ASCII Art—you can sketch a layout, write clean copy, add a retro title, and export to PDF in minutes.
Your free toolkit
Drawing Board for visuals
Open the Drawing Board to sketch layouts, add shapes, arrows, and highlights. Use layers by drawing background blocks first, then text and icons for clarity.
Online Text Editor for content
Draft the copy in the Online Text Editor. Create headings (H1/H2), bullet points, and short paragraphs. Keep sentences tight and actionable.
ASCII Art for retro flair
Add a retro touch with Text ASCII Art—great for bold titles, section headers, or a footer tag.
Poster anatomy: keep it simple
- Title: Big, bold, and high-contrast. Consider an ASCII headline for personality.
- What/when/where: The essential details—date, time, location.
- Call-to-action: “Join us”, “Register”, “RSVP by Friday”, or “Scan the code”.
- Visual hook: One focal image or icon—avoid clutter.
Step-by-step: make a poster in 10 minutes
- Sketch layout: In Drawing Board, draw a header block (top third), content block (middle), and footer strip (bottom).
- Add the title: Generate a title in Text ASCII Art. Paste or recreate it on the Drawing Board.
- Write copy: In the Online Text Editor, compose the what/when/where section and a one-line CTA.
- Place elements: Bring short text onto the Drawing Board. Use contrast—dark text on light blocks or vice versa.
- Check balance: Ensure margins are even and spacing is consistent. Less is more.
- Export: Save as image from the Drawing Board, or add text to a doc and export with Text to PDF.
Three poster templates you can copy
1. Event flyer
- Header: ASCII title “GAME NIGHT”
- Body: Date, time, venue; one icon or small photo
- Footer: “Bring snacks • Teams welcome”
2. Sale announcement
- Header: “WEEKEND SALE” in bold ASCII
- Body: 20–40% OFF; top categories; store hours
- CTA: “Show this poster for an extra 5%”
3. Club recruitment
- Header: “JOIN OUR CLUB”
- Body: Meeting time/location, what you do, benefits
- CTA: QR code or short URL; contact handle
Color and contrast basics
- Use two main colors plus an accent. Too many colors distract.
- High contrast text over solid blocks improves legibility.
- Reserve bright accent for the CTA to draw attention.
Typography in a nutshell
- One display style (ASCII or bold) + one simple body style.
- Keep line length around 40–60 characters for readability.
- Use consistent spacing between sections (visual rhythm).
From screen to print
If printing, test a black-and-white version to check contrast. Avoid very light backgrounds. Export a high-resolution image or a PDF via Text to PDF for crisp results.
Worked example: a birthday poster
- Title in ASCII: “ANITA @ 30”
- Colors: purple header, white body, gold accent underline
- Body text: Date, time, location, dress code
- CTA: “RSVP by 24th • Bring a memory photo”
- Export: Save image and share to the group chat
Common mistakes to avoid
- Cramming too much text—people scan, they don’t study posters.
- Low contrast color combos—hurts readability.
- Unclear CTA—always tell viewers what to do next.
Accessibility checklist
- Minimum font size for body copy equivalent: 12–14pt
- Avoid pure red/green combos; rely on labels and icons
- Provide an alt-text description when posting online
Frequently asked questions
Can I use photos?
Yes—add one strong photo as the focal point. Reduce opacity or place it inside a shape to keep text readable on top.
How do I add a QR code?
Generate a QR with any free generator, paste it as an image on the Drawing Board, and place it near the CTA.
What size should I design for?
For social posts, a 1:1 or 4:5 canvas works well. For print, target A4 or Letter proportions and export to PDF.