How Movie Are Movie Posters Made?

Movie posters have been around since the inception of cinema and have served as promotional tools that offer tantalizing glimpses into the movie’s plot. 

Let’s take a moment to remember some cult classics—Jaws, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and The Godfather. Our minds will immediately go to the iconic images of their posters. 

The terrifying visual of a nude woman swimming just above the gaping jaws of a monstrous shark in Jaws, the iconic portrayal of Audrey Hepburn in her black dress, diamond necklace, and holding a cigarette in a long, elegant cigarette holder for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the minimalist yet powerful image of a hand pulling puppet strings alongside the title for The Godfather—these masterpieces not only promoted the movies but went on to become symbols of the enduring charm of these films.

Creating a movie poster that draws in the viewer is a specialized skill that goes beyond simple graphic design. In fact, some of the most striking movie posters are celebrated as art masterpieces. So, how exactly are movie posters created?

To answer this, we need to first take a short stroll down memory lane. 

The History of Movie Posters 

Movie posters debuted in the late 19th century, along with the advent of silent films. These early examples were simple lithographs that typically featured illustrations of the main characters or key scenes from the film. And just like today, these first posters were designed to draw attention to the exciting world of motion pictures. 

By the 1960s, movie poster designs had evolved to include hand-drawn illustrations of the stars. 

The 1970s saw the introduction of photography, and photos of actors and scenes were fused with hand-drawn elements to create more dynamic film teasers. 

By the 80s, imagery took center stage, and titles were pushed to the bottom, allowing for more visually impactful designs. 

The 90s brought in a digital revolution and graphic designers began using advanced software for more precise and intricate designs. This era also saw a lot of experimentation with typography. Designers played with different fonts, sizes, and placements to create unique and memorable visual titles.

Movie Poster Design Today 

Movie posters today are created by fusing traditional artistic techniques with cutting-edge digital technology. The result is stunning and engaging visuals that captivate audiences and capture the very essence of the film.

Creating a movie poster involves three major factors:

• Artistic vision
• Marketing strategy
• Technical skills

Here are the steps involved in bringing these iconic images to life.

Developing the Concept

Before the artists begin to create the design of the a poster, they need to understand the film. This process will typically involve discussions with the director and producers and, of course, watching the film itself. The goal at this stage is to grasp the film’s theme, tone, and key moments. 

The next step involves brainstorming sessions to generate initial concepts. 

The marketing team typically joins in at this stage and helps identify the movie's target audience. Understanding the audience is critical as this decides the design approach in terms of color schemes and imagery. After all, a movie poster for an animated children’s film will be quite different from an adult-only thriller. 

Concept development involves sketching out several ideas and exploring various themes and visual styles. 

Design and Composition 

At this stage, designers create rough sketches and digital mock-ups of the poster. This stage also involves experimenting with different layouts, fonts, and color schemes. The goal is to find a design that captures the film's spirit and grabs attention.

Depending on the concept, photo shoots with the main actors might be arranged, or designers may use existing stills from the film. In some cases, illustrators are hired to create custom artwork.

Key elements are also added into the design. These include:

• Title of the movie
• Names of the featured stars 
• Director(s) names
• Release date 
• Tagline/slogan 

Digital Design 

This is the stage where the poster is brought to life. Designers will typically use software such as Adobe Photoshop or InDesign to combine the images, text, and special effects such as lighting or textures to create a visually striking design—one that reflects the mood of the film. 

Again, color plays a crucial role here by helping to set the mood or tone of the film. For example, a horror movie may use dark, brooding, or ominous colors, while a romantic or comedy movie will typically feature brighter, more cheerful colors. 

Review and Final Approval  

The poster is still in its draft stage and will go through several rounds of reviewing, feedback, and revisions. Directors, producers, and the all-important marketing team, all collaborate to ensure the final design stays true to the movie’s vision as well as the marketing strategy. 

Once every team is satisfied, the final design is approved and used for all promotional purposes, be it billboards, social media, or in theatres. 

Distribution

The approved design is sent to print, and the final output may be in various formats, such as cinema display, street display, or even merchandise and digital banners. The goal for each medium is to build excitement and anticipation for the film. 

Different Types of Movie Posters 

There are various types of movie posters, each catering to a specific promotional purpose. Let us briefly look at each of these.

Teaser Poster 

As the name suggests, the purpose of a teaser is to create early buzz for a movie. Teaser posters generally offer limited information, such as a movie title, a key visual element, or a “coming soon” and feature a minimalistic design. 

Character Poster

The purpose of such a poster is to highlight a central character in the film, and it is usually targeted toward the fans of the actor/character. A character poster will typically feature a single character from the movie in a dynamic pose. 

Theatrical Poster 

These are the primary promotional tools of the movie and will generally provide comprehensive information, including release date, key cast members, writer, director, tagline, and more. 

International Poster 

International posters are created to target international markets or a specific region. Such posters may feature different artwork, taglines, and sometimes even different titles that resonate better with international audiences.

Limited Edition and Collectible Posters 

These highly sought-after posters are created to appeal to the film’s hardcore fans and collectors. They typically feature unique artwork, special prints, or even autographs. 

Start Your Own Collection

Designing movie posters is a crucial aspect of film promotion and requires an understanding of both artistic elements and marketing principles. From the hand-drawn masterpieces of the yesteryears to the leveraging of advanced digital tools today, there is no doubt that movie posters will continue to be as dynamic and innovative as the movies they represent.