Making an advertising poster is a must for any graphic designer. They make the difference between a successful marketing campaign or a product failing miserably in the market. Events, exhibitions, concerts or parties are nothing without a good poster to advertise them. With the rise of digital media, most posters and billboards are made with some expensive image editing software. Is there no affordable program to design a poster with?
In today’s article we are going to offer you a selection of the best programs for making free posters, which will not only help you to create posters as you wish, but also to amaze those who see them thanks to their professional appearance. There are free tools to create posters that have nothing to envy to the great design suites. Would you like to know which ones we like the most?
1. GIMP
GIMP is already a classic in any list of the best free image editors. The eternal rival of Photoshop is the favorite of illustrators and graphic designers around the world thanks to its good results, wide range of tools and, of course, for being free.
One of GIMP’s strong points is that, being an open-source image editor, it offers unlimited versatility to its user. With it you can not only manipulate photographs for your posters, but also make your own illustrations or designs and thus create the perfect poster.
GIMP provides all the basic and advanced options that any photo editing program needs. That is why basically the resulting product you get will be directly proportional to your experience with such programs.
The only drawback of this editor is its high learning curve for those who are not used to this kind of programs. Although a really useful alternative is to download any poster or poster template you find on the Internet and start working with it.
PROS:
- Includes all the tools to make professional posters
- It is free and open-source
- Multi-platform
- Compatible with most image formats
CONS:
- High learning curve
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2. Inkscape
Inkscape is a powerful open-source vector graphics editor and a perfect alternative to paid programs such as Illustrator, Xara Xtreme or CorelDRAW. This graphic design software is ideal for creating all kinds of posters, as well as being widely used in the web design industry.
With Inkscape you will be able to perform any task typical of a drawing or design program. You will find tools as well known as the pencil, cut shapes, add text to images and of course the ability to add layers or clone parts of the image.
One of Inkscape’s strong points is its high compatibility between files, allowing you to open, edit and save projects in standard formats such as XML, SVG or CSS. In addition to this, it is also possible to work in PDF format and add text to any design, something really essential when making a poster.
Inkscape is a program as complete as GIMP but it is a much more intuitive and easy to use option for those of us who are not experienced in digital illustration.
PROS:
- Free and open source image editor
- Includes professional tools for creating posters
- Allows working with PDF files
CONS:
- Lacks Pantone palette
- No preview of filters and effects
3. Canva
If you want to make a professional-looking poster without complicating your life too much, you’ll love Canva. This wonderful online graphic design tool is not only free, but also very easy to use. You can easily access it by simply visiting its website or, if you wish, download its desktop version or for Android and iOS mobiles.
Canva stands out for being a very easy to use program. It has a really simple and intuitive interface, where you can create all kinds of designs in a matter of seconds. Just select the type of project you want to carry out, upload your images and start processing them thanks to its complete selection of tools. We assure you that you will have your poster done in no time.
To create your poster on Canva you will first of all need to register on their website. Don’t worry, the service is completely free. Once in its interface, select the “Templates” option that you will find on the left side menu and slide the project bar until you find “Posters”. Finally, select the template that comes closest to the design you were looking for, upload the images you want to add and edit your poster to your liking.
From Canva you’ll be able to add customized elements to your posters, add frames, shapes, illustrations, etc. In addition, the tool includes a complete selection of fonts, perfect for conveying the message you want. Once your project is finished, you can easily download it in multiple formats, including PDF – ideal for having a poster ready in just a few minutes!
PROS:
- Very easy to use
- Multiplatform
- Includes a good selection of tools to create posters
CONS:
- It can be somewhat limited
4. Adobe Express
It is impossible to talk about creativity and graphic design without mentioning an Adobe program. Since we are talking about free programs, this time we want to talk about Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark). This online tool is a real gem for anyone who wants to give shape in a few seconds to any type of design you have in mind. Images for social networks, collages, brochures, logos, posters… All this is at your fingertips from Adobe Express!
In a similar way to Canva, Adobe Express is a perfect option for all those users who are not used to using image editors. Its operation is very simple thanks to its system of templates, all of them completely customizable and in which you can add any image or illustration you want. Besides, being an online tool, you will be able to access any of your projects regardless of the computer or device from which you connect.
If you want to make a poster from Adobe Express, first of all it will be necessary to create an account with Adobe. These are completely free, but if you have used any of the company’s programs in the past, it is very likely that you already have one. Once in the main interface, select the “Poster” option in the “Create a new project” section. This will take you to a very complete selection of poster templates.
Now simply upload the images you want to add to the poster by clicking on “Photos” followed by “Upload photo” and edit the poster to your liking. Adobe Express incorporates all kinds of editing tools with which you can change the background, add shapes, text and even textures. Once your poster is ready, you can easily download it in PNG, JPG or PDF format. All this in a simple, easy and very intuitive way.
PROS:
- Professional results
- Allows the use of Adobe Stock images
- Very intuitive
CONS:
- Their best templates are available for a fee
Create a banner or poster easily
We hope we have been able to help you when it comes to downloading a free program to make posters. As you can see, there are totally free graphic design tools that have nothing to envy to the most expensive ones on the market. If we have given you a hand, don’t forget to share the article with your friends on social networks.
