How To Turn A Picture Into A Poster For Free

Poster machines are expensive. Getting a poster printed from an existing image can also be pricey depending on your desired size and the quality of your original image. Thankfully this task can be accomplished easily and for free (or at least very cheap) using a plain printer and the assistance of an online tool that helps break up your image into multiple parts. Historically this process was known as "tiled printing". In this case it has come to your rescue.

The Process Summarized

An existing image (it could be a picture, flyer, drawing, etc.) is scaled and broken up into individual parts that are each printed separately on paper. Extra whitespace is then trimmed away and the pieces interlock to provide an almost seamless assembled poster. How seamless? If you are careful with your taping (or gluing) during assembly then it comes close to a regular poster. If you have the advantage of laminating your final poster or applying a thin coat of modge-podge the shine will pretty much make the seams invisible.

Important Point: Image Quality!

It is critical to start with a high quality image because your image will be expanded and split into multiple parts. If you have designed the image yourself then be sure to export it at the highest possible size and quality/resolution. This will ensure that the image does not get blurred out as it is spliced into different parts. If you did not design the image and instead have someone else doing so be sure to tell them that you need the highest quality resolution they offer. If you are printing out a design that you purchased try to stick to the high res SVG, PNG or JPG files. Purchased designs often include different files based on their intended use; go with the one meant for printing.

Sometimes The Tile Effect Is What You Want

While you usually want a poster design to be seamless; there are occasions where the tile effect will add to the aesthetic you are looking for. It could be scenery, a landscape, an action shot, etc. that looks nice when tiled. Ensure that you keep even spacing between each individual tile piece.