Poster printing
Put your message in focus with posters for shop windows, exhibitions, presentations and promotional campaigns.
Poster printing
Blue-back poster paper
Blue-back poster paper is the traditional stock for pasted outdoor advertising, named after the blue colouring on its reverse. If you are booking billboard or street poster sites, this is probably the paper the site owner expects.
What the blue layer is actually doing
Billboards are pasted over time and again, so a new poster often goes straight on top of old ones. A plain white paper would let dark shapes ghost through, particularly in strong sunlight or when wet with paste. The blue reverse makes the sheet opaque, hiding the layers beneath it. Blue-back is also lightweight enough to soak up paste and sit flat against the board. Its life on site is short by design, since the poster is meant to run for a campaign and then be covered.
Working from the site owner's specification
Do not begin artwork from a generic size. Outdoor poster formats are described in sheets, and exact trim, visible area and how the design is split into panels can differ between media owners. Ask the site owner for the current spec and send it to us with your booking dates. Large posters are usually printed in sections that the crew assembles on site, so avoid running small text across a join. For large-format sites, see our billboard printing page.
Paste, paper and permissions
This paper is intended for wet paste application on a prepared board, not for slipping behind glass. Paste handling needs some practice, as wet paper can stretch and tear. Most jobs go via the site's own poster crew, so check who is fitting yours and when they need delivery. Pasting on walls without permission can carry legal consequences, so check that your sites are authorised. For framed or short-run displays, a different paper may suit you better, and our poster printing page sets out the alternatives.
Related topics
Useful to know
Your questions.
Can blue-back poster paper go in a clip frame?
It can, but this is not what it is made for. The paper is thin, and the blue reverse brings no benefit in a frame. A heavier poster paper will usually look better and hang flatter.
How long will a blue-back poster survive outside?
It is intended for a campaign period and not long-term display. Life varies with weather, sun, and how well it was pasted. If you need a longer display, ask us about more durable materials.
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