Mounted prints for presentations
A slide vanishes when the projector goes off, but a board stays in the room. Mounted prints keep your idea on the table after you have gone.
Size follows the room, not the content.
Plenty of presentation boards are A1 because the last ones were. Think instead about how many people will look at them, and from where.
| Setting | Good size | How it gets used |
|---|---|---|
| Client meeting, up to six people | A2 | Passed round or stood along the table |
| Boardroom pitch | A1 | Propped on a ledge or easel, read from seats |
| Public consultation or open evening | A0 or A1 | Read standing, a few people at a time |
| Competition or award entry | As the rules state | Often set size, orientation and labelling |
Why most meeting boards should be matt
Meeting rooms have ceiling lights and big windows. A glossy board held up in front of a table throws a white flare into somebody's eyes. A matt surface can be read from anywhere in the room, and it takes fingerprints better as boards pass from hand to hand. Save gloss for a single hero image that sits on a wall.
Polyboard or Foamex?
At 5mm these two cost the same at most sizes, so choose on behaviour. Polyboard is very light and pleasant to hold, which matters if you are carrying a set of six on foot. It dents more easily, though. Foamex is tougher and better if boards will be reused for several meetings or stored for a future round.
| Board | A2 | A1 | A0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5mm Polyboard | £8 | £14 | £25 |
| 5mm Foamex | £8 | £14 | £25 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
Write for a board, not a slide
- One idea per board, with the headline saying what you want them to remember.
- A single large image beats six small ones.
- Put your name or logo on every board, as they often get separated from each other.
- Number the boards on the back, in pencil or on a label, so that nobody has to work out the order under pressure.
Our guide to text size for long-distance reading will help if people are viewing from the far end of a table.
Getting there in one piece
Boards always seem to come out of the taxi with a crushed corner. Carry them face to face with a clean sheet between each, in a large portfolio or a wrapped bundle. Check that A1 and A0 will fit the car, and the lift at the far end. Have a look in advance at what the room offers for displaying them: a ledge, an easel or a wall. If nothing is there, struts on the back will let smaller boards stand up by themselves, on request.
The night before
Allow time for one proof of your most important board, and check spelling on the actual print, since errors hide on screens. A spare copy of the board that carries the key numbers is cheap insurance against a coffee spill.
Boards ready for the room.
Your questions.
Should I get boards or one long printed sheet?
Boards are better for telling a story in sequence, and you can pick one up to make a point. A single long sheet suits a site plan or timeline that has to be seen as a whole.
Can you add our logo and tidy the layout?
Yes. Our in-house designers can set up your boards from your content or tidy existing artwork. Mention it when you enquire.
Can I write on a mounted board during a meeting?
On a bare matt paper print, possibly with pencil. On a sealed or laminated board, only some pens will work. If you plan to mark things up, tell us first and consider a separate copy.