Thankfully, things have changed for the better over the last decade. Now, not only can you pick your own superhero theme for your poster, but you can also design the other elements as well. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s see how we can make custom superhero posters. But before we get going, let’s have a quick check on what type of images you can and should download.
Which Image to Use? About IP and Copyrights
Most of the user-generated content that you find floating around the internet are original and creative work of digital artists, and are not for commercial usage without permission. In fact, some of the artists even forbid others from reusing their work for layouts and posters without their explicit permissions. After all, all these images are their creations. Hence, whenever you are out browsing for images for your poster, do make it a point to check the copyright clauses. And even if it’s for your personal use, getting permission from the creator is always the ideal way. Now, coming back to places from where you can pick your images, here’s a few.
1. Sourcing Images
Here are some of our favorite sites to source royalty-free images.
1. Pixabay
Pixabay has a pretty extensive gallery of its own of copy-right free images. And if that was not enough, you also get access to a range of cool illustrations and clipart. All you have to do is check the license, and if it’s free for use, you can download it in just a click. Sadly, when it comes to superheroes, Pixabay doesn’t have much, apart from symbols and signs related to the mighty superheroes. But if you are a fan of the popular ones like Captain America, Iron Man, Superman or Batman, the odds are that you won’t be disappointed. However, the good thing is that there are ample call-outs, which you can use creatively to design a great poster. Visit Pixabay
2. Unsplash
Another website where you can check for royalty-free images is Unsplash. Similar to Pixabay, it contains a horde of copyright-free photos. The key to landing a perfect picture in Unsplash is search and patience. Yeah, there are many photos, but finding the right one will certainly take up some of your time. For instance, I found this cool and creative Star Wars image, when I searched for comic and not Star Wars. And if we have similar tastes, I’d say it won’t look bad. Again, let me iterate that most of the images on Unsplash are actual pictures. Visit Unsplash
3. DeviantArt
A superheroes fan must already know about DeviantArt and its comprehensive library of images and wallpapers. While you have to pay for some of the artworks, others are free to download as long it is for personal use. As long as you are browsing on DeviantArt, lookout for copyright-related messages. You can either search on Google directly by using one of the search operators. Or, you can open DeviantArt and search directly. Once done, you can narrow down your choices to Wallpapers or Digital Art, from the filter on the left panel. There are quite a few artists whom I admire, such as Andy Romero (Blo0p) and rodolforever. If you fancy one of their digital prints, you’ll find the link to buy the artwork at the bottom of the image (provided it’s a new picture). Visit DeviantArt
4. Wallpaper Sites
If you are creating a poster solely for personal use (oops, did I say that again?), you may want to check some of the wallpaper sites like Alpha Coders. They do have some fantastic creative images, whether it’s an actual still from the movies or fan art. Visit Alpha Coder
2. Editing Images
Once you have sourced your image, it’s time to polish it up. If you are well-versed with Adobe Photoshop, it’s well and good. But if you are not, there are ample online tools that let you do just that.
1. Photopea – Online Image editing
If you want to change the color tone of the image, you can rely on a few online image editors like Photopea. This Photoshop-like image editing site comes with handy tools like Lasso, Select, and even Layers. And naturally, all these tools ease the process of image-editing. To see more on how to use this tool, check out our detailed guide on it. You can also visit websites that remove the background from images, so that you can add a custom one with effects and elements.
2. Canva and Adobe Spark
However, Photopea can only get you so far. If you want some new art in the poster without importing a host of small files and effects, it’s best to rely on some designing tools like Canva, Piktochart or Adobe Spark. Canva, for one, has a fixed template for posters. After you upload an image and lay it on the template, you can use the other photo assets such as gradient, funky text, or mini illustrations. The same is the case with Adobe Spark and Piktochart. There are tons of icons and other elements which you can explore. And if you are in the mood, you can also explore some of the creative-commons pictures in the Picture tab. Once you finalize a poster, all you have to do is export it to your PC. Or, if you want some high-quality prints, you can also order them online. If you plan to order high-quality prints, make sure you are working with high-resolution image. Visit Canva Visit Adobe Spark Visit Piktochart
3. Bonus Tricks for Online Printing
Now that the soft copy of the poster is ready, all you need to do is print it and paste it on your wall. If you have a printer that can do the job, that is great. If not, you can outsource it to one of the several online services that can print and ship the copy to our place. As we mentioned above, Canva is one place where you can create and order your prints. Vistaprint is another site that lets you order prints effortlessly. The best part is that site offers several options for printing. Whether it’s a glossy print or one with a horizontal layout, you can pretty much play around with a lot. You can try out is HP’s Photo Creations as well. While primarily used for creating photo books and the likes, you can use this software to order posters if you are placed in the United States. Visit Vistaprint Visit HP Photo Creations
Unleash Your Creativity
So, that is how you can create a superhero poster. I understand that the process is a bit complicated when you compare it to walking to a store and buying a copy. But let me tell you that the one you’ll be making will be unique. More importantly, it’ll be your creation, as per your preference and liking. So no compromises there. Next up: Speaking of superheroes, check out some of the best Marvel superhero wallpapers below.
