Initially, a wanted poster was created to distribute information about criminals to the wide public. It usually contains a photo or identikit of the criminal, his or her name and some characteristics like height, age, hair, eyes color etc. Sometimes, such prints have information about rewards, which a person, who will help to capture the criminal, can get.
However, nowadays, such posters are used for a wider number of goals. They have not only an informational function but decorative, advertising, educational and entertaining ones as well. Moreover, you can face them not only at streets but at offices, public places and even homes. So, let’s see how wanted posters can be used, how to create them and consider the most popular designs of such prints.
If to talk about the places, where wanted posters are most frequently used, we can distinguish homes, offices, educational and medical establishments, restaurants, cafes, bars and, of course, streets. Let’s consider everything in more detail.
Posters for Home
The use of ordinary wanted posters for home décor isn’t very popular. However, the ones, featuring the family members or the things typical for a certain family, are quite widespread. Such a poster can be a nice present to sweetheart, parents and children. It’s rather easy to make such a present. Just download a wanted poster template free and add the necessary information. That will be cool if in the poster you will accuse your close person of some good things, for example, of cuteness, beauty, tenderness etc and state these qualities as the reason why this person is wanted. The design of such a wanted poster can be done in various colors and techniques and can be adjusted to any interior design style.
Office Posters
In the majority of cases, the posters for office intend to motivate and inspire the workers for better work. At the same time, there are such posters, which aim at entertaining people and help them to distract from hard and monotonous work. A wanted poster for office can be related to the working process, like the ones stating “A Good Idea Wanted” or “Volunteers Wanted for Project Development”. A motivational office poster may feature a call to do something and a possible reward to the ones who succeed. Or, vice versa, a print may be aimed to put someone to shame, for example, for smoking at the working place. And thus, this person as well as the rest of the team will think twice before smoking at office.
Education and Medicine Posters
In education, such posters can be used for various disciplines or classes. For example, in literature classes, a wanted poster may help to analyze a character from a novel or play. It’s especially good for antagonists analysis as their traits and all their misdoings can be written in the part of the wanted poster, where it’s usually described what a certain criminal is accused of. Humorous wanted posters may also be used at educational establishments. The portraits of famous scientists can be presented in such a way or various kinds of advertisements.
The wanted posters for hospitals and clinics can be of both serious and funny content. The serious posters have to do with real advertisements, for example, that a good nurse is needed. The funny ones aim at making the patients feel more relaxed and cheering them up.
Wanted Posters for Cafes, Bars and Restaurants
The posters are mostly used at cafes, bars and restaurants for decorative purposes. As wanted posters can be designed in different styles, it’s possible to use them for places with various kinds of cuisine and with different décor solutions. It’s even possible to create such a poster in Japanese style for a Sushi café. For example, the popular old West wanted posters can be a nice addition to the bar in the cowboy or Western style.
Posters at Streets
And, of course, you can face wanted posters at streets. The reasons for their placement may differ. It can be a wanted poster, aimed at capturing a certain criminal, a notice from an elderly woman, who has lost her cat, or a funny print, created by a group of teenagers, to make fun of their friend.
How to Make a Wanted Poster
If you can’t find the wanted poster design you need or make up your mind to have a unique wall decoration, make a poster yourself. The most widespread way to do that is to use Photoshop, but it’s possible to use other kinds of design software. Here is the detailed description of steps, which you need to make while creating a wanted poster with the help of this program.
Set up the document by choosing the dimensions of your future poster, for example 11 x 17 in, and the color mode. If you are going to print a poster, it’s better to choose CMYK mode.
Choose a background. The wanted posters look cool on vintage or old-fashioned paper, but you can use any background you want. It’s recommended to use vector images, but the photos can be also used if the resolution is high.
While choosing the font, take into account the general design of the poster and paper design. If the paper looks aged, it’s better to use old-fashioned fonts. The sizes of the fonts can vary for different parts of the poster. The word “wanted” is usually the largest one while the description of the criminal is written in small letters.
Add a photo or image. Click File and then Place, and choose the necessary image. If you design a poster in vintage style, it’s better to have a black and white or sepia photo on it. It’s very easy to convert any photo into a black and white or sepia one, using Photoshop or a number of other programs.
You may also use many Photoshop options, including color effects, blurring etc. If you design an old-fashioned poster, you can use the effect of burnt pages. It looks amazing in such posters.
Once the design is ready, save it as a PNG. Then, you are free to print it at home, but it’s better to have it printed by professional printing companies, including the online printers.
The process of creating a poster will be easier if you use a wanted posters template. There are lots of such images on the net, available in various designs and styles. They usually contain the basic words for a poster of such kind like “wanted”, “dead or alive” and “reward”. All the rest information needs to be added by you. You may also use blank posters or, vice versa, the ready ones, where you need to add only a photo.
A Wanted Poster Template
In addition, you can make a wanted poster online. There are several sites, which allow their visitors to create such posters either for free or for money. You are free to add a photo and text there, including the name, reward amount and type of a crime. Some sites offer a number of additional options, which allow changing fonts, cropping the image or even adding some effects to the photo. The majority of such sites are user-friendly and it’s very easy to make posters on them. Some of them also offer poster printing services.
Possible Designs of Wanted Posters
All of us know that a police or FBI wanted poster is created with the help of certain templates, accepted by law enforcement agencies. However, there are only a couple of rules, which need to be kept in mind while creating other designs of wanted posters and you are free to show your creativity and designing skills. Here are some examples of wanted posters designs.
Blank Wanted Posters
A blank wanted poster is universal and can serve as a basis for other posters or be used independently. In the majority of cases, it’s used as a wanted poster template, which can be modified in different ways. A blank poster may contain only one word “Wanted” or also be complemented with “dead or alive” and “reward” phrases. The rest of information is up to you. You can place just a photo there or add much additional information depending on what you create this poster for.
A Blank Wanted Poster
Old Wanted Posters
An old wanted poster will be a great décor for a rustic or vintage design. It’s amazingly combined with wood and other natural materials. Vintage posters add a special atmosphere to the place, they are located in. Old posters are rather rare and it may take up much time and energy to find the one you need. In order not to rack your brains, thinking how to get such a rarity, buy a new poster, designed in vintage style. It will be not only more convenient but also cheaper and will serve you for a longer period of time as the quality of a new print will be surely better.
An Old Wanted Poster
Western Wanted Posters
The best way to use a Western wanted poster is to hang it in the design of the same style. It’s well combined with cowboy hats, horses and bulls images, bull skins, Native American motives and wooden décor elements. However, it’s not the only possible solution. Western prints can be used as independent decor elements and be placed in traditional, high-tech and any other kind of interior design. To make such a poster look harmonious, choose a frame, which suits the room design perfectly.
A Western Wanted Poster
Funny Wanted Posters
Funny posters will help you to add a touch of humor to the interior design. Funny wanted posters frequently feature animals, famous personalities or characters, children, memes and funny photos. You are also free to create funny posters using a wanted poster background and the photos of your friends or family members.
A Funny Wanted Poster
Holidays Wanted Posters
Posters can serve as decorations for a great number of holidays and events. For example, you can use a wanted poster as Christmas decoration by choosing a snowman or Santa Claus print. Or, you can create a special poster for a family reunion party with the photos of the members of your family.
A Christmas Wanted Poster
Wanted Posters for Work
The posters for offices and working places are frequently created to motivate and push forward the workers. They can be used either on constant basis or serve for a certain goal. For example, if the company needs good and fresh ideas, it may present all the requirements in a wanted poster. Funny posters are also common for offices as besides motivation, the workers need to get some dose of fun and positive.
An Office Wanted Poster
Wanted Posters with Celebrities, Movie and Cartoon Characters
The images of celebrities, movie and cartoon characters are frequently used for different posters. Wanted posters, featuring them, are usually created for fun, thematic parties or to be placed in the rooms of their fans. The selection of such posters for sale isn’t very big, but you are always free to make your own wanted poster. Thus, if you like anime, you may find a Luffy wanted poster. And if you are a fan of “Game of Thrones” and can’t find the wanted poster for it, just take a photo of your favorite personage and create a cool poster.
A Cartoon Wanted Poster
So, you see that the use of wanted posters isn’t so narrow as it seems. Such posters are available in many designs, may cover different themes and be placed at various places from home to streets. Moreover, they are still not very popular among the wide public and so, they may become a unique piece of wall décor, which you won’t see anywhere.
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