In the last 10 minutes before you send a gloss art paper poster to print, the thing worth checking is not "does the design look nice" — it's whether the size, stock, images, text, colour and QR code are actually correct.
A3, A2 and A1 posters usually end up on a wall, a shop front, a school notice board or an event venue. Once a poster is printed, tiny text that's too small, a blurry image, a QR code that won't scan, or a size that doesn't match your order options are all very hard to fix on the spot.
This piece walks through a pre-submission checklist so you can quickly confirm the spots where gloss art paper posters most often go wrong.
The short version: 6 things to check before you send artwork
Size: confirm whether the design is A3, A2 or A1, and that it matches the size you ordered.
Minimum order: A3 and A2 can be run in small quantities on digital; A1 usually needs a large offset press with a higher minimum order, so check pricing first.
Stock: confirm whether you're using 128g or 157g gloss art paper.
Images: view your main visual, logo and product shots at actual size to check sharpness.
QR code: test-scan it on a phone and leave enough clear space around it.
File: outline your text, embed images (or link them correctly), and reopen the PDF to check.
First, confirm the poster size: A3, A2 or A1?
Common gloss art paper poster sizes are A3, A2 and A1. Step one before you submit is to confirm that the design size and the size you actually ordered are the same — because different sizes aren't just bigger or smaller, they can also mean a different printing method and a different minimum order.
| Size | Actual size | Printing & minimum-order notes | Common uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A3 | 297 × 420 mm | A3 can be run in small quantities on digital; better suited to close-up reading, in-store notices and short-run events. | In-store notices, small-format promo, close-up reading |
| A2 | 420 × 594 mm | A2 can be run in small quantities on digital; suits in-store walls, event entrances and mid-distance reading. | In-store walls, event entrances, school notice boards |
| A1 | 594 × 841 mm | A1 needs a large offset press, so the minimum order is usually higher and needs a separate quote. | Exhibitions, venue signage, large event information |
A lot of poster submission problems aren't a fault in the design itself — they come from the size and production method not being pinned down at the start. For example, a design was originally A3, then switched to A2 or A1, but the font sizes, image sharpness, QR code size and safe margins were never re-checked. Printed out, you can end up with text that's too small, blurry images, or a QR code that won't scan.
Design-wise, the three sizes also shouldn't just be one file scaled up or down. A3 is mostly read up close, so it can carry a bit more content. A2 usually goes on a wall, an event entrance or a school notice board, so the main headline, date and key details need to be readable from a few steps away. A1 is viewed from further still — it should let people catch the main message at a glance, so it's not the place for lots of small text, long paragraphs or too many elements.
If you've already decided on a size, you can cross-check the size, stock and single-sided colour options on the gloss art paper poster printing page before finalising your file.
Printing an A3, A2 or A1 poster?
If you're not sure about size, stock or minimum order, send us the use case, where it'll be posted, the quantity and your design — and we can help sanity-check the direction.
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Choose between 128g and 157g gloss art paper first
The common stocks for gloss art paper posters are 128g and 157g gloss art paper. Both suit posters with brighter, more vivid colour, but the feel and rigidity differ.
128g gloss art paper is more often used for general promotion, short-term posting, high-volume use, or when the budget is tighter.
157g gloss art paper is more rigid and feels more substantial in the hand — good for in-store displays, event venues, more formal promotional spots, or when you don't want the finished piece to feel too thin.
| Use case | Suggested direction |
|---|---|
| Short-term events, in-store notices, general promotion | 128g gloss art paper |
| Exhibitions, reception areas, formal events, when you want a better hand-feel | 157g gloss art paper |
| Image-heavy, with heavier full-bleed colour | Consider 157g for a more solid feel |
| Needs water resistance, semi-outdoor, or more durable display | Consider PP synthetic paper, gloss film posters or other large-format materials |
If the poster is going somewhere damp, semi-outdoor, or needs a more durable material, gloss art paper may not be the best choice. In that case, take a look at PP synthetic paper or gloss film poster printing instead — both are better suited to water resistance and longer display than ordinary paper posters.
Image sharpness: always check at actual size
The biggest difference between a poster and a flyer is the larger output size. On screen, scaled down, an image can look perfectly sharp — but blown up to A2 or A1, low-resolution images, screenshots and social-media graphics turn blurry fast.
Before you submit, view these spots at 100%:
The main visual
Portraits or product shots
Logo edges
Dish, course or event key images
QR codes and small icons
If an image simply isn't sharp enough, forcing it larger usually won't improve it. The safer approach is to swap back to the original, ask your designer for a high-resolution version, or adjust the layout so you're not blowing up a low-resolution image too much.
Food posters, course posters, event key visuals and product promotions especially need attention here. Once the main image is blurry, the whole poster's professional feel drops straight away.
Double-check colour mode and black text
Print files should be prepared in CMYK, so there isn't too big a gap between on-screen RGB colour and the printed result.
Gloss art paper naturally renders colour more vividly, but that doesn't mean the fluorescent, extra-vivid or over-saturated colours you see on screen can be reproduced exactly. Before you submit, expect a reasonable colour shift between screen and print — especially for bright orange, fluorescent green, vivid blue and purple.
If the poster has a lot of small black text — an address, terms, a schedule, a phone number or prices — watch the black settings too. Small text is better not set in a complex four-colour black, or misregistration on press can leave the edges looking less than crisp.
In short: large areas of black background can be set as your design needs; but small text, addresses, phone numbers and terms should prioritise being clear and readable. Before you submit, it's worth zooming in to check whether the text edges are crisp.
Keep text, logos and QR codes away from the edge
A common poster mistake is placing the headline, logo, date, price, phone number or QR code too close to the trim edge.
On screen the design might look nicely full-bleed, but both printing and trimming have normal production tolerances. Important content that sits too close to the edge raises the risk of being cut off, looking cramped, or being covered once the poster is posted.
Before you submit, focus on checking:
Whether the headline and logo have enough margin
Whether the event date, address, phone number and price are clear and readable
Whether there's clear space on all four sides of the QR code
Whether important content stays clear of the trim edge
If the poster goes on a wall corner, glass door or the edge of a notice board, whether any content would be blocked
It's best to test-scan the QR code on a phone before you submit — and to test from roughly the actual viewing distance.
If the poster will be posted somewhere far away, a QR code that's too small isn't much use. In that case you should enlarge it, or also show a clear URL, phone number, WhatsApp or other contact method alongside it.
Outline your text, and embed or correctly link your images
If you're building the poster in Illustrator, Photoshop or another design program, confirm before you submit that the fonts and images are complete.
The most common problem: the designer's computer has the font, but the print end doesn't have the same font when it opens the file — so text reflows, swaps to a different typeface, or wraps differently.
The safer approach is:
Outline your text
Embed images, or supply the linked files along with the artwork
Make sure the logo, QR code and images aren't missing
Export the PDF, then reopen it and check once more
If you only submit a single design file but an image link is missing, the export can drop to a low-resolution preview image, or the image can go missing entirely. If you submit a PDF, don't just trust that the export succeeded — open the PDF and look through it again to confirm the pages, images, fonts and positioning are all correct.
Gloss art paper poster: final pre-submission checklist
Right before you submit, run through the list below. This isn't about making the process more complicated — it's about avoiding the most common back-and-forth revisions in the last 10 minutes.
Size and order options
Is the size confirmed as A3, A2 or A1?
Does the design size match the size you ordered?
Are A3 and A2 prepared for small-quantity digital printing?
For A1, are the minimum order and quote arrangements confirmed?
Is the file prepared as single-sided colour, per the product options?
Is the stock decided — 128g or 157g gloss art paper?
Images and colour
Are the main images, product shots and logo sharp at actual size?
Is the file prepared in CMYK?
Is small black text clear, with no blurry edges?
Have you checked how full-bleed colour or dark backgrounds look?
Text and safe margins
Are the headline, date, address, phone number and price clear and readable?
Is important text kept away from the edge?
Do the logo and main visual have enough breathing room?
Have you left a safe margin to avoid trimming risk?
QR code and contact details
Have you test-scanned the QR code on a phone?
Is there enough clear space on all four sides of the QR code?
Is the QR code sized for the actual viewing distance?
Are the URL, phone number or WhatsApp clearly visible?
File delivery
Is the text outlined?
Are images embedded or correctly linked?
Have you reopened the PDF to check?
Are there no missing images, reflowed text, font substitutions or low-resolution image issues?
What you might need next
Gloss art paper poster printing: A3, A2, A1 sizes and stock options
PP synthetic paper: worth considering when you need water resistance or a more durable display
Images pixelated or distorted after printing? Check sharpness before you submit
FAQ: common questions about submitting gloss art paper posters
What's most often missed before submitting a gloss art paper poster?
The most common issues are a size that doesn't match the order options, low-resolution images, a QR code that's too small or too close to the edge, text that hasn't been outlined, and a file whose colour mode wasn't prepared for print. Checking once at actual size and in a PDF preview before you submit usually avoids most of these.
How should I choose between A3, A2 and A1 posters?
A3 suits close-up reading and in-store notices; A2 suits event entrances, school notices and shop walls; A1 suits longer viewing distances or large event information. The bigger the size, the more image sharpness, text size and visual hierarchy matter.
Can an A1 gloss art paper poster be printed in small quantities?
A1 is a large size, so it generally needs a large offset press, and the minimum order is usually higher than for A3 or A2 — it may not suit small-quantity digital printing. If you only need a few A1 posters, confirm the quantity, stock and quote arrangements before ordering, so you don't finish the artwork only to find the production method doesn't fit.
What's the difference between 128g and 157g gloss art paper?
128g gloss art paper is more common for general short-term promotion and high-volume use; 157g gloss art paper is more rigid and feels more substantial. Both work for gloss art paper posters — choose based on how long it's displayed, where it's shown and your budget.
How big does the QR code on a poster need to be?
There's no single size that fits every scenario, because it depends on the poster size and viewing distance. The safer method is to test-scan on a phone from roughly the actual viewing distance, and make sure there's clear space on all four sides so the code isn't crowded by graphics or text.
Can gloss art paper posters be printed double-sided?
If the product page is ordered as single-sided colour, prepare your artwork as single-sided from the start. If you need double-sided or another special arrangement, confirm the product options or ask us before submitting and ordering, so your file preparation matches the actual production.
Ready to submit your gloss art paper poster?
Before you submit, confirm the size, stock, single-sided colour setting, image sharpness, outlined text and QR code scannability.
If your file is ready, you can review the Printing Banana gloss art paper poster printing specs and basic options, then finalise your file to the size you ordered. Delivery is available across Hong Kong and Macau.
If you're not sure whether to go A3, A2 or A1, or which of 128g and 157g suits you better, send us the use case, where it'll be posted, the quantity and your design — and we can help sanity-check the direction. WhatsApp us at +852 3001 5678 (English is fine).