Mini Challenge: Typography Posters
I’ve just spotted this wonderful poster (thanks to the decor8 blog) and it’s given me the itch to play with some type so I wondered if anyone else would like to join me in a very spur of the moment mini challenge? The task is to create your very own typography poster.
You will need …
Some great font resources:
- 40+ Excellent Free Fonts For Professional Design
- 30 Fonts You Want to Have
- DaFont
- 10 Great Free Fonts You Might Have Missed
Some nice colour palettes:

palettes courtesy of colourlovers.com
The file sizes for our posters:
- 2500×3500 pixels for the smallest print
- 3500×5000 pixels for the medium print
- 5000×7100 pixels for the large print
And finally, some inspiration …

A selection from the Keep Calm Gallery
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Stop Destroying Our Planet from Make My Mood
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a selection from ffffound
And from our very own talented bubblers:

Birth of the bomb by Hingo, IPS Skylines by Ian Fleming, The Gift by Joey Wharton and I ReNted aN opiNion by Steve Leadbeater
All you need now is a suitable collection of words and you’re away. Please post your results below so we can oooh and aaah over how wonderful they are. If you don’t have time to create one of your own, perhaps you can help us by posting some more inspiration. Good luck!
Nat


Colleen Milburn
Ooh, some of those are so cool, Nat! How about this one of mine (guess what it’s called! hehe)
community replied
Haha … not subtle at all! ;)
Steven Sandner
Awesome!
community replied
I might be slightly biased but those free font links alone are good enough reason to get excited … there are some diamonds in there!
jemimalovesbigted
Ooooooh your shocking at distracting me!!! this is a fabo idea =D
community replied
And I’m even worse at distracting myself! You have to seize the moment if you feel inspired :)
Colleen Milburn
Lol! I don’t do ‘subtle’!
PJ Ryan
ooooh ! fonts ! look out, here come some more tshirts :)
yippeeeeeeee thanks
community replied
t-shirts are also good … t-shirts with matching posters. We could be on to something here!
halftone
I’ve never entered a challenge before

community replied
Sometimes I prefer lying on the carpet (that was in response to the poster, not the comment about entering challenges) ... I like the background on this one!
Soxy Fleming
oh dear, I’ll have to be distracted tooo, this when I’m trying to get into the darkroom and develop some paper negs and make a new pinhole camera….aaahhhh at least I have located some words!
community replied
Excellent Soxy … no need to spend your evening in the dark now! You can have a light on, and there are no stinky chemicals involved. You can even eat chocolate biscuits while you work …
aglaia b
i’m kinda bored outta my brains, so i’m totally in. hehe
i will post here. thanks nat. ;-) xox
community replied
Wonderful! Typography is a known cure for boredom. You can take this as a prescription from Dr. Nat ;)
Cheryl DeLong
Here is my favorite quote keeps me motivated when times get tough and I have to think outside the box.
Cheryl DeLong
Sorry tried to link the poster here where people can see it but it didn’t work. :(
community replied
That’s ok Cheryl … I thought we were going to have to guess the quote there for a second! That would bring the mini challenge to a whole new level … Is this the right one?
yanmos
i like the idea, i’m in :)
community replied
Great to have you on board yanmos! :)
Cheryl DeLong
That’s the right one lol.
Naf4d
How long have we got?
community replied
As long as you like! It’s not an ‘official challenge’ where there’s a deadline … more like a bit of inspiration to try something different. I’d aim for the next 24 hours perhaps … that way we’ll remember to come back here and check it out ;)
Andreas Koepke
Here is my attempt.
community replied
Love the coffee bean background! And it’s reminded me that I boiled the kettle about an hour ago …
Adriana Glackin
I’m in – making one now.
community replied
Wonderful Adriana … looking forward to seeing the results!
Mel Brackstone
I’m up to week three of having my computer in the shop….using a macbook instead of my standard ibm….can’t work out where to put the downloaded font in a mac…..gahhhhhh!!! spotlight is NOT helping
community replied
I just struggled with this myself on my mac … hold fire and I’ll try and figure out what I did!
community replied
Ok. Finder > Macintosh HD > Library > Fonts … then just click and drag the font file into the fonts folder …
community replied
... Or do what Mike suggests below … sounds much easier! ;)
Mel Brackstone
Cheers!
Mike Emmett
@mel – double click the font file – it opens in FontBook. Press “install”.
Mel Brackstone
oops, don’t I feel like a dill, I should have asked mr google…..think I’ve found the answer now all I have to do is read it….
Mel Brackstone
oh thanks Mike, that’ll save me reading….LOL
Mel Brackstone
oh dear, how easy was that…..LOL!!! bangs head on desk…..20 years I’ve used windoze….macs just confuse me!
Frank Stillitano
oh…if only I had the time, sigh
community replied
I hear you Frank. Maybe one to bookmark and come back to later?!
Soxy Fleming
well actually between then and now I have managed the slimey coffee smelling darkroom so perhaps I can leave camera construction until another day and make a type poster while my paper dries!!
Soxy Fleming
and eat some chocolate!
community replied
Sounds like a plan!
Naomi O'Connor
I’m in too
Cheryl DeLong
Kicks dirt I should have posted my A Real Woman is poster :(.
robpixaday
FONTS!!!!!!
Woooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Going to those links now….THANK YOU!!!!!!
smoooooooochies
Naomi O'Connor
How do we post them here?
community replied
you need to right click on the image and copy the link location (it should have a .jpg on the end), then you paste it between two exclamation marks. If you want to try it out first, there’s a live preview function in bubblemail which allows you to test your links – it comes in handy!
Colleen Milburn
I don’t want to turn this thread into a tutorial, but can anyone tell me how I get the new font/s into PS after I’ve downloaded it and extracted the file?
community replied
You need to copy the font files into the fonts folder on your hard drive … then they should come up when you next open PS. Let me see if I can find a link to some instructions!
community replied
Does this help? Let us know if not and I can hunt around for some more info.
Diesel Laws
This was fun, thanks for the post!
community replied
Nice font and I’m digging the blue with the grey and black. Great colours!
Adriana Glackin
Ok – here’s mine:
Inspired by the girl who fell asleep whilst being tattooed at the time.
community replied
Haha. I heard about this on the radio this morning. She allegedly asked for 3 stars on her face, fell asleep and woke up with 56 … hmmm, not sure I believe her ;)
Adriana Glackin
LOL! No I don’t buy it either, and as for an excuse, it would have to be the lamest ever! LOL! :D
community replied
I think it looks quite nice … (!!!) Matches your poster beautifully ;)
Adriana Glackin
Yes, oh dear, I have been chuckling at her poor face. I think she had better get used to her new look and work on improving her excuse lines. ;p
Colleen Milburn
Yayyyy!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the link, Nat – it works!! :)))
community replied
Fantastic Colleen. Google has the answers to everything ;)
robpixaday
Oh, nuts.
WONDERFUL fonts!!!!! I downloaded some and got very excited about using them…but have no clue how to get them to ….er….work.
I cana’t seem to make Photoshop Elements 3 ( Mac) pay attention to them. Will keep trying. THANK YOU!!!!!!!! They look great!!
community replied
Hi robpixaday … have you managed to get them into your font folder ok?
robpixaday
Oh!! Hi~!!
I can’t find a font folder…lol…I looked in the Presets folder and there’s nothing that says “Fonts”—still looking…....
You’re so nice!!
runs back to search
community replied
Did you see the instructions above that various people gave to Mel? There are some links and tips there that may help? I just copied the files to my desktop then went to Finder > Macintosh HD > Library > Fonts … then just clicked and draged the font files into the fonts folder …
MacLeod
nice i have to dig out my pile of chank disel fonts i got back in 2000 now….
Esther's Art a...
Naomi O'Connor
community replied
Lovely illustration Naomi!
Cheryl DeLong
Naomi O'Connor
Yeah I did it!
Thanks Community
community
snap! I’ll delete the other one :)
Naomi O'Connor
Many Thanks
robpixaday
It WORKED!!!!!!!!!!
I had no idea that the fonts didn’t reside in Photoshop but in the Mac’s fonts themselves….....WOW!
Thank you!!!!!
I’m going back to download more and then start playing!
Cheryl DeLong
Ok I am done now have to go to work. Have fun everyone :)
Kaylea
I love this. I am a teacher and I don’t do this enough! x
Kaylea
My last comment was for Naomi x
MacLeod
MacLeod
hooray for me! oh wait…....thanks for all the fish…
!
!
jemimalovesbigted
First idea I had… have a couple in mind, but wee boy is sick so not sure if I will get them out tonight. is there a time limit for this wonderful challenge?
community replied
As a bad 1990’s Eurodance band once said … there’s no limits. You can keep creating these til the cows come home :) I’m loving that yellow JLBT! But I’ve just realised that by quoting 2 Unlimited I have probably put a serious dent in the music cred of this work. Errr … sorry about that.
Naomi O'Connor
I’m a teacher too. Me either. Perhaps my poster will remind us both. Many Thanks X
Esther's Art a...
Kaylea
Im sure it will. I am leaving my school in a few weeks so I will do it lots to the little cherubs i leave behind. I wonder if i can do it without crying though x
Kaylea
Here is my first go at typography. I never would have thought I could do it had it not been for this challenge to get me going…so thank you so much for inspiring me!

Kaylea
we will try again! x
Kaylea
Kaylea
community replied
I need this font. Just gorgeous!
Kaylea
got there in the end! Jo O’Brien’s tutorial on this was great! x
Naomi O'Connor
Love this Kaylea!
Esther's Art a...
Kaylea
Thanks Naomi! I hope my friend likes it when i give it to her! x
jemimalovesbigted
all right one more and that’s it for tonight. Thanks Nat for the inspiration, you rock.
community replied
Why thanks! :) This isn’t too shabby either!
yanmos
i like it jemima!!
robpixaday
Did a t-shirt—couldn’t resist….still trying to get some of the fonts to work. But this one is super!

Juilee Pryor
my vote for the incrediable talent and vision of jemimalovesbigted above me…. how can you improve on that for a modern day truism…. excellent work…but since I’m here …. my humble entry which I actually just put up as a tee shirt in response to a short tiny bit of writing by Lawford

.
Kaylea
love it Jemima. It is so bridget jones! x
Kaylea
DieselLaws love your work too. could see that as a club flyer x
Naomi O'Connor
Great work Juilee!
Vicki Ferrari
Is this one OK?

I have a habit of not thinking before doing, or speaking!!! :)))
Vicki Ferrari
oh bugger, did i just not think again? damn….....
robpixaday
I’m still fiddling with some of them…not sure if this was a new one or not…but the BIGGEST thing is that showed me a NEW WORLD of FONTS!!!!!!!!!!!!
((((((happyhugs))))))))
RPGesus
Juilee Pryor
actually I’ve gone and done a version of what is above…. sorry but I’m going to post again …. but my own vote still goes to jemimalovesbigted as well…. fantastic bit of work…...

.
PJ Ryan
colour your world
John Conway
janniev
Here’s my effort (hope it works):
Isa Rodriguez
Because We are all Awe Some!!!!
Isa Rodriguez
I dont know if a Tshirt counts: but in the case Ill take the Risk
robpixaday
Me, again…on elast time: THANK YOU FOR THESE AMAZING FONTS!!!!!

I found this one and then painted it…
NooneSpecial
sorry, just a tee, would love to do something better, but don’t want to be left behind.

So here ‘tis.
budrfli
okay, u snagged me :O)))

community replied
here’s the link directly to the work too … looks even better in the large preview!
yanmos
simple & meaningful

community replied
Lovely muted colours yanmos … and a nice message too!
H M Bascom
I frequently incorporate text in my art.
community replied
This is really lovely Helen. Great message …
KazM
I often use type in my work. I am proud of this corny but cute text with art

KazM
I love Isa’s work and I am working on ideas for tshirts for us to wear in the Relay for Life in November (we are a Breast Cancer Group and the event raises money for cancer support & research)
community
These are wonderful guys … keep them coming!
Nancy Stafford
I have one that a tee but would make a wonderful poster if done right

community replied
Hope you don’t mind me posting a bigger version Nancy! I think there might be a few people reaching for their specs ;)
Nancy Stafford
thank you why it came out small i not sure…
aglaia b
boy oh boy, look at all these posts.

here’s one from me also.
really enjoyed making this nat.
you are slowly becoming my little inspirational guru. hehe
THANKS!! ;-) xox
community replied
Wow aglaia … this is wonderful!
CLiPiCs
this thing rocks, should be an Official challenge
here’s mine, the Happy Optician
haven’t go to grips with the post image thingy, my brain is in reverse today :-)
Love ‘N’ Laughter Kriss
CLiPiCs
OK Ifigured iot out
I think
Love ‘N’ Laughter Kriss
community replied
nice work Kriss!
Jon C
Here’s my attempt (hope it works)
community replied
Cute! And lovely message too Jon :)
Kaiju
I would post a poster i just design but i don’t know how to up load the image on the comment page.
Lior Goldenberg
community replied
Nice strong use of font. Perfect choice for the subject matter … Great work Lior!
Naf4d
Here’s mine, hope someone likes it…

community replied
Pigeons and chavs are on my list too Naf4d. Love the textures in this … and a great colour palette too!
Kaiju
this is a t-shirt contest i was working on. I just turn it into a poster.
yanmos
this is from Kaiju

Kaiju
Thank you again yanmos!
community replied
This is jaw droppingly good Kaiju. Is that a typeface at the bottom (Ride to Remember) or is it hand drawn?
Meliza Celeridad
””:http://www.redbubble.com/people/rooted/art/3271960-2-zombies
Meliza Celeridad
Sorry about my previous post! I just didn’t know how to post it up as an image.
But here’s the link to my poster Zombies
Meliza Celeridad
community replied
I feel I have learned one of life’s lessons here. Thank you! I will write this down in my ‘important things to remember’ book. This is a really classy choice of typeface too …
Natalie Tyler
Wow. There are some amazing works being added here! I finally got a chance to whip something up myself:
jadeast
community replied
Dare I ask?!
Erica Rosario
community replied
This is lovely Erica – especially the bite marks in ‘eat’ ... a nice touch!
jegustavsen
I so much enjoyed this post, looking at all the typography!!! I work a lot of hrs and don’t have as much time as I use to to get on Redbubble or upload, but I will definately work on something this weekend.
community replied
In the meantime I hope you don’t mind me linking to one of your works as you’re a bit of a master when it comes to this sort of thing! :)
bubblehex08
I’ll be back later !!!!!
(who wants to use that text?)
RedHillDigital
For more inspiration, type “Unusual Signs” in the RB Search box.
Natalie Tyler
Yes … I’ll be back later too. Time for some sleep on this side of the planet! The response to this has been absolutely inspiring. I’m looking forward to catching up with more of these tomorrow morning. Nite all!
Xavier Shay
“University Educated”
In the style of the uni hoodies everyone wears.
I don’t have Princeton on this machine :(
postbaroque
i’m new here; i hope i’m doing this right:
community replied
Lovely … is that using one of the palettes from above?
Kaylea
Naf4d, I absolutely adore your design. It looks so professional! x
Kaylea
Thanks community, the font is bleeding cowboy from dafont. x
Simon Bowker
This challenge is great :) I love how much can be done with some great typography!
I haven’t got time to do a fresh one atm so i thought i would put up a poster i did a while back for now, and hopefully ill have chance to come back.
community replied
I love a nice grungy typeface … this is great Simon!
Andrew Gordon
community replied
Er … I see a large can … and yes, there are some worms in it ;)
ToastedGhost
community replied
Love this … really clever stuff ToastedGhost!
Rhana Griffin
My efforts pale in significance to these shining examples you all have posted here, but I learnt so much creating this one, and had great fun trying something new :) Thanks Nat!
community replied
I promise never to question your golden fluffy goodness!
sigfusson
Great idea for a mini challenge – thanks Nat. Wow there are some brilliant ideas here! Cheers, S.

community replied
Hehe … another key ingredient for typography posters. I should have added that to the list above!
Melinda Kerr
Did this a while ago :)
community replied
I think we’ve created a whole new audience for your tee in this journal!
Scott Robinson
This got me extremely motivated this morning, and I came up with this..
full version here
community replied
Really classy stuff scott … lovely choice of typeface :)
Michael Alesich
Just a quick thought popped to mind for this one:
community replied
The background texture makes this. That and the shadows make the letters look like they would weigh a ton. Clever stuff!
Ross Robinson
Great idea! Here’s mine:
jemimalovesbigted
Ok ok last one…
VanSnuG
my two cents …

blacknight
VanSnuG
... let me make it, four cents

Bianca Stanton
OOOOO this is GREAT!!

heres my entry
Rhana Griffin
My eyes are now wide open to the wonderful world of typography :)
Bianca Stanton
Oh and the second vertion

alaskaman53
just for fun.
jfpictures
Melinda Kerr
You had me at Helvetica…
Soxy Fleming
Pip Gerard
How has it taken me so long to add the community account to my watchlist??? (just relieved and excited that I now have).

Nat and the rest of the community members – I really love what you do!! You’re inspirational..sharing…caring… and fun!!!
When I thought about what I could do for an entry… I was thinking about what text I could see on a wall.. and this saying came to me. This is for those walls that actually do talk! :D
Pip Gerard
and these are one’s I’ve done a while back:



Adriana Glackin
Wow – so many great posters here!!
jadeast
wynot, evry1 else duz!
PJ Ryan
PJ Ryan
shall i sneak another one in …
postbaroque
i don’t know how to reply to individual comments, but yes, i used one of the four given color palettes. the line is from Aesop. thanks.
Peter Horsman
I can’t remember how to post images in here but here is the link My poster is called “Your Time Starts Now” and is inspired by all those game shows where the host says those very words to the contestant. I find these little 4 words to be quite positive and philosophical, as “our time” really does start at each moment…
Juilee Pryor
this just so much fun…. and having new fonts to work with…. woo hoo… how fantastic…. one more just because…..
Catherine Palmer
Here’s mine, it’s the hubby’s favorite quote.

Rinkydink
VanSnuG
... the sixth cents … a round TUIT, NOW, Do It! :-)

Rinkydink
Ok I am sneaking another in ;-)

Rinkydink
really last one now …this is getting addictive

RandyLMonteith
Ok Nat , I liked this idea and had to figure out a way to my own PhotoShop TYPE twist on it but wanted to do something real special. This is my first attempt at this new technique , the only problem is this kind of image is only done justice when its printed and viewed at its proper real life size in print.
I first looked up the dictionary definttion of the word Rage after finding a photo that fit the bill
When you first look at you see the siloutte of a man shouting and the word Rage in red
When you look closer you will see the words that make up his face are all made out of the letters and words from the dictionary definition for the word Rage
Here is a more detailed closeup that gives you a little cleaer image. Like I said this would have to be printed at its proper size to be seen correclty.
Heather Rivet...
these are all fantastic
Peter Horsman
Okay, here goes…
As written above my poster is inspired by all those game shows where the host says those very words to the contestant. I find these 4 simple little words to be quite positive and philosophical, as “our time” really does start at each moment…:o)
RandyLMonteith
Another one for fun
aglaia b
okay here is another from me.

a bit simpler this time. hehe :-) xox
find your niche
KarDanCreations
We all have a friend, co-worker or colleage that just babbles on about irrevelant things and never gets to the point of their story. The one you finally have to say; “Spare me from the Details”

James Raynes
Something I’ve been stuffing around with:
Kaylea
Wow James Raynes, this is very provocative! x
Kaylea
or did i mean thought provoking! :) x
ReadingBeauty
http://images-1.redbubble.net/img/art/size:large/view:main/3279064-2-she-bears.jpg
sorry, I couldn’t figure out how to paste the picture into here >.<
Tate ©
i like the words more than the font, hence the font. know what i mean?..

James Raynes
Thanks Kaylea. Sort of trying to convey an image of utter despair – the sort of feeling you’d get when coming to terms with not being able to recover from a terminal illness. Cheery I know!
ReadingBeauty – try right clicking on you image in redbubble, copying the image location, and then pasting it between two exclamation marks (without spaces).
Soxy Fleming
For ReadingBeauty who had trouble posting above
1http://images-1.redbubble.net/img/art/size:large/view:main/3279064-2-she-bears.jpg!
Soxy Fleming
sorry try again!
Juilee Pryor
my goodness there is some really talent coming out of the woodwork here… love that Andy Warhol quote tate….but well done everbody…. this is so excellent
dabones
Mine is not really a poster but a tee design but I’m posting it anyway:)
dabones
wow!! there’s so many unique ideas! I love it here at RedBubble_!
Terry Walker
This is one of my T-shirts. Not sure if a different font would make it a good poster.
Simon Bowker
Just had a bit of spare time so thought i would do a fresh one. This is one of my favourite quotes from Danny Kaye.
Catherine Palmer
@ Simon – LOVE that poster and quote!!! Fab job!
I’m a little hesitant to post after Simon… LOL

PStyles
PStyles
How do you post an image? I’m new to this site
community replied
Hi Josh. Welcome aboard. You need to right click on the image and copy the link location (it should have a .jpg on the end), then you paste it between two exclamation marks.
RandyLMonteith
This is my third one please stop me before I make another!!!
PStyles
PStyles
PStyles
Well, I guess this just isn’t gonna work for me haha
Chris Jackson
Here’s my go. hope you like it

Karen Scrimes
Wow!! So much good stuff here. What an inspiration :))))
Here is my humble effort playing with type (couldn’t resist playing with imagery as well :))