From screen print to chrome – here’s how to pick the right poster for your project.

Posters are one of the most versatile pieces in any merch or brand program – and one of the most overlooked. Done right, they’re wall art people actually want. Done wrong, they’re the piece that sits in a box.

The difference usually comes down to method. Not every poster is built the same way, and the print process changes everything – the feel, the finish, the price point, and what the design can actually do. Here’s a breakdown of the four we run most for clients.

Scroll through our Posters 101 guide below – every method, finish, and use case in one place.

Download the Posters 101 PDF →

The Lineup

4 Poster Types – When to Use Each

These aren’t generic print options. Each one serves a specific use case, and we spec them based on what the project actually needs.

How to Choose

Match the Method to the Moment

The print method isn’t just a production decision – it defines what the poster is and who it’s for. Here’s how we think about each one.

P411 – Digital Poster: Your Everyday Workhorse

Digital is the starting point for most poster programs because it doesn’t ask much of the design. No color count restrictions, no minimum separations, no limitations on gradients or photo-realistic artwork. If the design is complex – layered photography, fine detail, full bleed color – digital handles it cleanly.

For event merch, tour programs, or brand drops where you need a reliable, high-volume SKU that won’t add friction to production, P411 is the call. It’s also the right format when you’re building a poster assortment and need a base option that keeps the price point accessible. Fast turnaround, consistent output, no surprises. View P411 in the catalog.

P816 – Screen Printed Poster: The Collector Piece

Screen printing on poster stock has a legacy that no other format has matched. The ink sits on top of the paper with a tactile deposit you can feel. Colors are Pantone-matched, which means what you spec is exactly what you get – not an approximation. The registration, the ink thickness, the way it catches light differently than a digital surface – all of it signals craft in a way buyers respond to.

P816 is built for limited runs where the format itself is part of the value. Concert posters, art drops, numbered editions, tour exclusives. When you’re pricing a screen print poster higher than a digital one, the method is the justification. Collectors and fans understand the difference – and they pay for it. View P816 in the catalog.

P794 – Flock Poster: When the Feel Is the Product

Flock is a process where fine fiber particles are applied electrostatically over specific areas of a printed surface, creating a raised, velvet-like texture. You can feel the graphic before you fully register what it is. That tactile quality is the entire point – it turns a flat print into something with dimension, weight, and presence.

The P794 runs flock over a digital base, which means you can have a full-color design with flock applied selectively to key elements – a logo, a headline, a border. The result photographs extremely well, unboxes at a premium level, and holds up as a standalone art piece. Streetwear drops, limited editions, brand gifting programs – anywhere the physical experience of the product needs to match the price tag. View P794 in the catalog.

P804 – Digital Wide Format Chrome: The Statement Piece

Chrome substrate changes the rules. The metallic surface reflects light and shifts with the viewing angle, so the poster reads differently depending on how you’re looking at it. Digital print on top of that substrate produces colors that are more saturated, more dynamic, and more impossible to replicate on a standard surface. It’s not subtle – and that’s the point.

P804 runs wide format, which means this isn’t just a poster-sized piece. It scales to retail installs, backdrop panels, pop-up displays, and oversized statement art. Brands use it for launch events, flagship retail, and high-traffic placements where standard poster formats won’t stop anyone. It’s consistently the most photographed piece at any event it shows up at – which makes it one of the highest-ROI items in a full merch or experiential program. View P804 in the catalog.

Build the Stack

If you’re running a poster program across a season, tour, or brand calendar – don’t pick just one. Stack the formats. Lead with digital as your evergreen SKU. Drop screen print on major dates. Reserve flock and chrome for limited releases or VIP tiers. The result is a natural price ladder, a reason for buyers to engage at multiple levels, and a catalog that builds over time instead of resetting with every drop.