Posters and city panels

A city light panel is lit from inside and protected by glass, while a street poster is usually printed on paper and unlit. The lit panel reads in the evening and keeps the poster clean; a paper poster is simpler to print and replace, so it suits short campaigns.

They suit businesses that serve a neighbourhood: shops, cafés, clinics, schools and local services, as well as events and openings. They reach people close to the place where they can act on the message, by walking in or remembering the address.

A headline, one short line of detail and the name, address or phone number are usually enough. That is more than a roadside display can carry and less than a flyer. People often read while walking, so the headline has to work on its own.

A city light panel is a backlit poster display at pedestrian height, often at bus stops or on pavements, and it is often simply called a city light. The poster sits behind glass and is lit from inside, so it reads in the evening as well as by day.

Choose by foot traffic, reading height and what surrounds the panel. Being on the route of the people you want to reach matters more than size, so start from where your customers walk, wait and shop, then check which other posters stand nearby.

A print-ready PDF in CMYK at full size or to scale, with bleed and fonts outlined, is the usual starting point. Ask the operator for the template first, because the area visible inside the frame is smaller than the sheet, and lit panels need backlit paper or film.

The main factors are the number of panels, their locations, whether they are lit, how long the campaign runs, the print material and how often posters are replaced. Designing and printing several versions of the poster also adds to the total.

Unprotected paper posters fade in strong sun and can tear or peel in rain and wind, so they suit shorter campaigns. Posters behind glass in city light panels stay clean for longer, and outdoor inks or lamination help where a poster has to last.

Posters belong only on panels and surfaces where advertising is allowed, with the owner's consent. Rules differ by municipality, and panel operators have their own content requirements, so check both before printing. Posters put up without permission are often removed.

A poster can mix languages, but one should lead so the headline still reads at a glance. Give the main language the largest type, use a typeface family that covers every script in the same weight, and check the current rules on advertising language before approving the design.

A city light panel reads at night because it is lit from inside; an unlit poster depends on street lighting. For lit panels, avoid very thin type and low-contrast colours, and check how the colours look when light shines through the print.

CONTURA talks through your goal, the streets you want to reach and the message, then explains which poster or panel formats fit and what to prepare. The availability of specific panels depends on their operator and is confirmed with them.