You do not need a large-format printer to make a big poster. Any home or office printer can produce one if you split the picture across several sheets and tape them together.
What you need
- An image with enough resolution (see below)
- A normal printer and A4 or Letter paper
- Scissors or a craft knife, a ruler, tape or glue
Create the poster PDF
- Open Print Image on Multiple Pages.
- Drop in your picture.
- Choose the paper size and orientation, and how many pages across the poster should be. The preview shows the page grid, and the tool tells you the final size, for example 57 x 43 cm for three A4 pages across.
- Keep a small overlap (5 to 8 mm) so you can glue pages without white gaps, and leave page numbers and cut marks switched on.
- Press Create PDF.
How big can I go?
The size depends on your picture resolution. For a decent look at arm’s length you want at least 100 to 150 pixels per inch of poster. A 3000 pixel wide photo makes a poster about 20 to 30 inches wide. Check yours with the Image Size Finder. If the picture is too small, enlarge it with the Image Upscaler first.
Print settings
- Print at 100 percent or Actual size. Do not use “Fit to page”, which would shrink every page differently.
- Choose a photo quality setting for pictures.
- Disable borderless printing if your printer crops edges.
Assemble the poster
- Lay the pages out in order using the page numbers.
- Trim the white margins on the right and bottom edges of each page along the cut marks, or overlap by the glue margin.
- Work row by row: join pages along the row, then join the rows.
- Tape on the back first, then glue or mount on foam board for a durable result.
Tips
- Pick pictures with simple compositions. Fine detail near page joins is harder to align.
- Print a test of one page to check colours before printing everything.
- A matte paper reduces glare on joined seams.
Other ways to divide an image
If you only want to cut a picture into equal tiles (for puzzles or Instagram), use the Split Image tool. To rejoin pieces, use Combine Images. Want a drawing grid instead? Try the Grid Maker for Drawing.
Plan the size first
Decide how big the poster should be. Two A4 sheets side by side make A3. Four A4 sheets (2 x 2) make A2, and six or nine sheets suit big wall posters. Check your picture has enough pixels with image size finder.
Get enough resolution
For a poster seen from a metre or more away, 100 to 150 DPI is often enough. A 2 x 2 A4 poster (A2 size) is about 4961 x 7016 pixels at 300 DPI, or about half that at 150. If your image is too small, enlarge it with the image upscaler.
Print without gaps
- Choose no scaling, 100 percent size, when you print the PDF.
- Home printers leave an unprintable margin, so include a small overlap and trim the edge before joining.
- Use plain paper for a draft, then card or heavier paper for the final.
- Number the pages lightly on the back so you can assemble them in order.
Tools
The print on multiple pages tool creates a ready-to-print PDF. You can also cut the picture manually with split image, and combine pages into a document with image to PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How big a poster can I make from my picture?
It depends on resolution. Aim for at least 100 to 150 pixels per inch of final poster size. A 3000 pixel wide photo makes a poster roughly 20 to 30 inches wide.
Why should I print at 100 percent?
Scaling to fit shrinks every page differently, which makes the pieces impossible to align.
What is the overlap for?
The overlap repeats a small strip of the image on neighbouring pages so you can glue or tape them without white gaps.
Can I use US Letter paper?
Yes. Choose US Letter in the paper size list and the layout adapts.
