How to Make a Drawing Into a Poster

Data projectors allow you to easily enlarge drawings to poster size.

To accurately transfer a drawing into a larger poster size, you can take advantage of some commonly available multimedia supplies to make a perfect enlarged copy. Perspective is often lost when attempting to enlarge a drawing free hand, but it is possible to make a perfect copy of an original drawing in almost any size you like. Multimedia projectors can be found at most community centers, libraries, schools, business or other institutions and can often be used for short periods of time to complete your project.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Scanner
• Data projector
• Poster paper
• Masking tape
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Scan your drawing into your computer. Place your drawing face down on a scanner that is connected to your computer, then scan the image into a .jpeg or other image file.

2. Open the image, once scanned, in an image viewing program on your computer.

3. Connect your computer to the data projector using either the SVGA out, HDMI, or other video output terminal on your computer. Turn on the data projector and ensure that the image displayed on your computer screen is now displayed with the data projector.

4. Tape a sheet of poster paper of the size you wish your poster to be onto the wall that the data projector faces.

5. Adjust the size of the drawing you scanned into your computer that is now displayed by the data projector to the desired size by either adjusting it in the image viewing program on your computer or by adjusting the zoom ring on the projector itself.

6. Trace the outline of the image being displayed onto the poster paper. Use a pencil to outline the drawing you made that is displayed on the wall and poster paper. Be sure to also copy any details that should be transferred to create an accurate representation of your drawing.

7. Take the poster down from the wall and fill in all remaining details to finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure that the projector faces the wall you are using to copy directly; If the image is displayed at an angle, the perspective of the image will be off.

References

• Drawing shortcuts: Developing Quick Drawing Skills Using Today's Technology; Jim Leggitt
• Madison Art Shop: Art Projector