Have you ever thought about why some banners catch your insight while you walk down the streets? Or even did you ever wonder why certain ad content makes you stop while you’re surfing the internet? It is because of the compelling banners, which are created in forms like digital and print. Banners are the reason why those billboards along the streets shout for our attention. But merely shouting won’t get you to listen. All the banners are not created in the same way in which they can grab your attention. People tend to ignore boring banners, however, the one with great design efforts can be a superstar!
A banner is something that makes you surf more about a certain product and even makes you visit the brand’s website. That’s the power of banners, we’re talking about. This guide will tell you about how stunning banners can be created. We assure you that by the end of this guide, you will be a banner-making whiz, no matter whether you’re a newbie or an experienced person.
Design Principles for Effective Banners
After you’ve successfully planned your banner and even decided what content you would be adding to it, the next step would be to delve into the world of design.
Here are some compelling reasons to keep in mind while creating banners so that they become eye-catchy for the audience:
1. Clarity and Simplicity
If a random person stops and gazes at your banner just for a few seconds, would they be able to know what it is all about if it lacks a clear message? Hence, keep in mind to focus on the message of the banner and make it easy to read for the audience. However, you must refrain from making it a content-heavy banner, as less is always more!
2. Visual Hierarchy
By visual hierarchy, we mean, guiding your viewers towards your banner. This can be done when you’ve made proper usage of elements such as fonts, color, and correct placement of these, that’s more important. Keep it in the hierarchy of a conversation starter- the headline or the main point must be kept as an introduction, while also keeping a CTA button.
3. Balance and Alignment
A banner must be visually appealing to the readers. The content and the visuals must be placed in an equivalent ratio. These must be placed neatly and must not look scattered all over the place.
4. Negative Space
There might be some space left in your banner. Don’t be afraid of it. Rather make a wise usage of it so that it leaves a strong impact on the target audience. Negative space gives your elements to breathe and at the same time prevents your design from feeling cluttered.
Choosing the Right Colors and Fonts
Among many, two impactful things can make your banner pop: fonts and color.
1. The Power of Color
Colors have a strong knack that influences our emotions. Red can evoke excitement, however the blue shade evokes trust. Before framing banners, you must understand color psychology and hence also know how it affects the audience. Hence, choosing the correct shades for your banner must be able to match your message perfectly. But first, know what feeling you would like to create for your audience: energetic, luxurious, or calming.
2. Color Harmony
Just like you pick complementary shades while choosing your clothes, selecting the colors that complement your banners’ theme is a must. If you do not have enough knowledge, you can get assistance from online resources so that you find the correct color combinations that work best together.
3. Font Fundamentals
Fonts are the real voice of your banner. Agree? Choose fonts that are easy to read and hence are clear to understand. Do not use fancy or hard-to-understand fonts as it may influence the audience’s interest. However, if your banners’ theme is kid-related, you may choose to use playful fonts as it would work well. However, a bold font would work well in case of a sales announcement.
Incorporating High-Quality Images and Graphics
We’ve covered everything else, but we just cannot forget the real stars of the show: the graphics and the images. Let’s understand how to make them shine on your banner:
1. High-Resolution Heroes
How about the image on your billboard be a blurry one? No attention-grabbing, right? The same goes for the banners as well. Using graphics of high resolution would ensure its professionalism and sharpness when enlarged. Graphics and images need to be sharp and clear to make an impact.
2. Scalable Saviors
One good thing about banners is that they come in various shapes and sizes and hence that’s where the role of vector comes in. Unlike the images, which may go blurry when enlarged, vector graphics have superpowers and hence can be resized freely without losing their original quality. You may use the same vector for a tiny website banner or even use it for giant hoardings or billboards.
Tools and Software for Banner Creation
Now that you have the blueprint for your banner ready for you, how do you bring it to reality? Here are some popular tools that may help you out:
1. Design Powerhouses
If you’re an experienced designer, professional tools like Adobe Photoshop reign supreme. Some examples are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and more. These tools enable the designer to design in detail and even add customizations.
2. Canva
For intermediate or beginner users, those who don’t have enough experience in professional designing, Canva is to their rescue. It offers a drag and drop interface, with tons of templates. This way the designer can design the banners without any additional help.
3. Figma
Figma works well when it’s collaborative work. Figma enables multiple designers to work simultaneously on the same banner. This not only makes the work efficient but even seamless for larger teams.
Conclusion
Now, we believe that you are armed with ample knowledge about how to craft compelling and eye-catching banners so that the audience takes the necessary actions, and ultimately you get the desired results. It’s always better to plan things so that the main aim does not fall apart later.
So, are you all set to put your newfound skills to the test? Who knows, maybe your next banner will become something that everyone’s talking about!
