How To Make Your Poster Look "Art Deco or Retro"

Many have asked how to make their poster more like the posters of the WPA time period.  In order to accomplish that, you want to first look at the original posters.
What do they have in common?  They were all silk screened!  This is an important factor to think about, and affected the style of the posters.

Specifically:

1. There is a limited color palette, usually only 4 colors are used-and they are not bright colors.  If you are struggling with a color palette, use the colors from one of the posters, and simply use the eyedropper tool to capture the colors. 
2. All of the images on the poster are streamlined or simplified-think of silhouettes, almost cartoony images.  (A perfect time to use your pen tool skills or the live trace option!)
3. Typography-this is where many people struggle.  The posters use a maximum of only 3 typefaces, mostly all CAPS and sans serif typefaces.  There is some use of script type, too.  These are the sites that I have found that have had some appropriate typefaces-however, some are just awful too:

• dafont - look at their Retro section as well as the Script section, especially the Handwritten and School sections. 
• free typography
• font river

Part of this assignment is just really looking at the WPA FAP posters and trying to hone their style, so when in doubt, look at the originals for inspiration and direction.  

Assignment 16 - WPA FAP Poster

For assignment 16, you're going to choose a WPA FAP poster and modernize the issue, but using the colors and style of the art deco movement.

Steps:

1. Complete the worksheet, reading articles on the internet (and handouts) and view the folder of original WPA FAP poster.  You can download the file here, titled "originals."  Also, visit this site for more information about the FAP poster division-it's pretty much the same link as printed on the worksheet, but easier for the eye to read.  
2. Review the folder of original WPA FAP posters and choose 3.
3. Create 5 sketches total where you modernize the issues of the 3 original WPA FAP posters.
4. If you need to review the powerpoint, visit here.
5. Review your sketches with me, and make any corrections/re-work if necessary.
6. Begin creating the poster on Photoshop or Illustrator.