Master the principles of movie poster design
The Gnomon Workshop has released Understanding The Principles of Poster Design, an essential guide to the realities of commercial poster design recorded by former Netflix creative lead Tomasz Opasinski.
Over the course of more than four hours of video training, Opasinski talks viewers through the design of real movie posters layer by layer, including examples from his own work for films like Oblivion.
Gnomon describes the masterclass as being aimed at graphic designers, visual storytellers, and those who simply “appreciate the art of great design”.
Discover what you really need to know to succeed in movie poster design
Strong CG skills are just one requirement for becoming a commercial poster designer. To forge a career in entertainment design, you need a much wider range of abilities.
During the workshop, Opasinski assesses empirically what makes a successful poster, including storytelling elements, title treatments, and technical requirements like credits blocks.
To illustrate the key concepts, he analyses real movie posters layer by layer, revealing the design cues they use to deliver specific messages to their target audience.
Although most of the demonstrations are carried out in Photoshop, Opasinski discusses the importance of 3D software like Cinema 4D in modern poster design.
He also reveals the realities of life on commercial marketing campaigns, providing his tips for working successfully in a team, and how to overcome the practical and creative challenges that artists face.
About the artist
Over the course of more than 20 years spent working in entertainment advertising, Tomasz Opasinski has contributed to over 500 brand campaigns for movies, including theatrical, streaming and TV releases.
In his recent role as creative lead at Netflix, he worked on 700 Neflix Originals and 100 innovation projects.
A visual empiricist, author and consultant for major advertising agencies and creative studios, his own practice spans traditional poster-making, digital graffiti, digital photography and 3D modeling.
Pricing and availability
Understanding The Principles of Poster Design is available via a subscription to The Gnomon Workshop, providing access to over 300 tutorials. Subscriptions cost $49/month or $490/year. Free trials are available.
Read more about Understanding The Principles of Poster Design on The Gnomon Workshop’s website
Full disclosure: CG Channel is owned by Gnomon.