Posters have always represented freedom of expression. They moved through history and up and down in popularity. They have been used to advertise, speak out and create celebrities. The history of posters is dotted with great inventions and people. It starts in Europe and travels throughout the world to every country.

The following outline details how the poster evolved through history.

15th Century - Posters were hand painted and used as a way to provide announcements and information to the towns people.

1628 - Companies began using posters for advertising purposes.

1798 - Alois Senefelder invented the process of Lithography which helped posters to be produced in mass quantities easily. Jules Charet was the first person to use the process for poster making.

1803 - Production of rolls of paper began in London. This new production made poster making easier.

1810 - Steam power was introduced and made poster production faster.

1881 - France passed laws that established specific areas for hanging posters and set a fee to be able to hang them. This made posters the top source of advertising for businesses.

Today- Posters are used for entertainment, to get a message out, political advertising, and many other reasons. Technology has made poster making simple and quick.

Posters can be found all over. Offices use posters to inform employees about company policies or safety measures. The government uses posters to inform people about programs and laws. Political candidates rely on posters as part of their campaign. Celebrities pose for posters to gain popularity or sell their image. Posters have been used to showcase talents and provide necessary information. Posters can be words, pictures or charts. The main purpose of a poster has never changed, though, despite its move through history and technology; they have always served as a source of information.