The tool
The wanted poster generator, and what it actually does
Most generators are a form that emails you a file some time later. This one draws the poster in front of you: the sheet redraws on every keystroke, so the thing you are looking at while you type is the thing you will end up with. This page explains the mechanics — what each field controls, what happens to your photo, and what separates the free preview from the paid file.
Instant download
The clean 300 DPI file, delivered as a download.
- Free watermarked preview first, no account
- Live render, no waiting for a proof by email
- PDF and PNG when you buy
- Runs on phone, tablet and desktop
Optional add-on
Printed on museum-grade cotton and shipped in 3–5 business days.
Offered at the end, once the poster exists. Skip it unless you want paper in a box. Formats live in the sizes guide.
See the formatsFour inputs, and what the generator does with each
The layout is fixed on purpose — that is what keeps the result looking like a period reward bill rather than a slide. What you change is the content, and every field is handled so it cannot break the composition.
| Input | What the generator does with it |
|---|---|
| Photo | Read straight from your device, resized in the browser, then composited into the portrait window with a sepia halftone. |
| Name | Set in the display face and auto-fitted: long names shrink to stay on one line rather than wrapping badly. |
| Wanted for | Placed under the portrait, where the reader looks second. Line breaks are handled for you. |
| Reward | Anchored to the foot of the sheet, scaled to the width available so a six-figure number still fits. |
What to write in those four fields is a separate question, answered line by line in the brief-writing guide.
Live rendering, and why it matters
The poster is drawn on a canvas in your browser. Change a word and the sheet repaints immediately: no upload round trip, no proof to approve, no "we will email you within 24 hours". The practical effect is that you can test four versions of the joke in the time it usually takes to fill in a checkout form, and keep the one that made you laugh.
Your work in progress is stored in your own browser, so closing the tab does not throw the poster away. Come back later and it is still there, photo included.
Preview, then file
Free preview
The same poster with a watermark across it, downloadable without paying and without an account. Good enough to check the crop, the wording and the face, and to print a test on plain paper.
Paid file — $4.95
The clean version, produced at full print resolution once the order goes through: 300 DPI, PDF and PNG, no watermark, free re-downloads.
Exactly what lands in the download, including the licence terms, is itemised on the download contents page, and the printing side is covered on the print-it-yourself page.
Generator, maker, editor
They are the same tool. If you searched for a wanted poster generator you were probably looking for speed and no sign-up, which is what this page describes. If you arrived wondering how it stacks up against a general design tool, the maker page has the honest comparison. And if you want the human version — three steps, no jargon — read how to make a wanted poster.
Generator questions
Do I need an account to use the generator?
No. Open the editor and start typing. There is no sign-up wall, no email gate on the preview, and nothing to install.
Where does my photo go?
The preview is composed in your browser: the photo is read from your device and drawn onto a canvas locally. Your work in progress is kept in your own browser storage so you can close the tab and come back to it.
What is the difference between the preview and the paid file?
The preview is the same poster with a watermark across it, and you can download it free. The paid file is the clean version at 300 DPI, generated at full print resolution once the order goes through, and it costs $4.95.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The generator runs in the browser on phones, tablets and desktops, and you can pull a photo straight from your camera roll.
Can I change my mind after I start?
Constantly, that is the point. Every keystroke redraws the poster, so trying five different crimes costs nothing but the time to type them.
Open it and type something
No account, no install. Watch the poster build itself, take the free watermarked copy, and buy the clean file for $4.95 only if you want it.
Open the generator