The most widely used movie art is the one sheet. Up until approximately 1984, the one sheet measured 27" x 41" (normally with a border). Since the mid 1980�s, some one-sheets measure 27" x 40" (normally without a border). They are normally printed on paper and displayed in a marquee case.

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Since it is the center of the advertising movie paper, some studios offer many versions of the one sheet for a particular movie. These include advances, awards, combo, lenticular, military, mylar, premieres, renames, review or styles.

HISTORY

The one sheet was introduced and standardized in 1909 by Thomas Edison�s Motion Picture Patents Company. The one sheet measured 27" x 41" and was printed by a very select group of lithographers. It was first printed via a stone lithography process which offered beautiful soft tones. With the loss of stone quarries during World War I, lithographers substituted lime stone which did not produce the soft tones of stone. By the 1930�s, offset printing was introduced, and movie posters began to take the look of the times.

By the mid-1970�s, paper changed and the movie poster went from a cheaper grade paper to one that was clay coated, giving a glossy, shiny finish to the poster. Posters on the clay coated paper have a smooth feel to the touch while non-clay coated paper has a coarser feel.

The one sheet is still widely used by movie studios in their advertising campaigns. While some 27" x 41" size one sheets are still being issued, the trend appears to be to downsize it to 27" x 40", eliminating the borders. By setting the size at 27" x 40", the artwork can cover the poster from edge to edge.

There is also an increase in the number of posters being released with reverse print on the back side. This is known as double sided printing. While they are a lot more expensive to print, they can be displayed in light boxes which gives then a three-dimensional effect.

AS A COLLECTIBLE

Arguably the one sheet is still the most sought-after size and style of movie art among collectors. It is the centerpiece of the movie paper industry, and normally commands the highest dollar in relation to other sizes and styles. While most collectors still pursue the older titles, there is a wave of new collectors who seek newer posters, particularly those posters that are unique in some way. For example, double-sided posters, lenticular posters, mylar posters or other special effects/events are extremely desirable among the newer collectors.