This document describes a procedure for producing large-scale, single-piece conference posters. Popular software for creating posters at SLAC include Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Illustrator.
 

1. Download a Template

These templates help SLAC authors create large-scale, single-piece printouts which can be used as conference posters. This document details how to use the templates and a handful of PowerPoint commands to create professional-looking posters.

• The poster template is set up to print on 36"x48" paper. The plotter print head is limited to 34", so make sure the total width of the printable image is less than 34". In other words leave a 1" margin on the left and right. Besides, white space looks nicer than cramming it next to the edge of the paper.
• Avoid using solid color backgrounds on your poster (it adds no aesthetic value and uses an enormous amount of expensive ink).

InfoMedia offers poster templates for PowerPoint and Adobe Illustrator, both PC and MAC environments.

2. Familiarize Yourself with Poster Anatomy

Before creating your own posters using the templates provided by InfoMedia, it may help to understand the basic anatomy of a poster.

There are four main components of a poster:

• Title Block
• Author List
• Abstract
• Poster Body

Each template is set up to create a 36" x 48" panel; the orientation of the InfoMedia poster template is portrait (taller than it is wide).

A poster may have more than one panel. If multiple panels are required for your poster presentation, simply copy the poster template "save as" to a new file and remove the Title, Author List and Abstract regions and distribute additional images over entire panel. Remember to keep the width of the total image area under 34 inches to avoid cropping when printing.

 

3. Create a Working Folder

Before beginning your poster, create a working folder on your desktop.

Gather into this folder the things you need:

• Copy of the template(s)
• Graphics files
• Text files you may use as informational sources

4. Import Figures into Your Poster File

To incorporate external graphics files into your PowerPoint poster file, the easiest and safest way is to embed the graphic file (e.g., .jpg, .ps, or .eps) into the file. For example, in PowerPoint, use the "Insert - Picture" command. In Adobe Illustrator use the Place command. Avoid using the copy and paste command. In most cases you will end up with a screen capture of your image which results in poor quality. To avoid the "jaggies", InfoMedia suggests setting up your bitmapped (.jpg) files at a resolution of 150dpi at the size they will appear in the poster.  

5. Proof Your Poster Before Printing

Jobs sent to plotters take a long time to print, and require special paper and color ink cartridges that are costly to stock and maintain. It is extremely important to proof your poster thoroughly before sending it to a plotter. Do NOT use the plotter to produce a "trial" copy.

There are two aspects of proofing your poster, and you should do both before sending the final version to InfoMedia:

Proof Your Layout	Proof Your Text
To proof the layout of your poster, simply reduce the view on your screen until you can see the entire poster (View: Zoom). Adjust the positioning and size of individual elements as necessary from this view.	Although you may check your poster on the computer screen for layout and proper orientation of graphic elements, proofing text on-screen is a notoriously unreliable means of catching text errors.

Caution!! Because of the high cost of plotter materials and maintenance time, and the inaccuracies which inevitably result from proofing on screen, it is a good rule of thumb that you should never proof poster text on screen! Proof text only on a reduced-size hard copy.

Once you've performed these on-screen and print checks, print a draft copy of your poster onto an 8.5" x 11" laser printed page for proofing. This is small, but you can still discern errors. Proof your poster closely, checking all text in the title block and in captions. It is a good idea to proof twice, once from top to bottom, then again from bottom to top; anomalies often pop out when proofing in a different direction.

6. Print the Final Version of Your Poster

If you don't have access to a plotter, InfoMedia can print your poster for you. Simply fill out a Graphic Art Service Request Form, upload your file, and specify your printing needs in the Notes section.

Tubes for transporting posters can be purchased nearby at the Sharon Heights Mail Boxes Etc (233-1953).