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How to design a research poster using Canva

Today’s post is about designing research poster presentations using Canva. Even if you’ve never created a research poster in your life, I think this post can really help you get a solid jump on your next design.

Because ready or not, it’s happening. After a long COVID-19 break, a bunch of evaluation conferences are going to be live again. And with live conferences you also get actual live presentations. And you also get those big poster presentation nights.

In this post:

• I’ll show you how to create a research poster, including a new approach I really appreciate.
• Grid based design and why planning your poster in content blocks is a good idea.
• A bunch of alternative poster styles that use the same underlying grid.
• Free research poster Canva templates, and some tools to help you design your next poster.

The research poster presentation mindset.

So imagine yourself in a room standing in front of a research poster surrounded by people just like you. The attendees at the session might be holding drinks and are continuously running into old friends. Some glance at your work and keep right on walking. Others might ask you a question or two as they peruse your poster.

And there you are, standing in front of your poster that you’ve agonized over. The one you had to carry in a big tube through a crowded airport and then inside a crowded airport shuttle.

A research poster isn’t some stand alone document or social media infographic. It’s your wingman. Your partner in crime. It stays by your side, supporting the communication of your work. A better poster design won’t just help you communicate, it can also make your time in that room feel a little less awkward.

The usual approach to research poster design.

Most research posters tend to just be adaptations of a research paper. As such, a lot of academics will simply take their paper title and put it at the top of the research poster. They will then create sections on the poster that mirror the sections in their paper.

Ultimately they end up with a research poster outline that looks just like a research paper outline. This is definitely not my preferred approach to research poster design. But if this is the way that you decide to create your poster, at least take some basic steps to ensure it’s readable.

Years ago, Stephanie Evergreen and Chris Metzner created a quick little guide on how to design a research poster for the American Evaluation Association’s Potent Presentations Initiative. Definitely check it out . Especially if you just want to polish a poster you’ve already created.

How to create a better research poster in less time.

I really like the poster approach outlined by Mike Morrison .

The gist, if you don’t feel like watching the video, is that research posters should be designed more like billboards than infographics.

Because during a poster session there is a lot of competing information. So instead of trying to capture and retain the attention of just a few attendees, focus on sharing a very specific point to a lot of attendees. And then use a QR code to link to the full paper and other more in-depth information.

What is the standard size for a research poster?

Okay this is kind of a trick question. There are standardish sizes, but the people who decide on the size are almost always the ones putting on the conference.

In the past at least, the American Evaluation Association has required a square 44 inch by 44 inch design. Other common sizes include 36 inch tall by 48 inch wide and 42 inch tall by 56 inch wide.

But before you start designing, always check the specific conference’s website and follow their design guidelines.

A research poster design process using Canva.

So for my research poster designs I’m going to use Canva.com .

Instead of starting with a base template, we’ll just click on the “Create a design” and click custom size. I’ll be creating a square 48 inch by 48 inch poster.

Designing research posters with a Grid.

Research posters pose a layout challenge. Everyone gets the same amount of space, you just have to choose how you will use that space.

I’ve created a couple of basic grids to use with my 48 inch square research poster. The grids themselves are just a series of square shapes.

A 3 by 3 grid is going to give me 9 total blocks.

A 4 by 4 grid is going to give me 16 total blocks.

The more blocks you have, the more flexibility you have in your design. But it also increases the complexity. Just remember that there is still a lot that you can do even with the simplest grids.

Using content blocks to design your research poster.

I like to consider each square in my grid as a content block. I can order my overall design by changing the colors of individual blocks, or by deleting them.

Let’s say I want to create a large 2 block by 2 block panel for my big message. I just delete those four blocks in the upper left corner.

Now I can start designing by adding content.

Since I’m not at the point where I have the content all figured out, I can either fake some content or use some Lorem Ipsum filler text. There are some fun ones on the web you can find with a Google search. For my templates I’m using some filler text from Office Ipsum .

What size font should I use on my research poster?

I’ve seen some guidance that you should use at least 24 pt fonts. I usually bump it up a bit more.

I’ll use a body font, one or two sub heading fonts, and a large main message font. For me that ended up being 32 pt, 48 pt, 64 pt, and 128 pt. I also just used Open Sans (as it’s a really versatile font and I plan to just share out the templates).

Research poster examples.

Okay, so now I’m just going to play around with the grids and different content types. None of this from a real presentation, but I think you’ll see the utility.

Let’s start with the 3 by 3 grid.

This one is really simple, it uses 4 blocks for the big message content in the top left. It uses 2 blocks for the sidebar 1, 2, 3, content. And it uses the final bottom three blocks to expand on the image.

Here is an alternative. It uses the same amount of content, but the order is switched around. I also added a different visual element to highlight the message in the middle.

Here is a third alternative. It uses a little less content (The 1,2,3 sidebar is reduced by about 225 words) but uses a big of negative space and color to make the big message stand out.

There is no perfect one way to create any design. Try different things out, pick the one you prefer. Each orientation will likely change the way the information is perceived at least a little, even with the same content. If you don’t trust your eye, ask others for their insight. But just remember that everyone’s taste is a bit different.

Now let’s play with the 4 by 4 grid.

So with the 4 by 4 grid I’m just going to use a lot of made up text and images. I just want you to get a sense of how this works, and the kinds of things that you can do.

In this example we use a series of charts (small multiple). This let’s you share a lot of data but still make it easy to understand. Each chart and caption sentence uses 1 content block (out of 16). I used the two in the upper left for the big point. I used the two in the upper right for an image and the signature content.

Sometimes you’ll have a lot more text to share. This entire fairly word heavy research poster is still under 1,000 words. If you push your word counts too high, you’re going to start making your poster super wonky.

Perhaps you are more a qualitative evaluator or researcher. The design process here is similar to designing a photo collage or scrapbook. You’re basically just mixing pictures and quotes.

For this poster, the middle section takes up 4 blocks. Then there are 6 picture blocks and 6 text blocks. Each text block has just over 100 words (including the subtitle).

Finally, sometimes you just want to make a big point and shout it across the room. In this example I increased the font size to 250. We still have some smaller 100 word blocks on the bottom, but this poster is really designed to deliver a big point then lead your audience an external document or website.

Research poster templates.

So do you want all the Canva templates I shared in this post? Including the 3 by 3 and 4 by 4 grids You can get access to them here :

Want the PowerPoint Research Poster Templates Instead?

Since I used a few premium Canva stock images I didn’t feel comfortable sharing the Power Power Templates. But here is the thing. All you have to do is go into Canva and save the set as a Microsoft PowerPoint.

If you don’t have Canva premium just switch out any premium stock photos before you download. This will make it a free download and not violate Canva’s terms.

Design tools that can help support the research poster design process.

Canva stock icons.

Canva has an integrated icon library. There are millions of icons which you can check out here .

Canva Images

Canva has an integrated stock photo library. You can also peruse the stock images here .

Canva Color Wheel

I wrote a whole post the other week on Color featuring a bunch of Canva tools . If you don’t already have colors set before you start your design, I suggest you check it out.

Canva Presentation Templates

Lots of research poster presentations also require handouts. Why not try making a simple slidedoc to go alongside your poster? Just use a Canva Presentation Template but add a bit more text. Enough that the person with the handout can read through without having you there to explain everything.

QR Code Monkey

Need to create a QR code for your poster? Here is a nice free site > qrcode-monkey.com

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Canva for Academic Presentations and Posters: Creating a Scientific Poster with Canva

• Getting Started
• Basic Editing
• Additional (Fun) Tips and Tricks
• Creating a Scientific Poster with Canva

Using Canva to Create a Scientific Poster

Canva is an excellent option for creating posters for presenting scientific research. To create a poster:

• Log into Canva ( www.canva.com ). See the "Getting Started" tab for information on setting up an account.
• Click Create a Design .
• In the search bar, type " poster ." Select the size you need. Keep in mind that landscape (where the width is greater than the height) is better for posters that will be viewed online.
• If you need to, you can resize your poster by clicking the Resize button in the upper left. (NOTE: if you are presenting your poster at a conference, check the required dimensions before starting your project.).
• Use a design template (by browsing through them using the search button) OR start with a blank design .
• If you have a lot of charts and graphs, you might want to start with a blank design.
• Add text, elements, and graphics. Drag them around to arrange them on the poster. As you drag items around, the system shows gridlines to help you align elements. 
• Keep in mind that the size of your poster will be much bigger than your screen. Slide the percentage bar at the bottom right to 100% to zoom into full size. The text should be large enough to read from 5 feet away .
• You can print your poster through Canva, or download it to a PNG file and have it printed elsewhere.

YouTube Video

This YouTube video gives a great overview of using Canva to create a scientific poster.

Additional Instruction

• How to Design a Research Poster Using Canva (Chris Lysy)
• Designing Your Poster in Canva (Canva Design School)
• << Previous: Additional (Fun) Tips and Tricks
• Last Updated: Jan 30, 2024 1:22 PM
• URL: https://uscmed.sc.libguides.com/CanvaForPresentations

How to design a great science poster in Canva

On this page I'll explain how to use Canva to get a great science poster design. Good to mention beforehand: this is a tutorial about using Canva for your design. If you want to learn how to create a concept/idea for a science poster or visual, you can find this knowhow in the Science Poster Design Guide . After that, you can for example use a tool such as Canva to create the final design. 

1. Create a poster file

• Go to canva.com and (when logged in) select 'Poster' in the visual menu (image 1)
• In the Canva top bar (with 'Home, File, Resize..'), give your file a name. The file saves automatically during designing.

2. Resize to A0: 841 x 1189 mm

• Go to top bar > Resize (image 1).
• Fill in the custom size: 841 x 1189 mm.
• Click 'Resize'.

3. Add your colour palette

• Go to the left bar > Styles (image 1).
• Click on ’Set your heading style' under ‘Brand Kit'. You automatically go to canva.com/brand .
• Under ‘Brand colours’, click on ‘Untitled palette' (image 2).
• Give your palette a name
• Click on the ‘+’ sign and add your colour.
• Repeat step 5 until you have added all your palette colours.

4. Add your typography styles

• Return to your Canva poster design page and go to the left bar > Styles.
• Click on the '+' sign under 'Set your brand colours'. You automatically go to canva.com/brand .
• Under ‘Brand fonts’, click on ‘Add a heading style' (image 1).
• Choose or upload a font and choose a font size. You can for example download great free fonts on fonts.google.com .
• Repeat step 3 and 4 for the subheading and the body.
• Go back to your Canva poster design page and refresh the page. The colour palette and the typography styles are now visible in the ’Styles section (image 2).

5. Choose your background color

• If you want to use a background color, go to the left bar > Bkground (image 1).
• Choose your background colour: from your palette or a colour that is very close to the colours in the palette (image 2).

6. Add background shapes (optional)

• if you use background shapes, such as a top bar or a rectangle that contains text, go to the left bar > Elements (image 1).
• Select the shape you want to add (image 2).
• Give it the right colour (click on the colour icon in the bar above the poster design, image 3).
• Give it the right size (by adjusting the shape with the shape handles, image 4).
• Repeat previous steps for all your background shapes.

7. Add your texts

• Go to the left bar > Text.
• Click on ‘Add a heading' (image 1).
• Add the title of your poster in the text frame and drag it to the right place (image 2).
• Give the title the right text alignment (see bar above poster) and size (image 2).
• Give the title the right colour: select the text and change the colour of the text in the top bar above the poster (image 3).
• If you want to adjust the text frame, you can adjust it by dragging the left or right handles.
• Good to know regarding subscript and superscript: this is not a feature of Canva, so you have to add it manually, by for example making a new text frame with the smaller sub- or superscript size and place it next to the word.
• Repeat step 1-5 for the other texts. You can use the text type (heading/subheading/body) that suits your text and optionally further change it to your liking.

8. Add/create images in Canva

• If you want to add or create images in Canva: you can add simple shapes, create charts (see step 10) and add illustrations. Illustrations and shapes can be adjusted in color, size and orientation. Charts can be filled with your own data and adjusted in color, size, typography.
• Go to the left bar > Elements.
• Click on the shape, chart or image you want to add. It automatically is added in the poster design (image 1).
• Edit the element to your liking (image 2).

9. Add external images

• If you want to add external images (that you didn't create in Canva), go in the left bar to Uploads (image 1).
• Click on ‘Upload media'.
• Select ‘Upload from Device' (image 2).
• Select the image you want to add and drag it into the page. Sometimes it’s bigger than you want, so you have to scale it (by dragging the handles of the image). This Canva function supports JPG, PNG, SVG (= vector) 

10. Add your charts

• If you use charts on your poster, there is an option to make them in Canva. Keep in mind that these are chart templates, so they might not be suitable to show your data. 
• Go in the left bar to 'Elements' (image 1).
• Click on 'Charts'. You now see all the chart types (image 2).
• Select the chart you want to add and edit. Once selected, the chart automatically appears on your poster (image 3).
• In the left bar you can add your own data.
• In the top bar, above the poster, you can edit the colours and the typography of the chart (image 4).
• Edit the chart to your liking, with the usage of your poster fonts and colour palette. Don't forget to give the chart a header. If you want to know more about designing a clear chart, read chapter 7 of the Science Poster Design Guide.

11. Export to PDF (including  bleed )

• Go in the top bar to File > Show Print bleed (image 1).
• Make sure that the elements that are at the border of the poster, are large enough, so that they also cover the bleed area. If they are not, make them large enough.
• Go in the top bar to Download (image 2).
• Select in File type: ‘PDF Print’. 
• Check ‘Crop marks and bleed' (image 3).
• Click on Download button.

You are done, congratulations with your science poster!

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Academic Poster Tips with Canva

1. Option B: Use a Canva Template:

• From the Canva.com home page, click on the Create A Design button in the upper right corner, and then click on Custom Size at the bottom of the drop-down. This will open up a list of options for Width and Height. Change the smaller drop-down here from “px” (which is short for pixels) to “in” (short for inches) if you have a specific printed poster size you need. 48” by 36” is a common size for a full size, printed academic poster. Click on Create New Design below this once you’ve entered the dimensions you want.
• Type in Research Posters in the upper left search templates field and this will bring up a number of templates to get you started.

2. Option A: Use an UVic-themed Academic Poster template:

• If you want to work with a template we made, you can click here to access our template based on the #BetterPoster format (see example above), and start working on it: UVic themed #BetterPoster template

NEXT STEP: Canva Take Home Sheet

• Dartmouth Libraries
• Research Guides
• Dartmouth Libraries Guides
• Designing an Academic Poster

Designing an Academic Poster: Templates

• Academic Posters
• Poster Tips and Tricks
• Poster Presentation
• Archiving Your Wetterhahn Poster
• Poster Examples

Powerpoint templates

• Scientific Poster templates from MakeSigns
• Simple powerpoint templates
• How to design a poster from scratch in PowerPoint by Dirma Janse
• Several different sized templates

Adobe Illustrator templates

• Scientific Poster Templates
• Basic Poster Template
• Illustrator poster templates including better poster template Compiled by Tyler Toth and Alex Triassi

LateX Poster Templates

• Poster templates from Overleaf

Canva Poster Templates

• Canva Scientific Poster Templates
• How to design a poster in Canva from scratch by Drima Janse

The Better Scientific Poster

• Templates from Dr. Mark Morrison Different templates from Dr. Mark Morrison, the creator of the better poster idea.
• Dartmouth Style Guide The Dartmouth visual identity system comprises several elements that together create a look and feel that is distinctly Dartmouth. The visual identity is intended for internal College use. All elements of the visual identity are copyright of the Trustees of Dartmouth College.
• The Craft of Scientific Posters Michael Alley, author of The Craft of Scientific Presentations

• << Previous: Poster Presentation
• Next: Wetterhahn Symposium Poster Submission Guidelines >>
• Last Updated: Apr 3, 2024 2:24 PM
• URL: https://researchguides.dartmouth.edu/posterdesign

How to create a research poster

• Getting Started
• Planning your Poster
• Designing a Poster
• Poster Templates & Examples
• Printing your Poster
• Additional Guides

Poster Templates

• PHD Posters - Templates These basic template files make it easy to get your PowerPoint poster just the right size.
• Free research poster templates - Slidesgo
• Free Research Posters on Canva Browse high quality Research Poster templates for your next design. Requires a Canva account (free).

Poster Examples

• PHD Posters - Examples Some examples of PhD posters (also useful templates for research posters)
• ePosters - The Online Library of Scientific Posters ePosters is an open-access library (ISSN 1754-1417) that allows you to view the latest scientific and medical posters. Presenters are welcome to upload their posters and reach a new global audience. Conference organizers and scientific companies can partner with us to showcase their posters in dedicated galleries
• Faculty of 1000 Poster Repository A few example of posters for health sciences research.
• << Previous: Designing a Poster
• Next: Printing your Poster >>
• Last Updated: Apr 12, 2023 2:45 PM
• URL: https://yukonu.libguides.com/research_poster

Academic Posters with Canva Online

Note: This will be held online via Zoom.

Creating Academic Posters in Canva

Posters are an expressive medium that can be used to engage an audience by communicating sometimes complex information in a simplified form. Within the academic community, research posters are commonly used to deliver the main points of a research project quickly and easily at a conference or event. Research posters summarize information or research into a concise, visually appealing format, which helps publicize the information and generate discussion.

Canva is a free graphic design tool that helps users create customizable posters, brochures, cards, social media posts and more. Canva has numerous templates and features that can act as inspiration and can be changed according to your goals. This tool is web-based and works like Google Docs but for layout with design elements. It auto-saves your work so you can work across multiple computers and collaborate with teammates. Canva has a free and a premium tier. This workshop goes over how to utilize the free tools within Canva. Even on the free side of Canva, there are options to use pay-as-you-go elements (clip art and photos) but they aren’t necessary to design excellent work in this software.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following by the end of this workshop:

• Be able to search for Research Poster templates on Canva
• Be able to import photos and logos in Canva
• Be able to create charts in Canva
• Be aware of the importance of photo resolution when printing large posters
• Be able to create a QR code
• Be able to change the poster size in Canva

Attendees can apply the skills learned in this workshop to the other layouts available on Canva.

More events like this...

Event presenter(s).

Workshops home | Explore instruction and workshop opportunities at UVic Libraries (workshops available by request) .

Free Academic Poster Templates to Customize Online

Customize free scientific poster templates to show the results of your research in a graphic and visual way. get your academic poster in minutes..

Make a  scientific poster design template  to synthesize all the information of your investigation. See in an organized way what you have learned and communicate it to everyone.

Customize a scientific poster template for your academic presentations

An academic poster is an innovative way to present the results and information obtained after scientific research. It is necessary that all parts of a scientific poster are arranged in order.

Edit.org makes it easy for you to create academic poster designs and make an incredibly good presentation. You will be able to organize everything in a professional way so that your message is clear and powerful.

Our team of designers has created academic and scientific poster examples  as well as all kinds of academic posters  so that you just have to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Among the different templates, you can create:

• An effective science outreach poster with the ultimate goal of clearly displaying the information obtained.
• A scientific poster for the academic public to be captivated by your research.
• Create all kinds of templates to make scientific posters that you can design step by step thanks to the editor, very easy to use. Choose from our extensive catalog of templates and in a few minutes, you will have the result you expect, all for free!

How to edit an academic research poster template with Edit.org

• Click on any image in this article or, if you prefer, go to our editor and choose one template.
• Design and customize your design without limits! Add the text you want, choose your favorite color, and upload your logo, a thousand options at your fingertips!
• Save and share your creation with others. 
• Download it in the format you need and in the highest quality! JPG, PDF, PNG... choose yours. 

You're done!

Free academic poster templates to download and print

Thanks to the pre-designed templates, Edit.org is one of the best programs to make academic posters in a simple and fast way, but with the results of a professional graphic designer. In addition, if you wanr, you can make a design from scratch completely to your liking.

Apart from this, design anything you want in terms of educational graphic content . From organizing your lesson plan with our templates, rewarding the best student of the week with a diploma , or more socially, promoting campaigns against poverty .

Don't miss the opportunity to be a reference using Edit.org's educational graphic content.

Choose from different examples of editable Academic Posters for your presentations, visit our online editor!

Free academic poster presentation templates

Movie posters

Can You Make a Research Poster on Canva?

Research posters are an essential tool for presenting your work in a visually appealing and concise manner. Traditionally, creating a research poster required specialized software or design skills. However, with the rise of user-friendly online design platforms like Canva, anyone can now create professional-looking posters without any prior design experience.

Using Canva's intuitive interface, you can easily customize your research poster to match your project's theme and convey your findings effectively. Let's explore how you can create a research poster on Canva.

Getting Started: To get started, sign up for a free Canva account or log in if you already have one. Once you're in, search for "poster" in the search bar to find pre-designed templates specifically tailored for posters.

Choosing a Template: Canva offers an extensive collection of templates designed by professionals. These templates are fully customizable and can serve as an excellent starting point for your research poster. Look for templates that align with the theme and purpose of your project.

Customizing Your Poster:

Once you've chosen a template, it's time to make it your own. Canva provides various customization options to help you personalize every aspect of your poster.

1. Adding Text: Use the text tool to add headings, subheadings, and body text to present your research content. Experiment with different fonts, sizes, and colors to make your text visually appealing and easy to read.

2. Incorporating Images: Images play a crucial role in grabbing attention and conveying information effectively.

You can upload images directly from your computer or choose from Canva's vast library of free-to-use images. Consider adding graphs, charts, or relevant visual content that enhances the understanding of your research findings.

3. Including Icons and Shapes: Icons and shapes can be used to highlight key points or add visual interest to your poster. Canva provides a wide range of icons and shapes that can be easily added and resized to fit your design.

4. Customizing Colors and Background: To maintain consistency with your project's branding or theme, customize the colors and background of your poster. Canva allows you to choose from a variety of color palettes or create your own using the color picker tool.

Sharing and Printing:

Once you're satisfied with your research poster design, it's time to share or print it. Canva offers multiple options for sharing, such as downloading it as an image file (JPEG or PNG) or PDF for printing.

Considerations for Printing: When printing your research poster, it's important to select the appropriate size and resolution. Canva provides preset dimensions for common poster sizes like A0, A1, and Letter. Additionally, ensure that the resolution is high enough to maintain sharpness when printed.

In Conclusion:

Creating a research poster on Canva is an accessible and user-friendly process that eliminates the need for specialized design skills. With its wide range of customizable templates and intuitive tools, anyone can create visually engaging posters to showcase their research findings effectively.

So why not give it a try Explore Canva's features, unleash your creativity, and bring your research to life with an impressive poster design!

About the author:

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Creating an Academic Poster: Home

Creating an academic poster.

Introduction:

Note:  Visit WSU Spokane's Printing Services page for PowerPoint poster templates.  Template are are available in standard sizes, both portrait and landscape orientations, and branded for the three Health Sciences Colleges (Nursing, Medicine, and Pharmacy). 

Key Features of an Academic Poster:

• Clear and Concise Title : The title should capture the essence of the research while being catchy enough to draw attention.
• Introduction or Background : This section provides context for the research, including the main research question and the hypothesis.
• Methodology : Briefly describes the methods used to gather data and conduct the research.
• Results : Visual representations such as graphs, charts, and tables are often used to display key findings effectively.
• Discussion or Conclusion : This section interprets the results, discussing their implications, significance, and possible limitations.
• References : Cites all sources of information used in the research in a concise manner.
• Acknowledgements : Recognizes contributions from others, such as advisors or funding bodies.
• Contact Information : Allows interested viewers to contact the researcher for further discussion or collaboration.

Design Considerations:

• Visual Appeal : Use of color, thoughtful layouts, and clear visual hierarchies that make scanning the poster easy.
• Readability : Text should be legible from a reasonable distance, typically using large fonts and concise language.
• Balance : Effective use of space, ensuring the poster is not too cluttered yet informative enough to provide a substantial understanding of the topic.

Academic posters are a popular method for researchers to share their work with the academic community, allowing for direct interaction and feedback, fostering networking and further discussion.

Using Images on the Poster

When including images in an academic poster, it's crucial to ensure that they enhance the presentation and communicate the research effectively. Here are key considerations to keep in mind when selecting and using images:

Relevance:  Images should be directly related to the content of the poster. Use visuals that illustrate or clarify the research findings, methods, or concepts being discussed. Irrelevant images can distract from the main message and reduce the overall impact of the poster.

Quality:  Images must be of high resolution to avoid pixelation when printed in large formats. Typically, images should have a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) when printed. Low-quality images can make the poster look unprofessional and can undermine the credibility of the research.

Legibility:  Ensure that any text within images (such as labels on graphs, charts, or diagrams) is legible. Font size in images should be large enough to be read from a distance that attendees will typically view the poster from, usually about 3-6 feet away.

Simplicity Images should be simple and not overly complex. Avoid cluttering visuals with too much information. Simplified and clear diagrams, charts, and graphs are more effective in conveying information quickly and effectively.

Color Use:  Use color strategically to enhance comprehension and draw attention to key parts of the image. However, maintain a consistent color scheme that aligns with the overall design of the poster. Be mindful of color blindness and avoid combinations that might make the poster difficult to read for color-blind individuals, such as red-green contrasts.

Labeling:  All images should be appropriately labeled with captions or titles that explain what the viewer is looking at. Captions should be concise but informative enough to allow the viewer to understand the image without needing additional explanation.

Source Attribution:  If images are not original (i.e., taken from another source), it's essential to provide proper attribution to avoid plagiarism and respect copyright laws. Make sure to have the right to use the images or obtain necessary permissions, and cite the source according to academic standards.

Layout and Integration:  Images should be well-integrated into the flow of the poster. Their placement should be logical, supporting the narrative of the research. They should guide the viewer through the research story in a logical and sequential manner.

Alignment and Proportion:  Maintain proper alignment and proportion of images in relation to the text and other content on the poster. Consistent margins, alignment, and thoughtful spacing contribute to a clean and professional appearance.

Ethical Considerations:  For research involving sensitive subjects or identifiable human subjects, ensure that any photographs or sensitive information have the necessary ethical approvals and consent for public display.

These considerations help ensure that images contribute effectively to the communication goals of an academic poster, enhancing the viewer's ability to quickly grasp and retain the essential elements of the research.

Poster Size

The dimensions of an academic poster can vary based on the requirements of the conference or event where it is being displayed. However, there are a few commonly used standard sizes. Here are some typical dimensions:

• 36 x 48 inches : This size is particularly common in the United States.It provides ample space for text, images, and graphics.
• 24 x 36 inches : This is a smaller option often used for smaller venues or when the printing capabilities are limited.
• Conference Guidelines : Always check the specific requirements of the conference or event. Most conferences will specify the dimensions to ensure uniformity and that all posters fit within the provided spaces.
• Content Volume : More detailed research with extensive data might require a larger poster size to accommodate all the information without appearing cluttered.
• Visibility : Larger posters are easier to read from a distance, which can be beneficial in a busy conference setting.

When preparing an academic poster, make sure to know the dimensions in advance before designing it, as resizing a finished poster can affect the layout and readability of your content.

Changing Slide Size in Microsoft PowerPoint

To identify and change the dimensions of a slide in Microsoft PowerPoint, you need to access the "Slide Size" settings, which allow you to customize the size to fit specific display requirements. Here’s how you can do it step-by-step in the latest versions of PowerPoint:

Identifying Current Slide Dimensions

• Open your PowerPoint presentation.
• Go to the “ Design ” tab on the Ribbon at the top of the screen.
• Click on “ Slide Size ” in the Customize group. This will show options such as ‘Standard (4:3)’, ‘Widescreen (16:9)’, and ‘Custom Slide Size’.If you click on "Custom Slide Size," a dialog box titled "Slide Size for" will open, which shows the current dimensions of your slides in either inches, centimeters, or pixels, depending on your settings.

Changing Slide Dimensions

• Follow the first two steps above to reach the “ Slide Size ” button.
• Click on “ Custom Slide Size… ” to open the Slide Size dialog box.
• In the dialog box, you’ll see options for width and height. You can manually input the dimensions you want for your slides in the width and height fields. Here, you can select from a list of predefined sizes or enter custom dimensions.
• Choose your preferred slide orientation for the slides (Portrait or Landscape) under the orientation settings in the same dialog box.
• Ensure Fit: Scales down content to make sure it fits the new slide dimensions.
• Maximize : Expands your content to fill the new slide size but may cut off content that doesn’t fit.
• Adjust your content if necessary. Changing the slide size can alter the layout of existing content, so you might need to manually adjust text boxes, images, and other elements to ensure that your presentation still looks as intended.

Export Slide to PDF

Exporting your academic poster from PowerPoint to a PDF while maintaining the original slide dimensions is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can do it to ensure your PDF looks just as intended:

Steps to Export a PowerPoint to PDF with Correct Dimensions

• Open your PowerPoint presentation that contains the academic poster.
• Click on the “ File ” menu in the top left corner of the PowerPoint window.
• Select “ Export ” from the list on the left side of the screen. If you're using an older version of PowerPoint, you might need to choose "Save As" instead.
• Choose “ Create PDF/XPS Document ” and then click on the “Create PDF/XPS” button. This option is directly aimed at saving your file in a PDF format.
• Where : Choose where you want to save the PDF.
• Filename : Enter a name for your PDF file.
• Save as type : Ensure it's set to PDF.
• Click on “ Options …” to access additional settings. This is a critical step to ensure your poster’s dimensions are preserved:
• Under Range, select " All slides " if your poster spans multiple slides (usually, an academic poster is just one slide).
• Check the box that says “ High quality (printing) ” to ensure the PDF is in the highest quality suitable for printing.
• In the Publish options, under Slide Size, you can specifically choose to use the slide dimensions you set in PowerPoint. Make sure it reflects your custom slide size if applicable.
• Ensure that “ Scale to fit paper ” is unchecked to maintain the original slide dimensions in the PDF. This setting is crucial as checking this box could distort or resize your poster to fit the standard paper size, which might not match your custom dimensions.
• Click “ OK ” to close the Options dialog box.
• Click “ Publish ” to create the PDF file.

Additional Tips Review Your PDF : After exporting, open the PDF to verify that all elements appear as expected and the dimensions are preserved. This check is especially important if the poster contains detailed graphics or specific formatting. Consider PDF Software Settings : If you're using third-party PDF software to view or print your file, ensure that the settings in that software do not alter the scale. For example, printer settings should be set to print at actual size, not fit to page.

Printing Your Poster

You can have your poster printed either at a commercial print shop, or at a WSU printing services office. The Pullman-based Printing and Design Services department offers a full suite of printing services. The Spokane-based Printing Services office offers academic poster printing and a limited suite of lamination and mounting services for print jobs with modest dimensions.

Before submitting a print job, ensure that:

• The dimensions of the file match the dimensions that you want printed. 
• The images are a sufficiently high quality to be printed at a large scale.
• You have identified the source of funding for the poster. Posters can be printed with personal funds, and at WSU print shops can also use a budget or grant code as applicable. 

Online Resources

• Preparing a Poster Presentation | American College of Physicians
• Creating conference posters: Structure, form and content Barker, E., & Phillips, V. (2021). Creating conference posters: Structure, form and content. Journal of perioperative practice, 31(7-8), 296–299. https://doi.org/10.1177/1750458921996254
• An Illustrated Guide to Poster Design Rose T. M. (2017). An illustrated guide to poster design. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 81(7), 6423. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8176423

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• The Visible Human Project The NLM Visible Human Project has created publicly-available complete, anatomically detailed, three-dimensional representations of a human male body and a human female body. Specifically, the VHP provides a public-domain library of cross-sectional cryosection, CT, and MRI images obtained from one male cadaver and one female cadaver. The Visible Man data set was publicly released in 1994 and the Visible Woman in 1995.
• Last Updated: Apr 26, 2024 2:24 PM
• URL: https://libguides.libraries.wsu.edu/posters