Poster Design Workshop: Adobe Illustrator March 13, 2013 Catherine Tucker

Introduction This workshop will outline the basics of constructing a poster in Adobe Illustrator – Basics of Poster Making – Using PowerPoint for Posters – Tips and Tricks

Purpose of a Research Poster Present research project data: – Very specific scope – Data not sufficient for formal publication – Relevant to poster session topic

Contents of a Research Poster Title & Authors Abstract Research Objectives Materials & Methods Results/Data Conclusions/Discussion Future Directions Literature Cited Acknowledgements

Requirements by Penn State PRI suggested dimensions: 54” x 40” PRI must be acknowledged on the poster – Suggested Acknowledgment: We acknowledge assistance provided by the Population Research Center at Penn State University, which is supported by an infrastructure grant by the National Institutes of Health (2R24HD ). If you are funded by an outside grant, please make sure to acknowledge them as well Penn State graphics available at

Basics of Poster Making Text – All text should be legible at a distance of 3 to 4 feet. Use at least a 24-point type size for the main text. The title type should be at least 1.5 inches high. – The title should be kept as short as possible so that it can be read quickly. – Use upper and lower case type throughout the poster. ALL UPPER CASE TYPE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO READ. – Serif fonts (such as Times New Roman ) are generally easier to read in the body of the text. Sans serif fonts (such as Arial or Tahoma ) are best used in titles, headings, and captions for emphasis. – Print all text using a laser printer. – Use bold and/or italics for emphasis.

Basics of Poster Making Layout – Keep at least a 1-inch margin on all sides. – Layout should encourage the reader to “follow” their way through the poster – PRI suggested dimensions: 54” x 40” – PAA suggested dimensions: 90” x 40” Poster can be NO MORE THAN 40 INCHES TALL

Images Maps – Always use projections vs. – Map outlines for all countries and states are available for free through the Wikimedia Commons Map outlines

Using PowerPoint Open PowerPoint Go to File > Page Setup

PowerPoint Posters To resize the slide, select Page Setup from the Design tab. In the dialog box that pops up, select Custom under Slides sized for: Then enter the width and height of your poster, in inches. PowerPoint will automatically set portrait or landscape orientation based on the measurements you enter. The maximum size PowerPoint will allow for a slide is 56”. If you want your poster to be bigger than 56”, create it at half size and then print it at 200% scale. In this example, the desired poster size is 90” wide by 40” high, so it is designed at 45” by 20”.

Using Power Point Saving as a PDF – From the File menu select Save as – Under Save as type, select Adobe PDF – This is the format needed for printing

Using PowerPoint Graphs – Best to create in Excel Charts – Best to create in Word *Remember to use the shift key when changing the size of your charts and graphs

Using PowerPoint Insert text and graphics as you normally would in PowerPoint. Remember that if you are designing your poster at half the printed size, everything on your poster will also be half the printed size. So, if you want your title to be 1.5” high (108 pt), and you are designing your poster at half size, set the font to 54 pt.

Tips and Tricks: Design Select Format Background from the Background Styles menu on the Design tab. Select a fill effect and/or color.

Tips and Tricks: Design Layering – To layer objects (for instance, to create text on top of a shape), right- click on the shape, and select Order and then Bring Forward or Send Backward.

Tips and Tricks: Design Align – Makes your poster look neater and more professional

Tips and Tricks: Helpful Shortcuts Grouping – Select two object you want to group by holding down the shift key – Right click on the objects you’ve selected – Then select Grouping > Group – These objects will now move together as one unit Ctrl + C Ctrl + V

Presentation Push pins will be available at PAA Arrive minutes before the session is scheduled to begin to give yourself enough time to set up the poster. Set up the poster on the board with the number that corresponds to number of your presentation as it appears in the program. Stay at your poster board for the entire poster session so attendees have a chance to talk with you about your work.

Printing Information Allow for at least one week to print your poster Consider laminating your poster Engineering Copy Center 101 Engineering Unit A (campus map showing Engineering Units) Engineering Copy Center campus map showing Engineering Units Multimedia and Print Center Hostetter Building Multimedia and Print Center

Resources and Citations research-methods/poster-design-tips research-methods/poster-design-tips package/adobe-illustrator/handout- illus.pdf/view package/adobe-illustrator/handout- illus.pdf/view Thanks to Tara Murray and Greg O’Toole

Help Materials help.pop.psu.edu