1. Creating a Poster

2. What is a Poster and Poster Session?
A visual display of your presentation
A place to discuss your research with peers
A place to discuss your research with the community
A place to discuss your research and learn from wandering scholars.

3. Visualize Arrangement
Use vertical columns so that participants read down each column, moving from left to right-not backtracking.
Title
Abstract
Conclusions
Problem
Method
Results

4. Creating a Poster Session
Determine the content
Key words and phrases
Avoid sentences or paragraphs
Visuals - pictures, charts and graphs
Easiest to create with Microsoft PowerPoint

5. The Nitty Gritty… Using Microsoft PowerPoint
Open a new MS PowerPoint Document and create a new document.
click on THEMES then go to Page Setup and select 36” height and 48” width
Go to Orientation, select the second choice for slides
Begin to type information for first page.
OR Choose a template from many existing online (see last slide). Remember 36”x” 48.

6. Helpful Hints Using Templates
Select a template where the background does not detract from your information
Usually a light background with dark type works best for poster session
Be consistent in the use of the template and of type styles and sizes

7. Helpful Hints Using Type
Select a readable lettering
Gothic or Roman (fonts such as Arial & Helvetica are Gothic; Times is Roman)
Select medium or bold weight (seldom use extra bold, demi or heavy)
Avoid Script or Old English type (never use them as all CAPITIAL letters)

8. Helpful Hints Determining Type Size
Make lettering large enough to be read at a distance
Minimum size should be 24 point
Titles should be slightly larger - use capital letters only for titles
Lower case letters are more easily read

9. Helpful Hints How Do I Fit It All On??
Select the most important highlights or unique information
Use key words and phrases
Use bullets (remember that you can customize them)
Be concise – no sentences
Leave “white space”
Most people will not read paragraphs

10. Helpful Hints Use Charts and Graphs
Can visually show complex data in an easily understood format
Tables difficult to grasp in short time

11. Helpful Hints Use Color
Allow for contrast between background and lettering
Don’t use light colored lettering on a light background
Printing on colored paper adds interest if you don’t have a color printer

12. Finding Templates
Go to Google or Dogpile and type search “Academic Poster Template Power Point”
For example
Another example (look at “posters and presentations” on the left hand side, then look at templates)
And another example