1. How to create a poster session poster in PowerPoint
Erinn Huebner, ACL Poster Session coordinator, 2019

2. Method one: use a pre-made template
Click “File”
“New”
Search for “poster”
Pick one!

3. Make it your own
Use their template and add your own personal touches, research, and findings
If you look, you’ll see that I’ve added “And the little library,” and changed the numbers and time frame
Depending on the kind of data you have to present, one of the other templates may be more appropriate
Keep in mind your institution’s color printing capabilities when you’re choosing your template— too much color may incur extra charges or be impossible to print!
Template

4. Print it!
Save the poster to a USB drive, and take it to any local printing store: Office Max, Staples, etc. OR
Upload the file to their website and have it printed, then pick it up!
If your institution has a printer that can accommodate poster sized paper, print it there!

5. Method two: Make it from scratch-slideshow style
Make a standard PowerPoint presentation with all of your
research/information, eye-catching graphics, and findings

6. Print each slide as a full page—in color

7. Assemble! Unnamed non-copyrighted or trademarked superhero team…
Either buy yourself a tri-fold board and assemble it before you go to conference, OR
Allow the wonderful Home Office to supply you with the resources you need (tri-fold board, easel for display, etc.) and assemble it when you get to conference!
Try using construction paper behind your slides to make them pop with color and draw peoples’ eyes!
Leave room for some text
Don’t crowd your poster…empty space is pleasing to the eye.
Text
Text
Text
Text
Text
Text
Text
Text

8. Method 3: Make it from scratch: poster style
After opening a new presentation, click on the “Design” tab
Then select “Slide Size,” then “Custom Slide Size”

9. Choose your size On the drop-down menu, select “Custom”
Then select, in inches, how wide and high you would like your poster to be
Keep in mind the limitations of your printer if you are printing in-house.
When prompted, select “Ensure fit”

10. View gridlines Now your poster should look like this: a poster!
To view gridlines to make it easier to lay out the appropriate graphs, photos, and text boxes, click the “View” tab, then selected the checkbox for “Gridlines”

11. Add your elements
Add text, graphics, photos, and other elements to your poster
Use your creative nature, and the help of PowerPoint to design your poster in coordinated colors
Keep your text in black on white to increase readability (just don’t make your whole poster all text, or you’ll lose your audience).

12. Print it!
Save the poster to a USB drive, and take it to any local printing store: Office Max, Staples, etc. OR
Upload the file to their website and have it printed, then pick it up!
If your institution has a printer that can accommodate poster sized paper, print it there!