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Poster Toolkit

Students create posters to present their research findings. This is a very important part of being a graduate student or undergraduate involved in research. Posters are visual summaries of research or projects that have been done.

Having good research doesn't automatically translate into having a good poster. Learn how to design and create an effective, visually pleasing poster that will best convey your work to your audience!

Steps in Making a Poster:

Design your poster
Create your poster (PowerPoint)
Evaluate your poster: Is it any good?
Print your poster
Present your poster
More resources
Need assistance?

Design your Poster: How To's

The Parts of a Poster
Most posters contain common elements. Use this diagram to find out the parts of a poster and plot out your content.	Poster Diagram
Choosing and Organizing Text
What you say and how you say it can make a big difference in who reads your poster and what they gain from it.	Text Tips
Using Graphics and Other Media
Graphics such as pictures, graphs etc. are the focal point of a poster. Consider your poster to be an "illustrated abstract." See these do's and don'ts for using graphics effectively in your poster.	Graphics Tips

Create your Poster: the Perils of PowerPoint
Digital Media Lab

Use PowerPoint
It makes a single sheet poster image It makes it easy to import images into your poster It makes printing easy It makes enlarging your poster fairly simple	PowerPoint Tips
Poster Design Things to watch out for:
Not enough contrast Large enough print and headings for people to read Weird fanciful backgrounds	Style Considerations

Importing graphics/media into PowerPoint
Be careful with image resolution Be careful with graphs - they often can't be adjusted	Media and Data Tips

Double checking your poster in PowerPoint:
Save lots of time and money by printing test pages Draft prints allow you to see the organization of your poster on paper

Saving and Editing your Poster
Instructions and help for editing GIFS	Digital Media Lab

Evaluate your Poster:
How do I know if my Poster is any good?

Use these checklists to evaluate your poster
Do this before printing- it saves you time and money!! Poster Example
Format
Do you have everything you need?	Format Checklist
Overall impression
See how your poster measures up before going to your poster session.	60 Second Poster Evaluation

Print your Poster

Save as a .gif file

Where do I print my poster and how much does it cost?

Use the large plotter in the Digital Media Lab.
- It prints on glossy paper as one single image.
University Graphics will also print posters.
Check with your department to see if a plotter is available.
Prices:

Digital Media Lab $8/linear foot

FedEx Kinkos $13/linear foot

Digital Media Lab

Present your Poster

On a jet plane…..getting your poster there intact and unwrinkled
Transporting - buy a tube Always bring a back up/USB or CD

What do I do/say when people come up to my poster?
Prepare a mini-presentation What to say and why Make a handout	Presenting Tips

Additional Resources

You may find these additional resources helpful.

Need More Help?

For further assistance use our Ask a Librarian service.

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