Developing a
Poster Session
Margy IngramInstructional Graphics CoordinatorLearning Technology ServicesUniversity of Wisconsin-Stout105A Millennium [email protected]
for Research Day, Symposium, & Rotunda Presentations
Organize Information Create single sheet display
All information positioned on single sheet Ease of set-up on site Professional appearance Need access to large format printer Laminating may be problematic
Easiest to create in Microsoft PowerPoint
Create the Poster Maximum size of layout:
Horizontal: 46” x 42” Vertical: 42” x 46”
Minimum type size: 32 point Must include:
UW-Stout Polytechnic Logo Minimum size: 4” Position up to designer
“University of Wisconsin-Stout” in title
Change Layout Size Go to Page Setup
(PP 207 select: Design tab > Page Setup group > Page Setup)
Go to slides sized for: change to Custom Slides: Select Portrait
or Landscape Width (Landscape):
up to 46” Height (Landscape): up to 42” – our printer
limit
Determine Content Poster is a summary of your research Concentrate on presenting:
what is unique and exciting results
Must be brief use key words and phrases avoid sentences or paragraphs visualize with pictures, charts and graphs
“Chunk” information
Visualize Arrangement Use vertical columns so that participants
read down each column, moving from left to right-not backtracking.
Title
Title
Title“Chunks”
of information
Using Microsoft PowerPoint Go to Page Setup to change the layout size Choose View - turn on gridlines and ruler Begin to add information using text boxes
(Insert tab > text boxes)
PowerPoint 2003 tutorials available at: http://www.uwstout.edu/training/MSTutorials/pwrpnt.htm
PowerPoint 2007 tutorials available at: http://lynda.uwstout.edu/PowerPoint2007EssT/
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
Do not use a light background with light type
Be consistent in the use of the template, type styles, and sizes
Click Design tab > Themes group Move cursor over icons, click on down
arrow to see more Watch presentation change as you glide
over the icons Select one of the themes shown or
browse for additional templates Look at the design/layout of the theme Disregard color/font properties
Entire presentation will change
Choose a Theme (template)
Using Type Select a readable type style
Gothic or Roman (fonts such as Arial & Helvetica are Gothic; Times is Roman)
Select medium or bold weight (seldom use extra bold or heavy)
Avoid Script or Old English type (never use them as all CAPITIAL letters)
Determining Type Size Make lettering large enough to be read
at a distance Minimum size should be 32 point Titles should be slightly larger - use
capital letters only for titles Lower case letters are more easily read
Inserting Text Boxes Select text box icon then click on layout
(Insert tab > Text Group > text box)
Type information into the box Adjust size, font, color etc. Click on text box, then click on the
border to make it a solid line Right click on border and
select “Set as Default Text Box” Each text box will have those attributes
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
Quick Tips
Format Tab does not appear until an active area is selected on a slide. Drawing Tools tab appears over the Format
tab whenever a text box is active Picture Tools tab appears over the Format
tab whenever an image is active Sound Tools and Picture Tools tabs appear
whenever a sound file is added Movie Tools and Picture Tools tabs appear
whenever a video file is added
Moving Objects/Text Boxes Click on the object/text box to be moved
Click on the border of the box so that a solid line appears
Locate the 4 arrow keys in the lower right of your keyboard. Move selected box up, down, right or left
using the arrow keys
To make smaller moves, hold down ctrl key while using the arrow keys
Align Objects or Text Boxes Hold down the shift key and click on each area
to be aligned
Drawing Tools tab > Drawing group > Arrange icon > Position Objects > Align (PP 2007)
Choose alignment type and click
Repeat for each group you wish to align
Modify Line Spacing Improve readability - visual separation
Click on Line spacing button and select “Line Spacing Options” (Home tab > Paragraph group > top right of four buttons)
Change the Spacing by adjusting the Before, After and Line Spacing numbers
Using Charts and Graphs
Can visually show complex data in an easily understood format
Avoid tables - difficult to grasp in short time
0
50
100
150
200
1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
North
West
East
Include Photographs
Make photos large enough to be viewed at a distance
Crop unneeded areas (select image: Picture Tools tab > Size group > Crop icon)
Compress images (select image: Picture Tools tab > Adjust group > Compress Pictures)
Explore other options onPicture Tool Tab
Manipulating Images
Transparent Color Use Set Transparent Color tool to make
backgrounds of images clear (with image selected: Picture Tools tab > Adjust Group > recolor > Set Transparent Color)
With image selected, click on Set Transparent Color icon then click on the image background
Great for Logos and images that have a white or colored background that interfere with current layout
Screen Capture – PC
Select screen to copy and press prt sc while holding down:
alt on a desktop computer fn on a laptop computer
Go to appropriate slide and click paste (Home tab > Clipboard group > paste) or Ctrl + V
Screen Capture - Mac Select entire screen to copy and press 3
while holding down the open apple and shift
Select a portion of the screen and press 4 while holding down the open apple and shift
Cross hairs will appear to allow you to select area desired by clicking and dragging
Image file will automatically be placed on the desktop.
Insert image into your slide
Finishing Touches Proof, Proof, Proof!
Have a friend PROOF!
Allow time for printing
Stand at the end of your presentation to answer questions
Distribute your e-mail address to those who would like an electronic copy of your results