Poster Presentation Size: A Guide to Designing an Effective Visual Aid

When creating a poster presentation, it's essential to consider the font sizes, image formats, and graphics to ensure that your message is conveyed effectively. Here are some guidelines to help you design an informative and graphically appealing poster.

Font Sizes

A general rule of thumb for font sizes is as follows: Title 72-120, Subtitle 48-80, Section Headers 36-72, Body Text 24-48. Using these font sizes will help maintain clarity and readability.

Font Embedding

If you use a downloaded font that is specific to one environment (i.e., only Mac or only Windows), it's crucial to embed the font in your PDF to ensure cross-platform compatibility.

Image Guidelines

Do not enlarge images after inserting them into PowerPoint. Instead, limit image resolution to 150 dpi to ensure seamless transfer to a shared screen. The preferred image format is JPEG for non-transparent images. When necessary, don't forget to caption images and tables.

Color Contrast

Maintain good contrast between the background color and text color. Keep in mind that colors may shift slightly on a shared screen due to varying monitor settings.

Graphics and Images

Use pictures (.tif) as graphics. Embed your fonts and ensure that your PowerPoint is set to 'Ensure Fit' to avoid lost information.

Poster Size and Design

Typical poster sizes range from 24' high x 36' wide to conference posters up to 36' high x 48' wide. Under the 'Custom' menu, select your desired width and height. There are many creative options for designing a poster, making it accessible even for novice designers.

When presenting your poster, be sure to include: presenter name(s), co-authors, academic program, faculty advisor(s), and project title. Your poster should clearly detail the project's topic, thesis, scope, methodology, results, and conclusions. Posters should be informative and graphically appealing, with a focus on clear communication of information.

By following these guidelines, you'll create an effective poster presentation that effectively conveys your message to your audience.

Poster presentation size