Some tips for creating a good poster

This post provides some tips for creating a good poster.

(Stay tuned, as I keep updating it.)

Check HERE for creating a Poster with PowerPoint.

  • There is often way too much text in a poster. Posters primarily are visual presentations; the text should support the graphics. Look critically at the layout. Some poster ‘experts’ suggest that if there is about 20-25% text, 40-45% graphics and 30-40% empty space, you are doing well.
  • Remember the poster session will be crowded so design the poster to be read in columns so people can read what is in front of them and move left to right to get the whole story.
  • The poster should use photos, figures, and tables to tell the story of the study. For clarity, present the information in a sequence that is easy to follow.
  • Include more figures than are in the paper so you can talk to them.  Include things that are not in the paper and then encourage them to read the paper. Don’t try to just put all the paper here.
  • If it looks like a cut/paste of the paper, people skip that poster since they can read the papers after the conference. Many people find it better to spend time talking with poster presenters that have more to offer than just redoing the paper content paper in big fonts.
  • Remember Poster boards look like this.. This is your canvas. Paint us a picture of your work.

  • Leave enough margin for pushpin and remember many big plotters cannot get within .5” of the actual paper edge.
  • You are free to use colored backgrounds and such but they generally reduce readability.
  • You are free to use what ever fonts you like.
      • San Serif fonts like Arial are more readable from a distance,
      • Serif fonts like times may look more consistent with your mathematics
  • TBA

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