BIO 801
Scientific Literature and Writing
Poster Presentations

Examples of Posters:

General format:

   Preparing a poster will take as much time as you let it. Allocate your time wisely. If you have little experience making posters, it will take longer.
 

Sketch it out!

Make a sketch of the poster. Arrange the contents in a series of 3, 4, or 5 columns. This will facilitate the flow of traffic past the poster.


Source: http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/PostersHome.html

Place the elements of the poster in position:

The Title Banner

This part of the poster includes the title of the work, the authors names, & the institutional affiliations. Think BIG!


Banner assembly:

A one-piece banner is easiest to carry. Some commercial firms may offer this service - try a Kinko's or similar company. Branches of these companies located close to a university may be more flexible in meeting academic & scientific needs than those located in shopping malls or the business community. If you choose this route, call the banner service and ask for specific instructions regarding formatting and submission. An alternative is to use a laser printer and double-stick tape:

Either method produces a title banner which should be about 4 - 8 inches tall, and which can be rolled into a compact cylinder for travel.
 

Sequencing contents

A 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:


Source: http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/PostersHome.html

Edit Ruthlessly!

There is almost always too much text in a poster.

   1. Posters primarily are visual presentations; text serves to support the graphics.


Source: http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/PostersHome.html

   2. Look critically at the layout. If there is about 20% text, 40% graphics and 40% empty space, you are doing well.

   3. When in doubt, rephrase that text or delete it.

   4. Use active voice when writing the text.

   5. Delete all redundant references and filler phrases (such as see Figure 1).

   6. Because the abstract is usually published, there is no need to repeat it in the poster. The brief introduction should be sufficient to identify the purpose of the study.

   The poster is not a publication of record, so excessive detail about methods, or vast tables of data are not necessary. This material can be discussed with interested persons individually during or after the session, or presented in a handout.
 

Illustrations

   The success of a poster directly relates to the clarity of the illustrations and tables.


Source: http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/PostersHome.html

Show no mercy when editing visual materials!


Poster text

Double-space all text, using left-justification; text with even left sides and jagged right sides is easiest to read. The text should be large enough to be read easily from at least 6 feet away.

Source: http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/PostersHome.html

For section headings (e.g., Introduction), use boldface, maybe about 32-36 point. For supporting text (e.g., text within each section & figure captions), use about 22-24 point (boldface, if appropriate). In general, use font sizes proportional to importance:

Attempt to fit blocks of text onto a single page. This simplifies cutting and pasting when you assemble the poster. For the same reason, consider using 11 x 14 inch paper in the landscape mode when printing text blocks on laser printers.


Source: http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/PostersHome.html

Keep in mind that san serif fonts (having characters without curliques or other embellishments) are easiest to read. Finally, be consistent. Choose one font and then use it throughout the poster. Add emphasis by using boldface, underlining, or color; italics are difficult to read.                                             .
 

The Poster's Background

 Two basic rules to keep in mind are that:

There are several common approaches. Some folks use pieces of mat board (or Bristol board) to make a solid background for the entire poster. They may then choose to use a complementary color as a border for important elements of the poster. Others use smaller pieces of board to frame only the elements of the poster, leaving spaces between the elements empty. Either approach works; the former gives a unified appearance and is easier to hang straight, while the latter is easier to carry to and from the meeting. It is also possible, but often expensive, to have a commercial house reproduce your completed poster as a single large sheet of paper, which can then be rolled into a cylinder for transport.

The choice of a background color is up to you. However, softer colors (pastels & greys) may work best as a background - they are easiest to view for hours at a time, and offer the best contrast for text, graphic, and photographic elements.
 
 







Use a colored background to unify your poster:

   1. Muted colors, or shades of gray, are best for the background. Use more intense colors as borders or for emphasis, but be conservative - overuse of color is distracting.

   2. Two to three related background colors (Methods, Results, & Discussion) will unify the poster.

   3. If necessary for emphasis, add a single additional color by mounting the figure on thinner poster board, or outlining the figure in colored tape.
 

 Color can enhance the hues or contrast of photographs:

   1. Use a light background with darker photos; a dark background with lighter photos.

   2. Use a neutral background (gray) to emphasize color in photos; a white background to reduce the impact of colored photos.

   3. Most poster sessions are held in halls lit with harsh fluorescent light. If exact colors are important to the data, balance those colors for use with fluorescent lighting. Also, all colors will be intensified; bright (saturated) colors may become unpleasent to view.
 

Miscellaneous comments

Useful links:

Creating Effective Poster Presentations

Expanded Guidelines for Giving a Poster Presentation

Guidelines for Designing and Writing a Scientific Poster

How to Create a Poster that Graphically Communicates Your Message  (EXCELLENT!!)

How to Make a Great Poster

Poster Basics

Poster Presentation of Research Work

Tips for Effective Poster Presentations

Software and Hardware Options:

Posters can be electronically generated and printed as one large document using a variety of software packages such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, or Canvas. Large-format printers come in various sizes. Our department's printer can handle posters up to 42 inches wide (& length is flexible).

Creating a poster as a "PowerPoint" file

Creating Large Format Posters Using PowerPoint

Creating a Large-Format Poster in PowerPoint

Creating a Poster Using MS PowerPoint

Poster Presentations (Framemaker)      (Adobe Framemaker)

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