Poster Design Workshop:

Adobe Illustrator
March 13, 2013
Catherine Tucker
 Introduction
• This workshop will outline the basics of
constructing a poster in Adobe Illustrator
– Basics of Poster Making
– Using PowerPoint for Posters
– Tips and Tricks
 Purpose of a Research Poster
• Present research project data:
– Very specific scope
– Data not sufficient for formal publication
– Relevant to poster session topic
 Contents of a Research Poster
• Title & Authors
• Abstract
• Research Objectives
• Materials & Methods
• Results/Data
• Conclusions/Discussion
• Future Directions
• Literature Cited
• Acknowledgements
 Requirements by Penn State
• PRI suggested dimensions: 54” x 40”
• PRI must be acknowledged on the poster
– Suggested Acknowledgment:  We acknowledge
assistance provided by the Population Research
Center at Penn State University, which is supported by
an infrastructure grant by the National Institutes of
Health (2R24HD041025-11).
• If you are funded by an outside grant, please make sure
to acknowledge them as well
• Penn State graphics available at
http://webstyleguide.psu.edu/graphics.html
 Basics of Poster Making
• Text
– All text should be legible at a distance of 3 to 4 feet. Use at least a 24-
point type size for the main text. The title type should be at least 1.5
inches high.
– The title should be kept as short as possible so that it can be read
quickly.
– Use upper and lower case type throughout the poster. ALL UPPER CASE
TYPE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO READ.
– Serif fonts (such as Times New Roman) are generally easier to read in
the body of the text. Sans serif fonts (such as Arial or Tahoma) are
best used in titles, headings, and captions for emphasis.
– Print all text using a laser printer.
– Use bold and/or italics for emphasis.
 Basics of Poster Making
• Layout
– Keep at least a 1-inch margin on all sides.
– Layout should encourage the reader to “follow”
their way through the poster
– PRI suggested dimensions: 54” x 40”
– PAA suggested dimensions: 90” x 40”
Poster can be NO MORE THAN 40
INCHES TALL
 Images
• Maps
– Always use projections

vs.

– Map outlines for all countries and states are

available for free through the Wikimedia
Commons
 Using PowerPoint
• Open PowerPoint
• Go to File > Page Setup
 PowerPoint Posters
• To resize the slide, select Page Setup from the Design tab.
• In the dialog box that pops up, select Custom under Slides
sized for:
• Then enter the width and height of your poster, in inches.
PowerPoint will automatically set portrait or landscape
orientation based on the measurements you enter.
• The maximum size PowerPoint will allow for a slide is 56”.
If you want your poster to be bigger than 56”, create it at
half size and then print it at 200% scale. In this example,
the desired poster size is 90” wide by 40” high, so it is
designed at 45” by 20”.
 Using Power Point
• Saving as a PDF
– From the File menu select Save as
– Under Save as type, select Adobe PDF
– This is the format needed for
printing
 Using PowerPoint
• Graphs
– Best to create in Excel
• Charts
– Best to create in Word

*Remember to use the shift key when changing

the size of your charts and graphs
 Using PowerPoint
• Insert text and graphics as you normally would
in PowerPoint.
• Remember that if you are designing your
poster at half the printed size, everything on
your poster will also be half the printed size.
So, if you want your title to be 1.5” high (108
pt), and you are designing your poster at half
size, set the font to 54 pt.
 Tips and Tricks: Design
• Select Format Background from the Background
Styles menu on the Design tab.
• Select a fill effect and/or color.
 Tips and Tricks: Design
• Layering
– To layer objects (for instance, to create text on top of a
shape), right- click on the shape, and select Order and
then Bring Forward or Send Backward.
 Tips and Tricks: Design
• Align
– Makes your poster
look neater and more
professional
 Tips and Tricks: Helpful Shortcuts
• Grouping
– Select two object you want to group by holding
down the shift key
– Right click on the objects you’ve selected
– Then select Grouping > Group
– These objects will now move together as one unit
• Ctrl + C
• Ctrl + V
 Presentation
• Push pins will be available at PAA
• Arrive 20-30 minutes before the session is scheduled
to begin to give yourself enough time to set up the
poster.
• Set up the poster on the board with the number that
corresponds to number of your presentation as it
appears in the program.
• Stay at your poster board for the entire poster session
so attendees have a chance to talk with you about
your work.
 Printing Information
• Allow for at least one week to print your poster
• Consider laminating your poster
• Engineering Copy Center 101 Engineering Unit
A (campus map showing Engineering Units)
863-1612
• Multimedia and Print Center  Hostetter Building
865-7544
 Resources and Citations
• http://help.pop.psu.edu/publishing-and-resea
rch-methods/poster-design-tips
• http://help.pop.psu.edu/help-by-software-pac
kage/adobe-illustrator/handout-illus.pdf/view
• Thanks to Tara Murray and Greg O’Toole
 Help Materials
help.pop.psu.edu