Poster Session Instructions: Poster Basics

Answer these three questions:

1. What is the most important thing about my project?
2. How can I get my point across visually? Charts, graphs, photos, images?
3. What can I say about my project that will complement my poster?

PowerPoint: A popular, easy-to-use option. (Advice for creating a poster with PowerPoint).

Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop  and InDesign: Professional software including lots of high-resolution images, but are more complex and expensive.

Open Source Alternatives: OpenOffice - free alternative to MS Office (Impress is its PowerPoint alternative). Inkscape & Gimp Adobe product alternatives. For charts and diagrams, Gliffy or Lovely Charts. A complete list of free graphics software.

Image credit: Poster Session Tips by mousejockey@psu.edu, via Penn State

• Important information should be readable from about 10 feet away (title, headings, etc.) 
• Title is short and draws interest
• Total poster word count of about 300 to 800 words
• Text is clear and to the point
• Use of bullets, numbering, and headlines make it easy to read
• Effective use of graphics, color and fonts
• Consistent and clean layout
• Includes acknowledgments, your name and institutional affiliation

Image Credit: Critique by Better Posters