Poster Support
Get Free Poster Printing
We are here to help you present your work at academic conferences and events.
Poster printing requests must be initiated by your sponsoring instructor. Instructors, complete one form for each conference or event. Include all student projects you will sponsor on a single form. If you have students who are working in groups, list only ONE lead student per poster. They will receive detailed instructions on the submission process. You'll receive a confirmation with the poster submission date and pick up date. Poster printing requires a minimum of a two-week lead time.
Poster Template
View a model for how to organize your research. Due to our printer, one side of the poster must be less than 44 inches. Additionally, we can only cut posters that are smaller than 50 inches. If you submit a poster with one side greater than 50 inches, you will be responsible for trimming any excess/blank space.
How to Plan Your Poster
1 Before You Start
Find out the following information before you start your poster:
- The size requirements/ restrictions for your poster as this may vary by conference. The templates on this page default to a poster size of 44x36 inches.
- Date you are presenting your poster, and the due dates for poster printing and pick up.
- If there are poster content requirements like specific sections, funding/sponsor information or conference logos.
2 Create Your Content
The following sections are commonly found on a poster, but they may vary by discipline and/or project scope. Check in with your instructor if you are unsure of which sections to include.
- Title
- Authors and their affiliations
- Abstract
- Introduction/background
- Material and method
- Results
- Conclusion/discussion
- References
- Acknowledgements
Here are some tips for creating your content:
- Identify what points are vital to your work and need to be communicated on the poster.
- Summarize your research in a concise and clear way, use vocabulary that your audience understands.
- Write your content first, then transfer it to your poster.
Tip: Have someone who is unfamiliar with your project read your content to be sure you are clearly communicating the important points.
Suggested Font Sizes
Use these suggested font ranges to ensure your poster is readable for your viewers. Ideal font size will vary depending on your selected font and the size of your poster, these are general guidelines:
- Main title: 72 - 158 point
- Box/ section headings: 42 - 56 point
- Body text: 24 - 36 point
- Captions: 18 - 24 point
Tips for Adding Images, Figures & Tables
- For printing, each image in your poster should be between 150-300 dpi. Resolution below 150 dpi will likely result in a pixelated image.
- Insert images directly into PowerPoint, do not copy and paste.
- You can copy and paste excel charts and graphs directly into PowerPoint.
- Charts, graphs and tables should be original figures that you designed or created.
- All graphics should have clear labels. Most disciplines have a standard method for labeling graphs/ charts/ images.
QR Codes
Adding a QR code to your poster is a great way to direct your audience to additional research details or references, a feedback form or survey or your contact information. Here are some QR code generators:
3 Plan Your Presentation
Unless the conference or event you are attending has a specific time allotment for your presentation, it is best to prepare and practice a 2-minute and a 5-minute version of your presentation.
- Know your audience. The presentation you plan for an academic conference where all attendees likely have a substantial background in your discipline will be different from the presentation you plan for a general audience (like the UWGB Academic Excellence Symposium).
- Use your poster as the basis for your presentation. Follow its structure to highlight important points (if 40% of your poster is results, spend 40% of your time talking about that section).
- Emphasize your key takeaway points.
Need More Information?
As Assistant Library Director for Research Services, Renee Ettinger is here to help answer any questions you have about undergraduate research.