Student Resources

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====== Creating a Poster ======

Posters are one way to present your work.  We can print large, color posters (several feet in each dimension).

===== Poster Content =====

In general, your poster should include

  * Names of collaborators and their affiliations
  * Sponsor of project
  * Web site for more information, as appropriate
  * Background/motivation
  * Problem you're solving
  * Your approach
  * Results
  * Future Work

Use pictures, figures, and graphs to explain your work.  (You know the old adage: a picture is worth a thousand words.)  Use text sparingly.

[[http://betterposters.blogspot.com/2010/09/poster-venn.html|Venn Diagram of What People Want To See]]

===== The Process =====

  - Create an outline of your poster's content, including the problem you're solving, your approach, and your results.  You can't present very much in a poster, so make sure that your problem is focused.  Discuss your outline with you mentor/advisor.
    * In later iterations (after you're more sure about the content), you could create a PowerPoint presentation, where each "section" is a PowerPoint slide.  When it comes time to create the poster, you'll copy the slides' contents onto the poster.
  - Create a layout design for your poster based on the story you want to tell.  Discuss layout with your mentor/advisor.
    * Make sure the layout flows well and that you're allotting appropriate space for each part, i.e., give the most space to the parts you want the audience to focus on.
    * You can develop your poster on a large screen, e.g., in Library M47 to see what the poster will look like in the larger size.
  - Add the content (from the first step) to the poster.  Adjust the layout as necessary.
  - Iterate over the content and the layout.  The poster will evolve as you fine-tune what you want to present.
  - Print the poster, scaled to fit on an 8.5"x11" piece of paper to help you proofread.
  - Print the poster.

===== Resources =====

  * [[https://www.wlu.edu/communications-and-public-affairs/publications-and-graphic-design/graphic-standards|W&L Graphic Standards]] 
  * [[http://hsp.berkeley.edu/documents|How to Make a Poster]]
  * [[http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/posteradvice.htm|Advice on Designing Scientific Posters]]
  * [[http://www.makesigns.com/SciPosters_Templates.aspx|Poster templates]]


==== Example Posters ====
Here is a  {{:students:postertemplate.ppt|poster template}}.  Use your creativity!

We use 24"x36" dimensions for our posters so that the posters fit in the frames that we can purchase easily.

===== Software =====

We use PowerPoint or OpenOffice to create a poster.  The paper on the printer is 3 feet wide, so you should make the width of the poster 3 feet and the height 2 feet.  You can usually do this in the "Page Setup" or similar menu.

===== Printing Instructions =====

==== Library ====

The cost is $15 per poster for students and $25 for departments/faculty/staff. 

[[http://library.wlu.edu/services/oversized-printing/|Poster Printing information]]



===== Miscellaneous Suggestions =====

  * Use sans-serif fonts, such as Arial, Helvetica, and Tahoma
  * Use at least 16 point font size
  * For a conference, you may want to print your poster on 8.5”x11” handouts as publicity.
  * Buy a poster tube for easier transportation.