Guidelines for Preparing Scientific Posters

Templates:

• Due to the limitation of PowerPoint the templates have been created half size, so all fonts used in the template will be doubled in the final printout.
• When inserting photographs or graphics make sure the resolution of the images are at least 150 dpi and no greater than 300 dpi.

Content:

• The poster should show the full title of your abstract.
• Text should be brief and well organized, presenting only enough data to support your conclusions.
• The text should tell a tight story about your research and make clear the significance of your research.
• The text should include (most likely as separate elements of the poster) your science question, research goals, methods/approach, results/conclusions, impact/outcomes, future directions, and references.
• Proofread your poster, then proofread it again. Have a colleague review it to pick up on things you may have missed.

Design:

• A clear, simple, uncluttered arrangement is the most attractive and the easiest to read.
• The title lettering should be approximately 1" high, with authors' names and affiliations in somewhat smaller print.
• All lettering should be legible from a distance of approximately 3-4 feet. Type size should be at least 24 point (full size), in bold style. The typeface chosen should be simple and clear (e.g., Arial, Times). Titles should be in all initial-cap letters. The remainder of the text should be in a combination of upper and lower case letters and be left justified. Full-justified font is difficult to read, especially on a poster.
• Color should be used sparingly. The featured parts of the poster can be highlighted with warm colors, and the less important parts can be done in cool colors. Some suggestions for color combinations are as follows: Green on white, red on white, black on white, and blue on white.
• Illustrations should be simple and eye-catching, with unnecessary detail left out. If possible, convert tables to graphic displays. Tables are best for data sets of only a few numbers.
• Photos should be enlarged enough to show relevant detail.
• Standard computer printouts do not work well on posters because the type is too small and the lines are too thin to be seen from a distance.
• Patient confidentiality must be protected. No names should appear in illustrations.