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 Scientific Posters – Tips and Hints
Creating an effective scientific poster can be a challenge. There are a lot of things to consider – size, look, content, timing, printing, etc. We have worked with a lot of clients over the years producing scientific posters and offer the following advice to make the process go smoothly.
1. Know the poster requirements for the congress you are presenting at.
- Poster dimensions and orientation (landscape or portrait).
- Generally, most congresses have guidelines for posters (check their web site if you are unsure of what they require).
- Find out where your poster is being hung (on a board, a wall, etc.).
2. Know your organizations’ specifications for scientific posters.
- Is there an existing template design that you are required to use?
- If not, you will need to have a template created by an experienced designer.
- Is there a specific color scheme that you have to incorporate into the poster?
- Are there any required notes (or logos) that need to be put on the poster?
3. Map out your timeline (Excel works great for this). Work backwards from the date of presentation and consider the following:
- The date the poster needs to be presented or hung?
- How are the poster and handouts getting to the congress? If shipping, consider how long it will take them to get there.
- Ask your print partner how much time is needed for printing the poster and the accompanying materials.
- Determine who needs to review the poster for final approval prior to printing?
- Expect multiple revisions (4-5 is not uncommon) – build in time for these.
- What graphics are needed and have they been created yet?
- Are there any holidays, or vacation/travel time scheduled for those involved during this timeline?
4. Gather all the necessary content.
- Use PowerPoint or Word to store your data.
- Put your timeline and list of to do’s in this document too. This way you have everything in one place.
- Remember that your graphics need to be high resolution to ensure clarity on the enlarged poster. Avoid using graphics from the web – they will be grainy and hard to see.
- Let your print partner know if the graphics were created on a Mac or a PC.
- Your print partner can create your graphics if needed.
5. Reviewing, editing, and approving.
- Set aside plenty of time for reviewing, editing, and approving.
- Make notes as to where special characters (scientific notations) are located in your original data. This will make reviewing easier.
- Review all text thoroughly each time you receive a revision. It is possible that special characters (scientific notations) can be misinterpreted by software programs.
6. Now, for the most important hint – find a good print partner who has been providing scientific poster services for the healthcare industry for years! Why?
- Because they understand the demands you are under and can guide you through the process.
- If you need a template or graphics created, they have the experience to do it.
- Your printer can suggest alternative paper types like ClingZ which uses static to cling to surfaces and stay in place (you no longer need push pins).
- Don’t forget to order poster handouts and poster schedules to complement your poster.
Universal Graphics
We have been providing full-service scientific poster development to the healthcare industry for more than 25 years. All work is performed in-house and we have the experts to make your next scientific poster project go smoothly. To find out more, click here, email us, or call us at 203-934-4275.
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