How to prepare and print a poster.

Template and General Instructions:

Consider using the Department's Template Poster. You can also just grab our new logo.

  • A typical poster is: 36" x 48". You should check with the people who will print your poster to learn if there are any limits.
  • For best results, use Adobe Illustrator or Microsoft Powerpoint.
  • Before you begin, create your blank document and set your planned size ("Page Setup" in Powerpoint, "Document Properties" in Illustrator).
  • Leave 1/2 inch text free on the margins.
  • Resonable fonts sizes for the text in a poster are:
    • Titles: 72
    • Sub-titles: 40-48
    • General Text: 28-38
    • Captions: 22-28
  • Check your images, we often see poor results when people use low resolution images downloaded from some site on the web! Remember, your poster will be around ten times larger when printed than what you see on your computer screen.  to use in your presentations and posters.

See the “Graphics Guidelines” for a brief tutorial regarding how to prepare graphics for use in posters and manuscripts. Please read this if you don't understand under what circumstances the different graphics formats are appropriate (jpeg, png, eps, etc.), or are having issues of output quality.

Places to get your poster printed:

  • The BioFrontiers Institute has an extra wide Epson printer. Contact BIT-Help for details.
  • Engineering students can go to  with their posters.
    $15 / lineal foot (42 inch wide paper).
  • ճInkSpot in the UMC prints posters and more.
    $5.50/sq. ft. (40 inch wide paper)
  •  offers good pricing and quick delivery. They also can do a wide variety of materials, from paper to metal!
  •  offers a wide variety of poster materials.
    $7.25/sq. ft.
  •  also offers good pricing and quick delivery.
  • Other departments on campus have poster printers. Be sure to ask around.