# Presentation: 384787

## How to Make a Technical Poster

**How to Make a**** ****Technical Poster**

**Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory**

- July 12, 2007

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**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

**Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory**

- July 12, 2007

## Good

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

**  ****Why a poster session**
**  ****Goals & Guidelines**
**  ****Tips & Tricks**
**  ****What a poster session “looks” like**
**  ****Critiquing posters**
**  ****Getting started**

##   Why poster sessions?

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Why poster sessions?**

| Structured poster sessions, popular at many conferences, will be an important way to present your work and ideas throughout your scientific career. 

Posters allow authors and participants to ask questions and discuss their work in a more interactive manner than typical paper sessions |
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##   Goals

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Goals**

| Draw the attention of the participants to your   work
Show the participants what you did and how you did it
Present the main conclusions
Encourage participants to ask questions, and read your papers  |
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##   Guidelines

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Guidelines**

- Slightly less than 4 x 4 space for each poster presentation
- Posters on 8 x 4 panel boards, arranged in rows
- Individual pages can be mounted on foam core or cardboard, or affixed directly to board
- Single sheet posters must adhere to size limitations
- CSEE does _not_ support single sheet (plotter printer) posters

##   Readability

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Readability**

- Keep the text brief (less than 50% of the total poster area); the message should be clear and understandable without oral explanation.No more than 15-18 lines of text per pageAll letters on your final poster should be at least 1/4”; a poster should be readable at 8 feetAvoid lesser-known abbreviations, acronyms, or jargonKeep in mind that upper and lowercase letters together are easier to read than all uppercase

##   Readability

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Readability**

- Background and print should be in contrasting colors
- A light background and dark print work well

##   Readability

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Readability**

- Background and print should be in contrasting colors
- A dark background with light print also works well

##   Readability

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Readability**

- Background and print should be in contrasting colors
- A dark background with dark print: not so much

##   Readability

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Readability**

- Background and print should be in contrasting colors
- Equally aggravating are light colors on a light background

##   Readability

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Readability**

- Background and print should be in contrasting colors
- A light background and dark print work well

## Layout -- Eye Movement

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**Layout -- Eye Movement**

**The movement of the eye should be natural; for example**

##   Color

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Color**

**Color is an efficient and effective way to draw attention**

##   Color

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Color**

- Color is an efficient and effective way to draw attention

**Color is an efficient and effective way to draw attention**

##   Graphs & Figures

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Graphs & Figures**

- A well-documented graph or figure is better than lengthy text
- Tables are difficult to read; represent data graphically whenever possible
- A photograph often is worth a thousand words

##   The Poster Session

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****The Poster Session**

- Poster boards will be placed perpendicularly alongside the two side walls of the cafeteria and then two long rows will run perpendicular to the back wall.   Students will put up their posters and laboratory staff and invitees will walk among them, eating cookies and looking at posters, and asking questions.
- ...or, put somewhat differently

##   The Poster Session

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****The Poster Session**

##   The Poster Session

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****The Poster Session**

##   Critiquing Posters

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Critiquing Posters**

- When critiquing the posters today, and around the Lab, ask yourself:
-   What is this poster about (and was it easy to find out)?
-   Is it easy to follow (do I know where to look next)?
-   Are there elements in this poster I want to incorporate in my own?
-   Are there elements I definitely do not want in my poster?
-   Why is this [not] a good poster?

##   The Poster Session

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****The Poster Session**

##   Making the Poster

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Making the Poster**

| MaterialsFoam corePoster boardConstruction paperGlossy paperVelcro | ToolsMatte cutterUtility knivesGlue sticksSpray glue |
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- _CSEE Provides_

- Work space – 7-211 available for poster prep entire week prior

##   Hey! What About Those Big Posters?

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Hey! What About Those Big Posters?**

- They are cool
- They are popular
- You can pin them up anywhere
- You can roll them up and take off

- CSEE cannot support them
- They take hours to print
- One mistake, and start over again
- Parts are not “interchangeable”

##   Specifics

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****Specifics**

- Location: LBNL Cafeteria
- Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2006
- Time: 3:00 – 5:00 (public session)
- 	1:30 Set up
- 	5:30 Take down
- 	(this allows for 1⁄2 hour viewing before and after)

## ?

**How to Make a****^****Technical Poster**

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**  ****The Poster Session**