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How to Create a Research Poster

This guide provides resources and information on how to communicate your research visually.

Tips & Tricks for Creating a Research Poster

Creating your poster

You can create your poster from scratch by using:

  1. PowerPoint
  2. Adobe InDesign
  3. or a similar design program

You can create your poster from scratch by using PowerPoint, Adobe InDesign, or a similar design program

 Sizing of the poster: usually the size of the poster is 48 by 36”.

Note: ***IMPORTANT: You must change the size of your slide before you start working on your poster. This will ensure that your images and text do not become pixilated when the poster is printed.

What software can I use to make a poster?

  • Adobe Illustrator or InDesign: Feature-rich professional software that creates the highest-quality posters. Best for posters with several high-resolution images, but software is more complex.
  • Microsoft PowerPoint or Publisher: Popular options that are familiar to most people. Create good quality for professional presentations.  (Advice for creating a poster with PowerPoint).

         Free PowerPoint Templates

  • Open Source Alternatives: OpenOffice in the free alternative to MS Office (Impress is its PowerPoint alternative). Inkscape and Gimp are alternatives to Adobe products. For charts and diagrams try Gliffy or Lovely Charts. A complete list of free graphics software. While these options are free, the library is unable to provide support on how to use them!