f. Image orientation: For close up images, accompany them with a reference to where the close up
is located on the image.
g. Use Captions: Images could be accompanied by captions and figure numbers
9. Infographics/Display of data
a. Simplify your message: too much data can obscure the message.
b. Don’t use 3d graphs for 2d data: Visually complex graphs can obscure data.
c. Horizontal Y-axis labels: If you have the space use horizontal type. If not then rotate the text
instead of opting to stack the text. Legibility is key.
d. Types of Infographics:
i. Distribution – e.g., bar chart, histogram, box & whisker
ii. Parts to a whole - e.g., pie chart, donut chart, tree map
iii. Time Comparison – e.g., line chart, timeline
iv. Spatial – e.g., map, choropleth, contour line
v. System – e.g., flowchart, schematic.
vi. Relationship - e.g., scatter plot, Venn diagram
10. Type Treatment/Font
a. Size of text: title should be no smaller than an inch (72 pt. font size = I inch)
b. Be consistent with font: Avoid too many fonts and competing styles: Use fonts from the same
family (variations of a font) to keep the look consistent for branding purposes.
c. Easy to Read: San-serif fonts are easier to read at a distance, but serif
fonts are easier to read up
close.
d. No caps or all bold: Don’t use all caps for a title or in text bodies. Bold should be used sparingly
when attempting to direct attention.
e. Titles in “sentence caps” easy to read: Capitalize only the first word and proper nouns.
11. Color
a. Color attracts and speaks: Color is good for attracting and expressing tone. Color can be a visual
element that guides viewer through content. It can be used to emphasize select content. Color
choices will be an element in your branding strategy.
b. Colored backgrounds: can be overwhelming if too bright/dark.
c. Color schemes: Muted (light and/or less bright) colors are equated with professionalism. A muted
scheme often works well with a single bright color for emphasis.
d. Be considerate of those with color vision deficiencies: Make sure everyone can read your
poster. If you have a color vision deficiency, have someone check your poster. In general, avoid
heavy use of reds and greens. Use symbols and line patterns (e.g., dashed or dotted) instead of
colors for graph elements.
Logistics
12. Methods for poster creation
a. Single sheet: Single sheet printing produces one large print. Your poster can be created in a
layout program and easily printed out, but it can be costly. So, once it’s printed you may have to
live with any mistakes. Be sure to proofread very carefully before you print.
b. Modular: This methods produces sectional sheets that put together constitute a complete poster.
It is easy to transport and edit in a hurry. However, it takes time to set up, and involves paying
careful attention to craftsmanship.
13. Programs to use
a. For images: Photoshop; Gimp
b. For graphs: Matlab; Illustrator; Omnigraffle; Inkscape; PowerPoint; Word, Excel; KeyNote;
KaleidaGraph
c. For layout and print: InDesign; QuarkXPress; Illustrator; MS Publisher; Photoshop; PowerPoint;
Word
14. Program/Production tips
a. Work within the print color mode: Make your document CMYK color mode, not RGB for more
accurate print color representation (relevant for programs such as Illustrator and Photoshop).
b. Resolution: Resolution (pixels/inch) of images to be printed in a poster should be 300 pixels per
inch to avoid pixilation or blurriness. Never use web images for posters unless they’re large on the
screen. Web images are always 72 pixels per inch. You cannot increase the size/resolution of an
image without it getting blurry. Do a test print at the size it will appear on your poster to ensure
the image is clear.