Poster Composition (Aesthetics, techniques and layout)

1. Poster Composition(Aesthetics, techniques and layout) • Combining text and images • Introducing colour • Overall composition K. Davis, School of Ocean and Earth Science, NOCS SOES2007

2. Three Most Important Points Simplicity Structure Flow

3. Combining text and images • Area constraints • Check if space is portrait or landscape • Aim of the poster • Backdrop for a talk • Permanent display • Simplified version of scientific paper • Structure of poster • Non confusing

4. Combining text and images • Use a balanced approach • 30% text : 70% images • Varies with objective • Font point sizes and combinations • Headings 100pt; Sub-headings 40pt; Text 18pt • References 12-14pt • Keep to one font e.g. Helvetica/Arial • choose one that is easy to read • avoid excessive bold, italics, underline

5. Combining text and images • Heading and sub headings • Keep main heading short / use total width • Sub-heads help to emphasise text blocks • Clearlabelling of all images / figures • Provide links with text (by colour, lines and location) • Acknowledge/cite sources (if not yours) • Include logos (if appropriate) • For joint projects with others • To acknowledge sponsors

6. Combining text and images • Imported elements • text • photos (from digital camera or scanned) • maps • line drawings e.g. schematic figures • tables • graphs / plots • images from web

7. Combining text and images • There are 2 basic types of files: • – vector graphics: • e.g. postscript, windows metafile, HPGL • infinite resolution, scales up smoothly • produced by GMT, MATLAB, Illustrator, Corel Draw, • Freehand, AutoCAD • smaller files, smaller memory demands – bit-mapped graphics: • e.g. gif, tiff, bmp, Jpeg (or any compression file) • fixed resolution, grainy on magnification • photos, web images, paint programs • large memory requirements if big

8. Combining text and images Vector vs Bitmap ? Vector graphic Bit mapped A The larger the magnification the more jagged the edges become Scanned photos need to be at least 300dpi for scaling up to A4 or larger

9. Introducing Colour • Importance of colour • Provides impact, draws immediate attention • Highlighting key elements • Linking items, e.g. images, plots or text • Colour within text • Draws attention to an important section

10. Introducing Colour • Colour in plots • Use larger fonts/larger data points/thicker lines • Scale up as much as possible • Avoid clashes and over-use of colour • Can become confusing & too fussy • Attention span reduces • Detracts from subject

11. Overall Composition • Continuity of text • Obvious flow from 1 section to next • Consider length of lines for readability • Form should follow function • Equal distances between elements • Total layout becomes tidier & easier to look at • Consider balance and symmetry

12. Overall Composition • Uncluttered simplistic approach • Applies to any presentation • Providing sufficient impact / Final review • Solicit comments from colleagues • 1 Metre test • Test print at a small size to check ink colours match • screen phosphors before you ‘go to press’

13. Web-site http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/soes/ information/internal SOES 2007 - Poster Session slides