PRODUCING SYMPOSIUM POSTERS

Transcription

1 PRODUCING SYMPOSIUM POSTERS The major components of a poster Introduction Aims & Objectives Methods & materials Heading Results Graphs, tables, text, photographs, diagrams Suitable captions, labels & keys Discussion Conclusions References Acknowledgements POSTER BOARD SIZE AND ORIENTATION IS: LANDSCAPE: 1800x1140mm Your poster can be smaller than the board, but not larger. Standard A0 size is acceptable. 1

2 A poster can basically be defined as: "A visual display which informs the viewer in as few words as possible and as many visual aids as possible the concepts implied in the title." Research reports, although they are expected to be concise, are dependant on closely defined objectives, precise methodology, detailed results and well reasoned conclusions. This may require a fair amount of written elaboration. When trying to marry the two to make a research poster, one ends up with a sometimes unhappy compromise. A poster functions well if it attracts the attention of passersby at a conference who are confronted by a large number of posters, each of which will have to be read standing up. Information must therefore be presented clearly, concisely and to the point with short pithy subheadings. It should be visually attractive in terms of colour, lettering and layout and should stimulate interest rather than present complex detail. Good posters use the best techniques of salesmanship. A poster is an advertisement for the author's particular ideas or techniques. Stages in making a poster Stage 1. Collect all the material from which you want to eventually make the poster. This will include charts, notes, graphs, photographs, diagrams and even samples, specimens or models. Select from this material that which will best describe or illustrate the most important element(s) of your research. Stage 2. Plan how to deal with the physical properties of the selected material. For example, does a bar chart illustrate the results better than a table; what size must your photographs be. Type out the text to the required size or enlarge on a photostat machine. Keep text as short as possible. Stage 3. Look at your selected data, and place it, ignoring the actual size of the bits and pieces, in the order you want it. Remove extraneous items and add others where necessary to clarify. Stage 4. Decide how you can break up the poster for transport purposes by making as few sections as possible. Avoid cutting through text and disrupting flow. Never section through an illustration. Re-arrange your data if necessary. Stage 5. Make final copies of your text and illustrations to the correct size. Choose the colour and type of backing board you require. Purchase boards for highlighting and block mounting, coloured tape, arrows, glue, pins and so on and construct the poster. 2

3 Considerations when making a poster Planning 1. Find out the physical requirements and format of the poster eg., size, orientation, photograph of presenter, poster number, size of the heading and letters, attachment etc. The requirements are usually circulated by the conference organiser. 2. Free standing posters have different requirements to a presented poster. Free standing posters are more comprehensive. 3. Layout is the same as a paper: Introduction = why you did it; Methods = what did you do; Results = what answer did you get; Discussion/Conclusions = what does it mean. 4. Be selective of what you put up, a busy poster is intimidating! 5. An observer will first look at the heading, then the conclusions followed by aim/introduction. She will only bother to read the rest if she feels satisfied the material is interesting. Make sure your heading, aim and conclusions are easy to find, short, pertinent, attractive and readable. 6. Handouts are sometimes required. One A4 page printed on both sides is sufficient. 7. Use the visual rather than the verbal. Text 1. Any bold, filled print will do. Use a graphics package such as PowerPoint, Corel or Lotus Freelance. Good results can also be achieved by using laser print or good typewriter print and enlarging on a photostat machine. A good print quality is essential. No handwriting, Gothic, Italics or Script. 2. The heading consists of the title of the poster and the authors' affiliations and addresses. The title should, in as few words as possible, give the topic of the poster. Include authors' affiliations and addresses for contact purposes. Addresses need be just sufficient for post to get to you. 3. Minimum size of heading letters: for title=4cm capital letter for 5m distance. The authors and institution can be smaller. 4. Split text up into sub-headings for emphasis. 5. Six lines maximum for each paragraph and no more than 3 paragraphs per block of text. 6. Paragraphs flush left and separated by a space from the preceding one are more readable than indented paragraphs. 7. Minimum size of text letters: 5-6mm capital letter for 1m distance, 8-10mm capital letter for 2m. Text headings can be larger (10-16mm) to attract interest. 8. Always have mixed upper and lower case for the text. The sole use of capital letters is permissible only in the heading. 9. Correct grammar and spelling. 10. Some advocate the use of evocative language in headings: "Cell destruction" will tend to capture interest rather than "Cell lysis in haemolytic disease". 11. White lettering on a dark background and dark lettering on a dark background is difficult to read. 3

4 Illustrations 1. Gauge whether black and white or colour prints give better detail. 2. Colour discrimination is affected by the level of tonal contrast between the image and background. 3. Table and figure design should be simple and logical. Exclude superfluous detail. 4. Convert tables to graphs, histograms, bar charts, pie charts and scatter diagrams to see which provides the greatest impact. 5. Plotted points and graph lines should be given more "weight" than the axes. This emphasises data and gives a more attractive graphic than one in which all the lines are of uniform thickness. 6. Several small graphs with one line each may be preferable to one large graph with multiple lines crossing each other. 7. Use direct labelling wherever possible to avoid the necessity of "double scanning" for a key. 8. Artwork should not be done on a dark background. This will reduce the contrast of the information and impair legibility. 9. Captions on graphs and diagrams should be horizontal. 10. Photographs should be larger than postcard size for impact. Colour A good poster is visited often despite its subject matter! What first catches the eye is the colour and overall shape and image of the poster. The colour is provided by the backing board. 4

5 1. The colour of your photographs will determine your background colour. 2. Some colours are attractive and safe ie. blues and greens. Avoid fluorescent colours like lime green or bright orange as a main colour as this will repel. Dull or pastel colours are very bland and boring and can swamp or submerge your poster unless you have spectacular colour photographs or graphics. Steer away from black or white as a background unless a lot of contrasting colour is used. 3. Block mount, box, colour and highlight for emphasis and impact. Themes with colour might be obvious to you but obscure to your audience eg. as a means of linking differing methodologies with their ultimate results. 4. Co-ordinate your use of colour. No more than three colours should be used. 5. Make sure the colour of your mounting pins are all the same and that they match your poster. Poster construction 1. The direction of a poster is usually from left to right and from top to bottom within each station. Make use of wide spacing to indicate each column. Alternatively, lines, arrows or coloured tape can be used as a guide. 2. Have an even number of text sections and graphics if possible. 3. Photographs/graphics should be the same width as the text, legends the same width as the photographs. Box or block mount to bring the illustrations to size Symmetry and balance in your poster is achieved by paying attention to squaring, centring and spacing. 6. Essential tools to make a poster are a steel ruler and set square, cutter and blades, guillotine, scissors and adhesive. Have plenty of newspaper or blotting paper available during the adhesion process. 7. Always have a spare set of text with you when you paste, should something go horribly wrong you will have a replacement to hand! It is sometimes better to paste the correct section over the incorrect one then trying to remove the wrong item. You can tear or damage your poster badly. 8. Use a spray mount adhesive to attach items to your poster board. Avoid the type which has to be applied to both surfaces. Never use glue which will stain, bubble or raise. Double sided tape also stains. 9. Print and laminate professionally (Rosebank Graphics, Shop 7 Village Green Shopping Centre, 127 Greenway Road Greenside. Tel: or Wits Photo Illustration Unit at CHSE

6 10. If travelling by air use laminated lightweight poster paper rather than heavy poster board. Hanging the poster 1. Pin the poster working from the entire bottom row up. 2. A weight (eg. key) tied to dental floss pinned to the board is a useful plumb line to line up your poster sections. 3. Masking tape, cellotape, Prestik and Prit are useful emergency adhesives. 4. Velcro does not stick equally well to all fabric-type surfaces so warned. Computer generated posters Design of the poster follows the same principles as above, the only difference is that the text is given as files on a computer disk to the graphic artist as are the graphics. Slides and other photographic illustrative material can be given to be scanned in. Give the graphic artist a plan of the poster layout which she/he will be able to follow. Liaise closely with the graphic artist every step of the way to get the poster you wish to have and what the artist feels will work. Travelling with your poster is simple as cylindrical poster holders can be purchased to carry rolled up posters. Computer generated posters are often lighter than posters made in individual sections. Unfortunately they are expensive to make as you pay for labour. However they are much more versatile in scope and design. NB Roll up the poster with the right side facing outward to prevent the laminated surface cracking. Useful websites Poster templates Tips on how to use templates and create a poster A nice college site on how to make posters with lots of tips, illustrations and useful links Prof ES Grossman Postgraduate Project Office, June