Creating Effective Poster Presentations :: Create Your Poster :: Text
George Hess :: Kathryn Tosney :: Leon Liegel

An Effective Poster
Define Your Message
Know Your Audience(s)
An Effective Abstract
Create Your Poster
    :: Planning
    :: Focus
    :: Layout
    :: Headings (video)
    :: Graphics
    :: Text
    :: Colors
    :: Editing
    :: Software
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Text should be simple, direct, and large.


Posters are a visual medium.

  • Minimize text - use images and graphs instead.

  • Keep text elements to 50 words or fewer.

  • Use phrases rather than full sentences.

  • Use an active voice.

  • Avoid jardon (depends somehwat on audience).

  • Left-justify text; avoid centering and right-justifying text.

  • Use a serif font (e.g., Times) for most text - easier to read.

  • Sans-serif font (e.g., Helvetica) OK for titles and headings

  • Text should be at least 24 point in text, 36 for headings.

  • Pay attention to text size in figures - it must also be large.

  • Title should be at least 5cm tall.
  • Minimize text and make it large!!

    Image of poster with large text


    >>Consider the alternatives>>

    Helpful hint: If you print your poster on a standard sheet of paper, you should be able to read all of it - including text in figures - comfortably. If you can't, your text is too small.