STEM/Scientific Posters

STEM Posters

You've been working hard on your projects, you have researched, you have been running tests, collecting data and evidence that your design works. You need funding to make you idea a reality and your research going. You need to show off to other Engineers, and possible investors what you have been working on. Except that time is limited during project presentation night. You have more data than can be meaningfully shown in a short Presentation.

Engineering/Scientific Poster Sessions have solved this problem by giving Engineers and Scientists an opportunity to display their work, visually, during a session where all people attending the Conference/presentation can go and see them. If you have a engaging poster, it is more likely that someone will stop to look at it. If your Problem/research Question captures their interest, they are likely to read your poster. This could result in more money (funding) for your project, so its important to get it right!

Scientific/Engineering Posters are a relatively new format of communication in Science and there are many examples of professional Scientific Posters online that you can use as examples. 

Poster Templates

Most of the posters should be in one of two formats, 36″x24″ or 48″x36″. you can use the provided trifolded displays, you can print multiple pieces of paper. For printing purposes, we recommend that students create their posters in Google slides (or a PowerPoint compatible program) at half-size. The posters will be printed at 200% to reach the dimensions mentioned above. Students can download the templates for either size via the links below:

• Standard Poster Template 36″x24″ 

• Large Poster Template 48″x36″

Students need not follow the template exactly and are free to change the format as necessary for their particular poster. The only aspects of the poster template that must remain unchanged are the dimensions of the poster template and the title format (title, name, mentors).

Logos

Additionally, all posters will require your company logos and the logos of sponsoring organizations if available. Students, must include include the San Marin logo and the STEM Program Logo. For the most part, we recommend that students use .GIF rog .NPG formats for logos as they allow for transparent backgrounds and can be used on posters of any color. 

STEM LOGO (PNG)

SAN MARIN LOGO (JPG)

Poster Design Instructions

Although the directions below give lists of acceptable alternatives, such as other file formats and poster dimensions, we highly recommend that students use the poster templates above to design their posters.

• • Maximum poster print size = 48” wide by 36” high

    • Minimum size 24” wide by 16” high

    • One side of the poster (either the width or the height) must always be either 24” or 36”

  • When designing the poster on a computer:

    • Set the page size to 24” wide by 18” high (half the size of the actual print size, the print size will be set to 200% when printing)

    • Designing the poster in half size makes printing much easier and faster (due to the smaller file size)

  • Backgrounds

    • No photos are allowed to be used as background images for an entire poster

      • Photo backgrounds use too much ink and are too difficult to print

    • No dark, solid backgrounds are allowed (for the same reason as photo backgrounds)

    • Light colors or backgrounds that are primarily white are preferable

Poster Printing Instructions

• Poster Settings

  • Easiest to print in PDF format, but can also be printed as an image

    • Adobe: Resolution=2400 dots/inch

    • Width x Height=24×18 inches

      • Use these same dimensions when creating your poster in Google Slides/PowerPoint

      • The final print will be inflated to 200%, which will give final dimensions of 36×48

• Printing Settings

  • Print at 36 inches (width) by 48 inches (length)

    • This is because the printer cannot print 48 inch width

    • Maximum length of shortest side is usually 36 inches

• Printer Info

  • After turning on, first press “form, feed, and cut”

    • This trims the paper edge

  • Line the paper up with the blue guide line

• PDF Program Settings

  • Go to properties (in the print window)–>advanced–>post script custom–>dimensions

  • Leave the layout unchanged

  • Page layout

    • Uncheck “enable scaling”

    • Uncheck “rotate”

    • Layout view: Best indicator of the print end result

      • Poster print should be edge to edge width-wise

  • Print preview: Should be 36 inches by 48 inches

    • Print should be at 200%

      • Because poster should have been made at half size

    • Page scaling: Fit to paper

• Printer (after print has been started)

  • Printer should say “processing PS”

  • Usually takes at least 10 minutes before the printer will actually begin printing

• Other notes and suggestions

  • Better to use GIF and PNG files for pictures on your poster

    • This is because these file types have transparent backgrounds

      • Allow for pasting pictures on various background colors

    • JPEG will not be transparent, so try not to use JPEG’s

    • Use only GIF files for all logos if possible

  • Adobe image ready has been a convenient program a free one is GIMP

  • Easiest method to begin making the poster is by first creating a poster template

    • Also, when converting from slides to PDF, make sure you have a custom conversion setting to maintain the proper resolution and dimensions

      • These settings must be made in both slides and the conversion software

  • For smaller student projects/posters, a final printed poster dimension of 24 inches x 36 inches in recommended

    • This will save ink and paper

  • Also, the use of white or light colored backgrounds for posters in encouraged whenever possible

    • This is a good way to avoid a lot of pixelation

  • Try to use very high quality pictures, diagrams, etc.

    • Low resolution images look even worse when printed at very large sizes

    • Do not compress images

    • Try to embed images whenever possible

  • For the PDF, it is sometimes easier to have it sideways (rotated 90 degrees), so that the poster is on its side

  • Different types of paper

    • For most uses, flat paper regular coated paper is more than sufficient

    • Higher quality paper, such as semi-gloss or photo paper, should only be used for signs or posters that will remain on display for a long period of time

POSTER Templates/Examples:

• Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft 

• Design and Prototype of Next Generation NASCAR Brake Caliper

• Venus Lander Design

• MANY MORE EXAMPLES HERE