Research Posters

First, check with conference organizers on their specifications of size and orientation, before you start your poster. You must make note of the maximum poster size and display area, the orientation, horizontal format (landscape) or vertical format (portrait). Bear in mind that you do not need to fill the whole space allocated by some organizers (i.e. 4 x 8 ft).

Re-write your paper into poster format i.e. simplify everything and avoid data overkill. The title, headlines and subheadings should be short, yet meaningful. The content should be concise, to the point, and well organized, presenting only enough data to support your conclusions.

Do a spell-check and have someone else proofread your poster, before you bring it to Biomedical Communications. Photos, graphs, diagrams and logos can easily be imported into your poster from scans and existing files. When scanning, make sure to use an appropriate resolution (150 dpi at final printed size). Large files can always be minimized without compromising the integrity of the image. However, be aware of "resolution overkill" when scanning, as it may result in unnecessarily enormous file sizes.

Output and Design Costs

• Photographic paper posters – $25.00 per linear ft. (eg. 4ft poster is $100.00)
• Water resistant fabric – $35.00 per foot
• Traveling tubes (44") – $5.00 each
• Design and Layout – $50 per hour
• Scanning – $7 per scan
• Please establish payment (purchase requisition, grant, check) with our front office (Lila Jones 718 270-7550).
• Turnaround times can be 24 hrs or less once your poster has been submitted. and a hard proof has been approved.

Design Advice

• The design should be visually appealing, utilizing the capabilities of color, graphics and typography to communicate your poster. A clear, simple, uncluttered arrangement is the most attractive and the easiest to read.
• Color should be used sparingly, to provide contrast. 
• Illustrations should be simple and eye-catching, with unnecessary detail left out. If possible, avoid long numerical tables. Convert complex tables to graphs or charts. Use photographs or colorful graphs wherever possible.
• Photos should be enlarged enough to show relevant details.
• Patient confidentiality must be protected. No names should appear in illustrations.
• Headings of more than six words should be in upper and lower case, not all capitals.
• Use bold characters to stress your point.
• When laying out your poster leave "breathing space" around the text. This increases legibility.
• Use the Downstate brand fonts of Lora (for headings) and Montserrat (for body copy) when possible. Those fonts are available to download here. 
• All body text should be the same size and style of font.
• Keep body text left aligned.
• Columns should not vary in width.