1. Poster Construction using PowerPoint
“Starting from Scratch”

2. Information you will need?
Title/Logos
Authors
Topic Headers
Content
Images
Charts & Graphs
Equations
Preparation Time!
Approximately 15 hours to construct

3. Brain Dump
Write or sketch out all ideas for your poster (Before opening PowerPoint)
Organize/Reorganize your ideas on paper
Sketch out multiple options
Select the one you like best
Decide on a color scheme
Exp. Title Boxes: blue, Text: white, Background: Grey
Decide on a final poster size

4. Sketch Out Ideas

5. Choosing a Color Scheme
Who is your audience
Is text legible from at least 6ft away?
If the viewer is colorblind…
Does the visual image of the poster get lost, if the colors are not as vibrant or clear?
Problem colors include: reds, greens and sometimes blues
What colors would relate well with your topic?
Yellow, purple, green, black…etc.
What about pastel colors?

6. Choosing a Color Scheme
Color Blind Comparison
Common Color Blindness
Normal

7. Choosing a Color Scheme

8. Choosing a Color Scheme
Start with the basics
Color Wheel
PowerPoint Color Chart

9. Color Wheel

10. Colors that work well together: Complimentary (opposites)
Color Wheel

11. Colors that work well together: Analogous
(3 colors next to each other)
Color Wheel

12. PowerPoint Color Chart
Standard Color Chart
PowerPoint Color Chart

13. Choosing a Color Scheme
Custom Color Chart
PowerPoint Color Chart
Choosing a Color Scheme
Saturation Level
Color Picker
Choose Custom Color using RGB

14. Final Poster Size? What is your final poster size?
Most display boards are going to be:
4’ x 4’ = 48” x 48”
4’ x 8’ = 48” x 96”
Maximum size for PowerPoint slide = 56 inches
If larger than that, please set up at half size
Choose 200% when printing
Maximum printing width = 49.5”
Length is recommended between 8’ – 9’ (cutting table length)

15. Locating Good Quality Logos
Never use Web Logos
When they are enlarged, they become distorted
For Kansas State University Logos, please visit…
Click KSRE Image Gallery

16. Locating Good Quality Logos cont.
Click KSRE Logos
Select a category from list
4-H
College of Ag
K-State
K-State Research and Extension
KSRE “Knowledge for Life”
Powercat, etc.

17. Locating Good Quality Logos cont.
Choose the PRINT version (.jpg or .gif)
Transparent versions work best on colored backgrounds

18. Constructing Your Poster
Start PowerPoint
Create a new blank presentation using “Blank Slide”

19. Constructing Your Poster cont.
Change the page size
Set to either half or full size of the final poster

20. Inserting Text Select a primary typeface and font size
Choose typeface before entering all text
Text spacing will change with a different typeface
You may use up to 2 different typefaces
One for title/headings
One for main text
Choose a font that is legible
Serif or Sans Serif
Scripts - not very legible
Brush Script Std -16
This is random text to serve as an example of how text spacing can change when you change the typeface.
Baskerville Old Face -16
This is random text to serve as an example of how text spacing can change when you change the typeface.
Verdana -16
This is random text to serve as an example of how text spacing can change when you change the typeface.
Arial -16
This is random text to serve as an example of how text spacing can change when you change the typeface.

21. Text Styles Serif – Baskerville Old Face Sans Serif - Arial
Brush Script Std -16
This is random text to serve as an example of how text spacing can change when you change the typeface.
Verdana -16
This is random text to serve as an example of how text spacing can change when you change the typeface.
Arial -16
This is random text to serve as an example of how text spacing can change when you change the typeface.
Baskerville Old Face -16
This is random text to serve as an example of how text spacing can change when you change the typeface.

22. Inserting Text Insert a Text Box Tip: Insert>Text Box
Drag the box as large as you need it
Tip:
To align text boxes, use your guides and grid
View>Grid and Guides
Ctrl + arrow keys make for shorter, more precise moves

23. Complete Poster Example
4’ x 8’ poster

24. Any Questions?