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Type Size
This is critical! Posters should be legible from a distance of about 3 to 4 feet. This is to prevent crowding around small print which can discourage others that are interested. A good rule of thumb is to use a 16 to 18 point type for the text. If desired, text for the legends may be slightly larger, but not smaller. Don't forget to include a copy of your abstract. Many meetings ask that this be the first item in the poster.

Photos and Drawings
These should be of sufficient size to be visible from a distance -- 3" x 3" photos are probably the smallest to use, and 4" x 5" photos are a good size. Drawings are best if at least 8" x 10". The advantage of using these sizes is that they are standard paper sizes and are compatible with many computer generated programs.

Color and Background
I still like to mount my poster on matte board rather than just using the white sheets straight from the printer. I find the colors can enhance the message by making the results more attractive to the casual eye. This, then, brings the observer in to the poster to look for more details in the text. The use of colored poster board also is more pleasing to eyes that have been scanning several hundred posters. To make the poster easier to manage, cut the poster board into 9.5" x 12" pieces (a convenient size to mount an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper on with a 1" border) or 9" x 11" if mounting prints. These will often fit easily into a brief case or carry-on bag for transportation. Never package the poster separately for airline transportation! The safest way to transport a poster is in your hands.

Title
The title is the same as on your abstract. This is usually a fairly complete description of the problem. The title should be legible from at least 6' away from the poster. Label the back of each board in the order it should be posted, 1-1 for first column, first row, 1-2 for first column, second row, etc. This will ensure the poster is mounted in the proper order when you really want to be meeting colleagues, reading other posters, etc.

Layout
To plan the layout of your poster, mark off the appropriate space on a wall, table or floor. Use pieces of paper with your research outline to do an initial layout. I often mark the pieces "Intro," "Abstract," Results," "References," etc. Outlining the text portion can help judge the amount of room and therefore the detail that you have room for. At the meeting be prepared with long push pins, copies of the abstract, paper and pencil for notes. Dress comfortably, but remember, you may be asking for a job from these people. Wear shoes that are comfortable for standing. Don't feel your poster has to fill the entire assigned board space. Be prepared for board sizes to vary from what may be published in the abstract instructions.

Use standard scientific procedure
Introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion and/or conclusions, references. Sometimes it can be helpful to think of each part of the poster as a slide that you would show an audience. The major difference is that there will be text portions of a poster. As done for a slide presentation, try to keep text to a minimum by using key words and phrases throughout the poster.

Introduction: The introduction for a poster will be short and be composed mostly of a hypothesis or reason for the research. Background information for posters is usually at a minimum since you are there to fill in details.

Materials and Methods: For basic research, this section can also be shortened by the use of references for much of the material except when the method is novel or critical to the results. Flow diagrams can work well rather than written text. In methods papers, this section will be more intense.

Results: For basic research papers, this will be the largest portion of the poster. Arrange your results in a logical order according to the point(s) you want to get across. Often the order of the research was not the same order as the conclusions, therefore, arrange your results to follow your conclusions.

Discussion/Conclusion: In a poster session, the last section is usually more a conclusion with discussion left for the publication. Recap the results by assigning importance to each result and how it fits the hypothesis. Use the same key phrases and make use of bullets and other clip art available on word processors, etc. to emphasize the major points. Many times, conclusions are very brief, as the poster is indicative of only a portion of the research. Don't try to fit all your research on one poster!

References: References should be included if the technique is someone else's. It doesn't hurt to reference the work that inspired yours (this got me an invitation to an international meeting in Japan while still a graduate student!)

Author: Pat Glas. Reprinted with permission from "A How to Book...Making Success a Reality," a resource book by Iota Sigma Pi. For ordering information, contact J.P. Kilbourn, Ph.D., Consulting Clinical & Microbiological Laboratory, 333 S.W. 5th Avenue, Suite 620-7, Portland, OR 97204-1743; (503) 222-5279.  Proceeds from this book go toward funding scholarships for women. This resources sheet is reprinted from the March 1995 issue of The Mentor, the APS Women in Physiology Mentoring Program newsletter.