Tips for creating your poster
Posters may look clear to you on your screen, but when blown up to poster size, they may be blurry. This is usually caused by creating them in low resolution. Below are steps to prevent this, based on the method you use to create your poster.
Note: Students who need to have their posters reprinted due to mistakes or low resolution will be charged for each reprint at the regular rate.
Recommended software
Adobe Photoshop*
Create a document the size of your finished poster and specify 300 ppi. (Undergraduate Exhibition posters should be 24 inches by 36 inches.) When your poster is done, save as a .jpg.
InDesign*
Create a document the size of your finished poster. (Undergraduate Exhibition posters should be 24 inches by 36 inches.) Use Photoshop or Illustrator to create and/or edit your photos and illustrations, making sure they are 300 ppi at the dimensions you will use them on your poster. When you're finished with your poster, export it as a hi-res .jpg file.
Microsoft Publisher
- Create a document the size of your finished poster. (Undergraduate Exhibition posters should be 24 inches by 36 inches.)
- When finished, click on "File > save as."
- Using the drop down box for "Save as type," select JPEG File Interchange format.
- Under resolution, click Change then select High quality printing or commercial press (300 dpi) option.
- Save.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Some students create their files with PowerPoint. However, saving the file as a JPEG, even if you select 300 dpi resolution, will lead to a blurry poster. You must convert the file to a PDF, then save it as a JPEG.
First, create the slide the correct size.
- Start a new blank presentation.
- Select the "Design" tab and choose "Slide Size" from the ribbon.
- Choose "Custom Slide Size" and make the dimensions the size of your finished poster. (Undergraduate Exhibition posters should be 24 inches by 36 inches.)
When you're done creating your poster:
- In PowerPoint, choose File > Save As.
- Using the drop-down box for Save as type, select PDF.
- Save.
- The file will automatically open in Acrobat after being saved.
Adobe Acrobat Pro*
- File > save as other
- Using the drop down box for Save as type, select JPEG File Interchange format
- OR Go to Tools > export file as JPEG File Interchange format
*Free licenses for Adobe programs are available from Penn State Software. Additional information is available on our Software for Penn Staters page.