STEP ONE - SET UP YOUR POSTER
Using PowerPoint or Google Slides, set up your poster in portrait mode. Set up the area to be: Width = 10 W X Height = 20.
POWERPOINT
Start a new blank presentation. Select the Design tab then on the right, select Slide Size and Custom Slide Size
Set Orientation to Portrait. Width = 10 in and Height = 20 in. Select OK.
Select Maximize (you don't have to worry about the slide area when creating a digital poster).
GOOGLE SLIDES
Start a new blank presentation. Select File at bottom of list, select Page setup. Select Custom and enter in 10 x 20 and Apply.
DIGITAL POSTER-PORTRAIT ORIENTATION
Now you have a blank canvas set up in portrait mode (which is easiest to view as a digital poster because the viewer only has to scroll up and down to see the content instead of both up/down and left/right (which they would need to do if you set it up in landscape mode).
STEP TWO - ADD TEXT
You don't need to use large font sizes for a digital poster. Use 24 point font for Title, 18 point font for Headings, and 12 point font for text.
STEP THREE -- ADD IMAGES
Only add images (charts, graphs, tables, illustrations, photographs) that provide informational value (representational, organizational, relational, and transformational).
Avoid decorative images that have no informational value / serves only an ornamental function to make poster more attractive.
ADD ALT TEXT DESCRIPTIONS
Alt Text allows screen readers to interpret the images. Add in a 1-2 sentence description of the image.
POWERPOINT-ALT TEXT
Right click on image. Select Edit Alt Text. Add description.
GOOGLE SLIDES-ALT TEXT
Right click on image. Select Alt text. Add Title and Description / OK
STEP FOUR - SAVE AS PDF
While working on your draft, save as presentation (PowerPoint -- Google Slides will automatically save) but when you are finish, save your final as a PDF.
POWERPOINT SAVE AS PDF
Select File / Save As / PDF
GOOGLE SLIDES SAVE AS PDF
Select File / Download / PDF
Image Sources:
McGrath, Matt. “Climate change: Last decade confirmed as warmest on record.” BBC News. Jan 15, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51111176
Sims, Valerie. "Comparison of specific leaf area of invasive and native blackberries." Poster presentation at the Academic Excellence Showcase, Western Oregon University, May 31, 2012.