Creating posters to present scientific data
Which software is suitable?
Every programme has its undeniable advantages, but they can only be optimally harnessed if the programme is used for its “core skill”. The best way to figure out what this is, is to ask yourself what the programme was originally designed for. This allows you to identify its core skill and in turn the task the programme is best suited to and for which it has a clear edge over other programmes.
Cost of the software
There are free and open-source programmes that are good for creating posters. So you don’t have to invest in expensive software. On the other hand, if you have access to commercial software (e.g. at your institute, at school), there is no reason not to use it.
What requirements does a suitable software programme need to meet?
Cost of the software
There are free and open-source programmes that are good for creating posters. So you don’t have to invest in expensive software. On the other hand, if you have access to commercial software (e.g. at your institute, at school), there is no reason not to use it.
What requirements does a suitable software programme need to meet?
- Works in the CMYK colour space
- Precision alignment tools
- Freely editable guides
- Prepress or at least the ability to save in suitable file formats (e.g. eps), plus embedding of fonts and graphics
- Be able to edit vector graphics and save them as such
- Shape tools: for creating shapes (rectangles, circles, etc.), e.g. to create text frames and model sketches
- Text tool: for text editing with options for formatting paragraphs, style sheets
- Options for defining standard shapes, layouts and formats are also very helpful
- Masks for non-destructive cropping of pasted images
Which programmes are there?
The following drop-down list provides an overview of common programmes that are more or less suitable for creating posters with their pros and cons.
Page layout design programmes like InDesign or PageMaker
- Their core skill is page layout design/typesetting for print media such as magazines.
- Disadvantage: Both are “pay” programmes and not very common. There is a very limited number of users who feel confident using this software.
- Advantage: Page layout design, i.e. the process of designing pages for subsequent printing, is exactly what you do when you create a poster.
- As part of the Adobe family of programmes, it is relatively easy for users of other Adobe programmes to start using these.
- There are many ways to design texts, paragraphs and shapes and to use them efficiently with style sheets.
- The file size is not too big, but InDesign needs a lot of memory to install it in the first place.
- Graphics of all types can be easily incorporated
- A wide range of file formats are available
- A free alternative is e.g. Scribus (does not match all the options offered by InDesign or PageMaker)
Presentation programmes like PowerPoint
- PowerPoint is one example, but the information here also applies to corresponding open-source alternatives.
- Core skill: PowerPoint is primarily for creating, animating and showing on-screen presentations. This is the major strength of this programme and its counterparts. So it can serve all the overlapping requirements between an on-screen presentation and a poster. It’s easy to insert figures, to format texts, etc.
- PDF and JPG are available as alternative file formats. But with very limited resolutions, especially in the newer versions of the programmes. So you have to expect quality losses when going to print.
- You should definitely not create sketches, models, etc. in PowerPoint, save them as JPG and then use them in a printed product. The result is always an unattractive, often unrecognisable graphic.
- Presentation programmes cannot create vector graphics. They usually have geometric shapes that look like vectors and that require similarly little memory and file volume, but the programmes do not let you save them in the appropriate file formats. They rasterise the vectors and then save them as pixels.
- Posters in presentation programmes usually result in very large files, as they are based on (high-resolution) pixel graphics. This in turn means a lot of memory is needed or upload time when printing. And often enough the result is still a poster with a lot of blurred and hugely pixelated elements, which in the worst-case scenario you only notice after the final print.
- In addition, it doesn’t have the many practical tools that real graphics programmes feature: You can’t merge lines, precision alignment options are limited, as is the guide setup.
- The big advantage the programme harbours is undoubtedly that it is very widespread and inexpensive, so a lot of users feel confident in using the programme and can get results relatively quickly, BUT a crutch is no substitute for a healthy leg!
Image editing programmes like Photoshop or GIMP
- Core skill: conventional image processing e.g. photos, so pixel graphics.
- Photoshop is a “pay” programme that has been used for many years by graphic designers and photographers worldwide.
- Disadvantage: Photoshop is a “pay” programme and not that widespread. There are not many users who feel truly confident in using the software.
- Photoshop is designed for editing photos, i.e. pixels. However, (limited) vectors can be integrated or edited in the programme.
- Another disadvantage is that pixel graphics require a lot of memory and lead to large files.
- Paragraph styles and graphic styles make it easy to implement consistent designs.
- An open-source alternative is GIMP, which is very popular with many users. It matches a lot, but not all, of the options offered by Photoshop, and the desktop layout is a bit unconventional.
Vector graphics programmes such as Illustrator
- Illustrator is a “pay” programme that has been used for many years by graphic designers worldwide.
- Disadvantage: Price. The user base is small compared to Office applications.
- Core skill: Real vector graphics like cliparts, comics, sketches, models. Since the last few programme versions, 3D graphics have also been possible. But then the amount of memory needed increases.
- Pixel graphics can be integrated into the vector graphics.
- The graphics can be exported in PSD, PDF or other pixel graphic formats in freely selectable resolutions.
- As long as no 3D graphics are integrated, file sizes are relatively small.
- Another disadvantage: as it is not very widespread, there are comparatively few users who feel confident using the programme. The desktop feels alienating for beginners and the sheer number of tools, which often have names that don’t make any sense to non-experts, is an additional hurdle.
- Advantage: Within the Adobe programmes, the same icons/names also represent the same functions. If you are already familiar with other Adobe programmes, it’s fairly easy getting started.
- Another advantage: You can create style sheets not just for paragraphs (text), but for shapes too (graphic styles). This allows you to implement consistent layouts very easily and quickly. In addition, you can put together any shape you want by combining simple geometric shapes.
- An open-source alternative is, e.g. InkScape. It does not offer all the features of Illustrator, but there is a detailed wiki instructing you how to use the software.
Overview of the strengths of the programmes
The two tables below show the core skills and functions of each of the programmes listed above, with an assessment of their strengths in terms of creating posters.
Core skill | Shape tool | Text tool | Vector graphics | |
PowerPoint & Co | Screen presentation | + | ++ | - |
Illustrator & Co | Vector graphic | ++ | ++ | +++ |
InDesign & Co | Setting/Print layout | + | ++ | +/- |
Photoshop & Co | Image processing (pixel) | ++ | + | +/- |
File formats | CMYK colour space | Alignment/Guides | Style sheets | Masks | |
PowerPoint & Co | +/- | - | +/- | - | - |
Illustrator & Co | +++ | + | +++ | +++ | + |
InDesign & Co | ++ | + | + | + | +/- |
Photoshop & Co | +++ | + | + | ++ | + |