latex-posters

Create professional research posters in LaTeX using beamerposter, tikzposter, or baposter. Support for conference presentations, academic posters, and…

INSTALLATION
npx skills add https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --skill latex-posters
Run in your project or agent environment. Adjust flags if your CLI version differs.

SKILL.md

$2c

⚠️ MANDATORY: Every research poster MUST include at least 2-3 AI-generated figures using the scientific-schematics skill.

This is not optional. Posters are primarily visual media - text-heavy posters fail to communicate effectively. Before finalizing any poster:

  • Generate at minimum TWO schematics or diagrams
  • Target 3-4 figures for comprehensive posters (methodology flowchart, key results visualization, conceptual framework)
  • Figures should occupy 40-50% of poster area

How to generate figures:

  • Use the scientific-schematics skill to generate AI-powered publication-quality diagrams
  • Simply describe your desired diagram in natural language
  • Nano Banana Pro will automatically generate, review, and refine the schematic

How to generate schematics:

python scripts/generate_schematic.py "your diagram description" -o figures/output.png

The AI will automatically:

  • Create publication-quality images with proper formatting
  • Review and refine through multiple iterations
  • Ensure accessibility (colorblind-friendly, high contrast)
  • Save outputs in the figures/ directory

When to add schematics:

  • Research methodology flowcharts for poster content
  • Conceptual framework diagrams
  • Experimental design visualizations
  • Data analysis pipeline diagrams
  • System architecture diagrams
  • Biological pathway illustrations
  • Any complex concept that benefits from visualization

For detailed guidance on creating schematics, refer to the scientific-schematics skill documentation.

Core Capabilities

1. LaTeX Poster Packages

Support for three major LaTeX poster packages, each with distinct advantages. For detailed comparison and package-specific guidance, refer to references/latex_poster_packages.md.

beamerposter:

  • Extension of the Beamer presentation class
  • Familiar syntax for Beamer users
  • Excellent theme support and customization
  • Best for: Traditional academic posters, institutional branding

tikzposter:

  • Modern, flexible design with TikZ integration
  • Built-in color themes and layout templates
  • Extensive customization through TikZ commands
  • Best for: Colorful, modern designs, custom graphics

baposter:

  • Box-based layout system
  • Automatic spacing and positioning
  • Professional-looking default styles
  • Best for: Multi-column layouts, consistent spacing

2. Poster Layout and Structure

Create effective poster layouts following visual communication principles. For comprehensive layout guidance, refer to references/poster_layout_design.md.

Common Poster Sections:

  • Header/Title: Title, authors, affiliations, logos
  • Introduction/Background: Research context and motivation
  • Methods/Approach: Methodology and experimental design
  • Results: Key findings with figures and data visualizations
  • Conclusions: Main takeaways and implications
  • References: Key citations (typically abbreviated)
  • Acknowledgments: Funding, collaborators, institutions

Layout Strategies:

  • Column-based layouts: 2-column, 3-column, or 4-column grids
  • Block-based layouts: Flexible arrangement of content blocks
  • Z-pattern flow: Guide readers through content logically
  • Visual hierarchy: Use size, color, and spacing to emphasize key points

3. Design Principles for Research Posters

Apply evidence-based design principles for maximum impact. For detailed design guidance, refer to references/poster_design_principles.md.

Typography:

  • Title: 72-120pt for visibility from distance
  • Section headers: 48-72pt
  • Body text: 24-36pt minimum for readability from 4-6 feet
  • Use sans-serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Calibri) for clarity
  • Limit to 2-3 font families maximum

Color and Contrast:

  • Use high-contrast color schemes for readability
  • Institutional color palettes for branding
  • Color-blind friendly palettes (avoid red-green combinations)
  • White space is active space—don't overcrowd

Visual Elements:

  • High-resolution figures (300 DPI minimum for print)
  • Large, clear labels on all figures
  • Consistent figure styling throughout
  • Strategic use of icons and graphics
  • Balance text with visual content (40-50% visual recommended)

Content Guidelines:

  • Less is more: 300-800 words total recommended
  • Bullet points over paragraphs for scannability
  • Clear, concise messaging
  • Self-explanatory figures with minimal text explanation
  • QR codes for supplementary materials or online resources

4. Standard Poster Sizes

Support for international and conference-specific poster dimensions:

International Standards:

  • A0 (841 × 1189 mm / 33.1 × 46.8 inches) - Most common European standard
  • A1 (594 × 841 mm / 23.4 × 33.1 inches) - Smaller format
  • A2 (420 × 594 mm / 16.5 × 23.4 inches) - Compact posters

North American Standards:

  • 36 × 48 inches (914 × 1219 mm) - Common US conference size
  • 42 × 56 inches (1067 × 1422 mm) - Large format
  • 48 × 72 inches (1219 × 1829 mm) - Extra large

Orientation:

  • Portrait (vertical) - Most common, traditional
  • Landscape (horizontal) - Better for wide content, timelines

5. Package-Specific Templates

Provide ready-to-use templates for each major package. Templates available in assets/ directory.

beamerposter Templates:

  • beamerposter_classic.tex - Traditional academic style
  • beamerposter_modern.tex - Clean, minimal design
  • beamerposter_colorful.tex - Vibrant theme with blocks

tikzposter Templates:

  • tikzposter_default.tex - Standard tikzposter layout
  • tikzposter_rays.tex - Modern design with ray theme
  • tikzposter_wave.tex - Professional wave-style theme

baposter Templates:

  • baposter_portrait.tex - Classic portrait layout
  • baposter_landscape.tex - Landscape multi-column
  • baposter_minimal.tex - Minimalist design

6. Figure and Image Integration

Optimize visual content for poster presentations:

Best Practices:

  • Use vector graphics (PDF, SVG) when possible for scalability
  • Raster images: minimum 300 DPI at final print size
  • Consistent image styling (borders, captions, sizes)
  • Group related figures together
  • Use subfigures for comparisons

LaTeX Figure Commands:

% Include graphics package

\usepackage{graphicx}

% Simple figure

\includegraphics[width=0.8\linewidth]{figure.pdf}

% Figure with caption in tikzposter

\block{Results}{

  \begin{tikzfigure}

    \includegraphics[width=0.9\linewidth]{results.png}

  \end{tikzfigure}

}

% Multiple subfigures

\usepackage{subcaption}

\begin{figure}

  \begin{subfigure}{0.48\linewidth}

    \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{fig1.pdf}

    \caption{Condition A}

  \end{subfigure}

  \begin{subfigure}{0.48\linewidth}

    \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{fig2.pdf}

    \caption{Condition B}

  \end{subfigure}

\end{figure}

7. Color Schemes and Themes

Provide professional color palettes for various contexts:

Academic Institution Colors:

  • Match university or department branding
  • Use official color codes (RGB, CMYK, or LaTeX color definitions)

Scientific Color Palettes (color-blind friendly):

  • Viridis: Professional gradient from purple to yellow
  • ColorBrewer: Research-tested palettes for data visualization
  • IBM Color Blind Safe: Accessible corporate palette

Package-Specific Theme Selection:

beamerposter:

\usetheme{Berlin}

\usecolortheme{beaver}

tikzposter:

\usetheme{Rays}

\usecolorstyle{Denmark}

baposter:

\begin{poster}{

  background=plain,

  bgColorOne=white,

  headerColorOne=blue!70,

  textborder=rounded

}

8. Typography and Text Formatting

Ensure readability and visual appeal:

Font Selection:

% Sans-serif fonts recommended for posters

\usepackage{helvet}      % Helvetica

\usepackage{avant}       % Avant Garde

\usepackage{sfmath}      % Sans-serif math fonts

% Set default to sans-serif

\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault}

Text Sizing:

% Adjust text sizes for visibility

\setbeamerfont{title}{size=\VeryHuge}

\setbeamerfont{author}{size=\Large}

\setbeamerfont{institute}{size=\normalsize}

Emphasis and Highlighting:

  • Use bold for key terms: \textbf{important}
  • Color highlights sparingly: \textcolor{blue}{highlight}
  • Boxes for critical information
  • Avoid italics (harder to read from distance)

9. QR Codes and Interactive Elements

Enhance poster interactivity for modern conferences:

QR Code Integration:

\usepackage{qrcode}

% Link to paper, code repository, or supplementary materials

\qrcode[height=2cm]{https://github.com/username/project}

% QR code with caption

\begin{center}

  \qrcode[height=3cm]{https://doi.org/10.1234/paper}\\

  \small Scan for full paper

\end{center}

Digital Enhancements:

  • Link to GitHub repositories for code
  • Link to video presentations or demos
  • Link to interactive web visualizations
  • Link to supplementary data or appendices

10. Compilation and Output

Generate high-quality PDF output for printing or digital display:

Compilation Commands:

# Basic compilation

pdflatex poster.tex

# With bibliography

pdflatex poster.tex

bibtex poster

pdflatex poster.tex

pdflatex poster.tex

# For beamer-based posters

lualatex poster.tex  # Better font support

xelatex poster.tex   # Unicode and modern fonts

Ensuring Full Page Coverage:

Posters should use the entire page without excessive margins. Configure packages correctly:

beamerposter - Full Page Setup:

\documentclass[final,t]{beamer}

\usepackage[size=a0,scale=1.4,orientation=portrait]{beamerposter}

% Remove default beamer margins

\setbeamersize{text margin left=0mm, text margin right=0mm}

% Use geometry for precise control

\usepackage[margin=10mm]{geometry}  % 10mm margins all around

% Remove navigation symbols

\setbeamertemplate{navigation symbols}{}

% Remove footline and headline if not needed

\setbeamertemplate{footline}{}

\setbeamertemplate{headline}{}

tikzposter - Full Page Setup:

\documentclass[

  25pt,                      % Font scaling

  a0paper,                   % Paper size

  portrait,                  % Orientation

  margin=10mm,               % Outer margins (minimal)

  innermargin=15mm,          % Space inside blocks

  blockverticalspace=15mm,   % Space between blocks

  colspace=15mm,             % Space between columns

  subcolspace=8mm            % Space between subcolumns

]{tikzposter}

% This ensures content fills the page

baposter - Full Page Setup:

\documentclass[a0paper,portrait,fontscale=0.285]{baposter}

\begin{poster}{

  grid=false,

  columns=3,

  colspacing=1.5em,          % Space between columns

  eyecatcher=true,

  background=plain,

  bgColorOne=white,

  borderColor=blue!50,

  headerheight=0.12\textheight,  % 12% for header

  textborder=roundedleft,

  headerborder=closed,

  boxheaderheight=2em        % Consistent box header heights

}

% Content here

\end{poster}

Common Issues and Fixes:

Problem: Large white margins around poster

% Fix for beamerposter

\setbeamersize{text margin left=5mm, text margin right=5mm}

% Fix for tikzposter

\documentclass[..., margin=5mm, innermargin=10mm]{tikzposter}

% Fix for baposter - adjust in document class

\documentclass[a0paper, margin=5mm]{baposter}

Problem: Content doesn't fill vertical space

% Use \vfill between sections to distribute space

\block{Introduction}{...}

\vfill

\block{Methods}{...}

\vfill

\block{Results}{...}

% Or manually adjust block spacing

\vspace{1cm}  % Add space between specific blocks

Problem: Poster extends beyond page boundaries

% Check total width calculation

% For 3 columns with spacing:

% Total = 3×columnwidth + 2×colspace + 2×margins

% Ensure this equals \paperwidth

% Debug by adding visible page boundary

\usepackage{eso-pic}

\AddToShipoutPictureBG{

  \AtPageLowerLeft{

    \put(0,0){\framebox(\LenToUnit{\paperwidth},\LenToUnit{\paperheight}){}}

  }

}

Print Preparation:

  • Generate PDF/X-1a for professional printing
  • Embed all fonts
  • Convert colors to CMYK if required
  • Check resolution of all images (minimum 300 DPI)
  • Add bleed area if required by printer (usually 3-5mm)
  • Verify page size matches requirements exactly

Digital Display:

  • RGB color space for screen display
  • Optimize file size for email/web
  • Test readability on different screens

11. PDF Review and Quality Control

CRITICAL: Always review the generated PDF before printing or presenting. Use this systematic checklist:

Step 1: Page Size Verification

# Check PDF dimensions (should match poster size exactly)

pdfinfo poster.pdf | grep "Page size"

# Expected outputs:

# A0: 2384 x 3370 points (841 x 1189 mm)

# 36x48": 2592 x 3456 points

# A1: 1684 x 2384 points (594 x 841 mm)

Step 2: Visual Inspection Checklist

Open PDF at 100% zoom and check:

Layout and Spacing:

  • Content fills entire page (no large white margins)
  • Consistent spacing between columns
  • Consistent spacing between blocks/sections
  • All elements aligned properly (use ruler tool)
  • No overlapping text or figures
  • White space evenly distributed

Typography:

  • Title clearly visible and large (72pt+)
  • Section headers readable (48-72pt)
  • Body text readable at 100% zoom (24-36pt minimum)
  • No text cutoff or running off edges
  • Consistent font usage throughout
  • All special characters render correctly (symbols, Greek letters)

Visual Elements:

  • All figures display correctly
  • No pixelated or blurry images
  • Figure captions present and readable
  • Colors render as expected (not washed out or too dark)
  • Logos display clearly
  • QR codes visible and scannable

Content Completeness:

  • Title and authors complete
  • All sections present (Intro, Methods, Results, Conclusions)
  • References included
  • Contact information visible
  • Acknowledgments (if applicable)
  • No placeholder text remaining (Lorem ipsum, TODO, etc.)

Technical Quality:

  • No LaTeX compilation warnings in important areas
  • All citations resolved (no [?] marks)
  • All cross-references working
  • Page boundaries correct (no content cut off)

Step 3: Reduced-Scale Print Test

Essential Pre-Printing Test:

# Create reduced-size test print (25% of final size)

# This simulates viewing full poster from ~8-10 feet

# For A0 poster, print on A4 paper (24.7% scale)

# For 36x48" poster, print on letter paper (~25% scale)

Print Test Checklist:

  • Title readable from 6 feet away
  • Section headers readable from 4 feet away
  • Body text readable from 2 feet away
  • Figures clear and understandable
  • Colors printed accurately
  • No obvious design flaws

Step 4: Digital Quality Checks

Font Embedding Verification:

# Check that all fonts are embedded (required for printing)

pdffonts poster.pdf

# All fonts should show "yes" in "emb" column

# If any show "no", recompile with:

pdflatex -dEmbedAllFonts=true poster.tex

Image Resolution Check:

# Extract image information

pdfimages -list poster.pdf

# Check that all images are at least 300 DPI

# Formula: DPI = pixels / (inches in poster)

# For A0 width (33.1"): 300 DPI = 9930 pixels minimum

File Size Optimization:

# For email/web, compress if needed (>50MB)

gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 \

   -dPDFSETTINGS=/printer -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -dBATCH \

   -sOutputFile=poster_compressed.pdf poster.pdf

# For printing, keep original (no compression)

Step 5: Accessibility Check

Color Contrast Verification:

  • Text-background contrast ratio ≥ 4.5:1 (WCAG AA)
  • Important elements contrast ratio ≥ 7:1 (WCAG AAA)

Color Blindness Simulation:

  • View PDF through color blindness simulator
  • Information not lost with red-green simulation
  • Use Coblis (color-blindness.com) or similar tool

Step 6: Content Proofreading

Systematic Review:

  • Spell-check all text
  • Verify all author names and affiliations
  • Check all numbers and statistics for accuracy
  • Confirm all citations are correct
  • Review figure labels and captions
  • Check for typos in headers and titles

Peer Review:

  • Ask colleague to review poster
  • 30-second test: Can they identify main message?
  • 5-minute review: Do they understand conclusions?
  • Note any confusing elements

Step 7: Technical Validation

LaTeX Compilation Log Review:

# Check for warnings in .log file

grep -i "warning\|error\|overfull\|underfull" poster.log

# Common issues to fix:

# - Overfull hbox: Text extending beyond margins

# - Underfull hbox: Excessive spacing

# - Missing references: Citations not resolved

# - Missing figures: Image files not found

Fix Common Warnings:

% Overfull hbox (text too wide)

\usepackage{microtype}  % Better spacing

\sloppy  % Allow slightly looser spacing

\hyphenation{long-word}  % Manual hyphenation

% Missing fonts

\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}  % Better font encoding

% Image not found

% Ensure paths are correct and files exist

\graphicspath{{./figures/}{./images/}}

Step 8: Final Pre-Print Checklist

Before Sending to Printer:

  • PDF size exactly matches requirements (check with pdfinfo)
  • All fonts embedded (check with pdffonts)
  • Color mode correct (RGB for screen, CMYK for print if required)
  • Bleed area added if required (usually 3-5mm)
  • Crop marks visible if required
  • Test print completed and reviewed
  • File naming clear: [LastName]_[Conference]_Poster.pdf
  • Backup copy saved

Printing Specifications to Confirm:

  • Paper type (matte vs. glossy)
  • Printing method (inkjet, large format, fabric)
  • Color profile (provided to printer if required)
  • Delivery deadline and shipping address
  • Tube or flat packaging preference

Digital Presentation Checklist:

  • PDF size optimized (<10MB for email)
  • Tested on multiple PDF viewers (Adobe, Preview, etc.)
  • Displays correctly on different screens
  • QR codes tested and functional
  • Alternative formats prepared (PNG for social media)

Review Script (Available in scripts/review_poster.sh):

#!/bin/bash

# Automated poster PDF review script

echo "Poster PDF Quality Check"

echo "======================="

# Check file exists

if [ ! -f "$1" ]; then

    echo "Error: File not found"

    exit 1

fi

echo "File: $1"

echo ""

# Check page size

echo "1. Page Dimensions:"

pdfinfo "$1" | grep "Page size"

echo ""

# Check fonts

echo "2. Font Embedding:"

pdffonts "$1" | head -20

echo ""

# Check file size

echo "3. File Size:"

ls -lh "$1" | awk '{print $5}'

echo ""

# Count pages (should be 1 for poster)

echo "4. Page Count:"

pdfinfo "$1" | grep "Pages"

echo ""

echo "Manual checks required:"

echo "- Visual inspection at 100% zoom"

echo "- Reduced-scale print test (25%)"

echo "- Color contrast verification"

echo "- Proofreading for typos"

Common PDF Issues and Solutions:

Issue

Cause

Solution

Large white margins

Incorrect margin settings

Reduce margin in documentclass

Content cut off

Exceeds page boundaries

Check total width/height calculations

Blurry images

Low resolution (<300 DPI)

Replace with higher resolution images

Missing fonts

Fonts not embedded

Compile with -dEmbedAllFonts=true

Wrong page size

Incorrect paper size setting

Verify documentclass paper size

Colors look wrong

RGB vs CMYK mismatch

Convert color space for print

File too large (>50MB)

Uncompressed images

Optimize images or compress PDF

QR codes don't work

Too small or low resolution

Minimum 2×2cm, high contrast

11. Common Poster Content Patterns

Effective content organization for different research types:

Experimental Research Poster:

  • Title and authors
  • Introduction: Problem and hypothesis
  • Methods: Experimental design (with diagram)
  • Results: Key findings (2-4 main figures)
  • Conclusions: Main takeaways (3-5 bullet points)
  • Future work (optional)
  • References and acknowledgments

Computational/Modeling Poster:

  • Title and authors
  • Motivation: Problem statement
  • Approach: Algorithm or model (with flowchart)
  • Implementation: Technical details
  • Results: Performance metrics and comparisons
  • Applications: Use cases
  • Code availability (QR code to GitHub)
  • References

Review/Survey Poster:

  • Title and authors
  • Scope: Topic overview
  • Methods: Literature search strategy
  • Key findings: Main themes (organized by category)
  • Trends: Visualizations of publication patterns
  • Gaps: Identified research needs
  • Conclusions: Summary and implications
  • References

12. Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Design posters that are accessible to diverse audiences:

Color Blindness Considerations:

  • Avoid red-green combinations (most common color blindness)
  • Use patterns or shapes in addition to color
  • Test with color-blindness simulators
  • Provide high contrast (WCAG AA standard: 4.5:1 minimum)

Visual Impairment Accommodations:

  • Large, clear fonts (minimum 24pt body text)
  • High contrast text and background
  • Clear visual hierarchy
  • Avoid complex textures or patterns in backgrounds

Language and Content:

  • Clear, concise language
  • Define acronyms and jargon
  • International audience considerations
  • Consider multilingual QR code options for global conferences

13. Poster Presentation Best Practices

Guidance beyond LaTeX for effective poster sessions:

Content Strategy:

  • Tell a story, don't just list facts
  • Focus on 1-3 main messages
  • Use visual abstract or graphical summary
  • Leave room for conversation (don't over-explain)

Physical Presentation Tips:

  • Bring printed handouts or business cards with QR code
  • Prepare 30-second, 2-minute, and 5-minute verbal summaries
  • Stand to the side, not blocking the poster
  • Engage viewers with open-ended questions

Digital Backups:

  • Save poster as PDF on mobile device
  • Prepare digital version for email sharing
  • Create social media-friendly image version
  • Have backup printed copy or digital display option

Workflow for Poster Creation

Stage 1: Planning and Content Development

-

Determine poster requirements:

  • Conference size specifications (A0, 36×48", etc.)
  • Orientation (portrait vs. landscape)
  • Submission deadlines and format requirements

-

Develop content outline:

  • Identify 1-3 core messages
  • Select key figures (typically 3-6 main visuals)
  • Draft concise text for each section (bullet points preferred)
  • Aim for 300-800 words total

-

Choose LaTeX package:

  • beamerposter: If familiar with Beamer, need institutional themes
  • tikzposter: For modern, colorful designs with flexibility
  • baposter: For structured, professional multi-column layouts

Stage 2: Design and Layout

-

Select or create template:

  • Start with provided templates in assets/
  • Customize color scheme to match branding
  • Configure page size and orientation

-

Design layout structure:

  • Plan column structure (2, 3, or 4 columns)
  • Map content flow (typically left-to-right, top-to-bottom)
  • Allocate space for title (10-15%), content (70-80%), footer (5-10%)

-

Set typography:

  • Configure font sizes for different hierarchy levels
  • Ensure minimum 24pt body text
  • Test readability from 4-6 feet distance

Stage 3: Content Integration

-

Create poster header:

  • Title (concise, descriptive, 10-15 words)
  • Authors and affiliations
  • Institution logos (high-resolution)
  • Conference logo if required

-

Populate content sections:

  • Keep text minimal and scannable
  • Use bullet points, not paragraphs
  • Write in active voice
  • Integrate figures with clear captions

-

Add visual elements:

  • High-resolution figures (300 DPI minimum)
  • Consistent styling across all figures
  • Color-coded elements for emphasis
  • QR codes for supplementary materials

-

Include references:

  • Cite key papers only (5-10 references typical)
  • Use abbreviated citation style
  • Consider QR code to full bibliography

Stage 4: Refinement and Testing

-

Review and iterate:

  • Check for typos and errors
  • Verify all figures are high resolution
  • Ensure consistent formatting
  • Confirm color scheme works well together

-

Test readability:

  • Print at 25% scale and read from 2-3 feet (simulates poster from 8-12 feet)
  • Check color on different monitors
  • Verify QR codes function correctly
  • Ask colleague to review

-

Optimize for printing:

  • Embed all fonts in PDF
  • Verify image resolution
  • Check PDF size requirements
  • Include bleed area if required

Stage 5: Compilation and Delivery

-

Compile final PDF:

pdflatex poster.tex

# Or for better font support:

lualatex poster.tex

-

Verify output quality:

  • Check all elements are visible and correctly positioned
  • Zoom to 100% and inspect figure quality
  • Verify colors match expectations
  • Confirm PDF opens correctly on different viewers

-

Prepare for printing:

  • Export as PDF/X-1a if required
  • Save backup copies
  • Get test print on regular paper first
  • Order professional printing 2-3 days before deadline

-

Create supplementary materials:

  • Save PNG/JPG version for social media
  • Create handout version (8.5×11" summary)
  • Prepare digital version for email sharing

Integration with Other Skills

This skill works effectively with:

  • Scientific Writing: For developing poster content from papers
  • Figure Creation: For generating high-quality visualizations
  • Literature Review: For contextualizing research
  • Data Analysis: For creating result figures and charts

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Design Mistakes:

  • ❌ Too much text (over 1000 words)
  • ❌ Font sizes too small (under 24pt body text)
  • ❌ Low-contrast color combinations
  • ❌ Cluttered layout with no white space
  • ❌ Inconsistent styling across sections
  • ❌ Poor quality or pixelated images

Content Mistakes:

  • ❌ No clear narrative or message
  • ❌ Too many research questions or objectives
  • ❌ Overuse of jargon without definitions
  • ❌ Results without context or interpretation
  • ❌ Missing author contact information

Technical Mistakes:

  • ❌ Wrong poster dimensions for conference requirements
  • ❌ RGB colors sent to CMYK printer (color shift)
  • ❌ Fonts not embedded in PDF
  • ❌ File size too large for submission portal
  • ❌ QR codes too small or not tested

Best Practices:

  • ✅ Follow conference size specifications exactly
  • ✅ Test print at reduced scale before final printing
  • ✅ Use high-contrast, accessible color schemes
  • ✅ Keep text minimal and highly scannable
  • ✅ Include clear contact information and QR codes
  • ✅ Balance text and visuals (40-50% visual content)
  • ✅ Proofread carefully (errors are magnified on posters!)

Package Installation

Ensure required LaTeX packages are installed:

# For TeX Live (Linux/Mac)

tlmgr install beamerposter tikzposter baposter

# For MiKTeX (Windows)

# Packages typically auto-install on first use

# Additional recommended packages

tlmgr install qrcode graphics xcolor tcolorbox subcaption

Scripts and Automation

Helper scripts available in scripts/ directory:

  • compile_poster.sh: Automated compilation with error handling
  • generate_template.py: Interactive template generator
  • resize_images.py: Batch image optimization for posters
  • poster_checklist.py: Pre-submission validation tool

References

Comprehensive reference files for detailed guidance:

  • references/latex_poster_packages.md: Detailed comparison of beamerposter, tikzposter, and baposter with examples
  • references/poster_layout_design.md: Layout principles, grid systems, and visual flow
  • references/poster_design_principles.md: Typography, color theory, visual hierarchy, and accessibility
  • references/poster_content_guide.md: Content organization, writing style, and section-specific guidance

Templates

Ready-to-use poster templates in assets/ directory:

  • beamerposter templates (classic, modern, colorful)
  • tikzposter templates (default, rays, wave, envelope)
  • baposter templates (portrait, landscape, minimal)
  • Example posters from various scientific disciplines
  • Color scheme definitions and institutional templates

Load these templates and customize for your specific research and conference requirements.

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