Poster Presentations

PowerPoint 1:
Using Essentials
PowerPoint 2007

Using Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

Produced by the IT Training and Assessment Unit

Produced by the IT Training
2007 and Assessment
Unit

2007
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents..................................................................................................... 2 
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3  
Creating a PowerPoint Poster Presentation ............................................................ 4 
Starting PowerPoint 2007 and Creating a Presentation ....................................................... 4 
Displaying Drawing Guides .....................................................................................................5 
Changing the Background Colour of your Poster ................................................... 6 
Applying a Gradient .................................................................................................................. 6 
Adding Text to your Poster ..................................................................................... 7 
Using WordArt to Create a Title ............................................................................................. 7 
Using a Text Box to Insert Text..............................................................................................8 
Inserting Text from Another Program ................................................................................... 9 
Using Diagrams and Images .................................................................................. 11  
Creating a Diagram ..................................................................................................................11 
Aligning and Grouping Shapes ..............................................................................................13 
Inserting an Image ...................................................................................................................13 
Applying a Background Image ..............................................................................................14 
Changing the Fill Colour of Text Boxes ..............................................................................14 
Using SmartArt ........................................................................................................................15 
Getting your Poster Printed .................................................................................... 17 
Large Scale Plotting Services..................................................................................................17 

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Introduction
This practical will show you how to create a poster presentation similar to those used
frequently at conferences and exhibitions. PowerPoint is an ideal application for
producing posters as it is allows you to communicate ideas in a highly visible manner and
it is a program that most people are already familiar with. This practical will show you
how to insert text and pictures and how to manipulate data and images to produce eye-
catching presentations that will enable viewers to quickly discern your message.

As this practical will involve some of the more advanced features of PowerPoint 2007, it
is assumed that you are already familiar with basic PowerPoint, Windows, Word and File
Management techniques. If you have never used PowerPoint before you may find it
beneficial to complete the PowerPoint 1: Essentials and Advanced PowerPoint exercises
available on the Training Resources Web site. To download the exercises and associated
files, go to http://www.qub.ac.uk/is/Training/
FlexibleTrainingSolutions/ and right click on each file and select Save Target As.

What you will learn

By the end of the practical you should be able to:

• Create a poster presentation

• Change the background colour
• Insert WordArt and SmartArt
• Use text boxes
• Insert text from another program
• Insert and format AutoShapes and arrows
• Apply a background image

Approximate time
This practical should take you approximately 2 hours to complete.

Associated files
The following files should be downloaded and saved to your Home Space (H: drive)
prior to beginning this exercise:

• PosterText.doc
• alcopops.jpg
• alcohol.jpg

The files are available from the Training Resources Web site:
http://www.qub.ac.uk/is/Training/
FlexibleTrainingSolutions/
To download the files, right click on the filename and select Save Target As…, navigate
to the H: drive and click Save.

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Creating a PowerPoint Poster Presentation

For this practical you will create a new presentation using text which is already saved as a
Word file. You should have already copied this to your Home Space (H: drive). Instead
of using a predefined template you will start with a blank slide and create your own
layout and colour scheme.

Starting PowerPoint 2007 and Creating a Presentation

1. Double click the PowerPoint 2007 icon on the Desktop. PowerPoint will open
with a blank title slide.

2. Click the Layout button in the Slides group to view the different slide layouts
and select the Blank layout (see Figure 1) to remove the placeholders.

Figure 1 PowerPoint Window

You are now going to specify the size and orientation of your poster. Often conferences
will provide guidelines for poster presentations, indicating what size posters should be
and whether they should be landscape or portrait. The most common size is A0 (approx.
4ft x 3 ft).

3. Go to the Design tab on the Ribbon and click Page Setup. The Page Setup
dialog box will appear.

4. In the Slides sized for: box (see Figure 2) select Custom.

5. In the Width: box enter 90 and in the Height: box enter 120 (see Figure 2). In
the Orientation section, make sure that Portrait is selected under Slides (see
Figure 2) and click OK.

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Figure 2 Page Setup Dialog Box

Slides sized
for: box

Width: box Portrait

Height: box

Note: The maximum width and height that PowerPoint will allow you to enter is 140cm
however the maximum poster size that can be printed in the University is 90.6cm wide
by 124.5cm high.

6. Go to the View tab and click Zoom. Change the Zoom level to 20%.

7. Save your poster as a PowerPoint presentation under the filename

PosterPresentation in your H: drive.

Tip: If you prefer you can create your poster as A4 and then have it scaled when it is
printed. This is particularly beneficial if you want to keep the file size small.

Displaying Drawing Guides

Guides should be used to ensure text and images are aligned. They will not be printed
and are not displayed in Slide Show view. For example, you can use vertical guides to
create margins on the left and right or a horizontal guide to align your title and graphics
at the top.

1. Right-click on a blank part of the slide (not a placeholder) and select Grid and
Guides. The Grid and Guides dialog box will appear (see Figure 3).

2. Select the Display drawing guides on screen option and click OK.

Figure 3 Grid and Guides Dialog Box

Using Drawing Guides

To move the guides, drag them with the

mouse. The distance from the centre of the
slide will be displayed as you drag the guide.
To duplicate the guide, hold down the Ctrl
key as you drag. To delete a guide, drag it
off the screen.

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Changing the Background Colour of your Poster

PowerPoint offers you a variety of options for backgrounds for presentations. You can
simply change the colour, or you can add shading, patterns, textures or pictures. The
background of your poster should not detract from the content and careful consideration
should be given to the choice of colours and/or images so as to ensure that your poster
is still legible. Remember that slide colour schemes that are suitable for projection are
not always suitable for printing.

Applying a Gradient

You can use any of the predefined PowerPoint colour schemes for your poster, or you
may prefer to design your own.

1. Make sure that the Design tab is selected and move your mouse over the
different options in the Themes group to see how your poster would appear
using each of the themes.

2. In the Background group on the Design tab, click Background styles and
select Format Background. The Format Background dialog box will appear.
Select Gradient fill (see Figure 4).

Figure 4 Format Background Dialog Box

3. Make selections from the Preset colors, Type and Direction options. You will
see the result of your selections on your slide behind the dialog box.

4. Adjust the Stop position and Transparency sliders and make sure that your
background will not make any text difficult to read. Click Close when you have
finished.

Note: When applying a gradient, make sure that you choose colours which are
compatible. Generally colours should be “light to lighter” or “dark to darker” not “light
to dark”.

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Adding Text to your Poster

The title of your poster is your first communication with the viewer and should clearly
convey the essence of your message. As well as containing the title of your project, the
poster title may also include the names of the people involved and their affiliation. The
title should be readable from about three metres away and therefore should usually have
a minimum font size of 40 points.

Using WordArt to Create a Title

WordArt allows you to create high impact text and offers a variety of styles. You can
stretch, curve or rotate your text, or you can even make it 3-D or vertical.

1. Go to the Insert tab and, in the Text group, click WordArt and choose a
WordArt style from the gallery (see Figure 5).

Figure 5 WordArt Gallery

2. A textbox will appear in the centre of your poster containing the text Your text
here. Replace this text with the following title:
The influence of family relationships on adolescent siblings’ alcohol use
Click the Bold button and change the font size of the text to 72 (or larger).

3. Click the title to select it. Use the four headed arrow to drag the title to the top
of the poster, making sure that it is centred. If you wish to resize it you can use
the “drag handles” that appear on the corners and sides of the WordArt.

When the WordArt is selected, you will notice a Format tab under Drawing Tools will be
added to the Ribbon (see Figure 6).
Figure 6 Format Tab

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4. Select your text and click on the Format tab (see Figure 6). Experiment with the
different options in the WordArt Styles group or click the dialog box launcher in
the WordArt Styles group to open the Format Text Effects dialog box (see
Figure 7).

Figure 7 Format Text Effects Dialog Box

5. Adjust various features of your WordArt to ensure that the colours and styles
used will make the text easy to read.

Tip: To split your title over two lines you will need to insert a hard return by pressing
the Enter key when entering the text. To use features like subscript or superscript, use
the dialog box launcher in the Font group on the Home tab.

Using a Text Box to Insert Text

Although WordArt is useful for creating fancy text, it is not suitable for large amounts of
text. Another way of inserting text is to use a Text Box.

1. Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon and click Text Box and then click below
your main title. Enter the following text:
D. D. Gossrau & J. M. Williams
School of Education, University of Edinburgh, UK.
The text box will resize to accommodate the text.

2. Centre the text box horizontally on the poster.

3. Select the names of the authors within the text box and make them bold.

4. Select all the text in the text box, make it font size 72 and centre it. Click outside
of the text box to deselect it. Save your changes.

Note: If you are creating your poster on a small scale, use between 6pt and 10pt for the
main text and between 20pt and 24pt for the title text.

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Inserting Text from Another Program

1. Insert a new text box on the left of the poster.

2. Minimise the PowerPoint window and start the Word application by double
clicking on the Word 2007 icon on the Desktop.

3. Open the PosterText file that you saved earlier to your H: drive. Select the first
two paragraphs entitled Introduction and Sample and copy them to the
clipboard (Ctrl + C).

4. Minimise the Word window and maximise the PowerPoint window again.

5. Click within the empty text box and press Ctrl + V to paste the copied text.

6. Select all the text in the text box by clicking inside the text box and pressing Ctrl
+ A and change the font size to 32. Make the titles Introduction and Sample
font size 40. Resize and reposition the text box so that it fits within the first
quarter of the poster (see Figure 8).

Figure 8 Inserting Text

7. Repeat the above procedure to copy and paste the Method and Procedure
paragraph into a text box in the bottom left quarter of the poster. Make sure the
text has the same formatting as outlined above.

8. Position the Results paragraph in the top right quarter and the Summary and
Discussion and Conclusions paragraphs in the bottom right quarter, applying
the same formatting as before.

9. Copy the References section and paste it into the poster. Make the text size 24
and resize the text box so that it spans the width of the bottom of the poster.
The poster should resemble Figure 9 when you have finished. Save your
changes.

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Figure 9 Dividing Text into Textboxes

Tip!

If you are inserting a table from Word, use Paste Special and select Picture (Enhanced
Metafile). This will import the table as a graphic file so that it cannot be manipulated or
changed and therefore is much better for printing purposes. If you simply paste the table
into PowerPoint it may change appearance when printed.

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Using Diagrams and Images

As space is limited on a poster presentation, you should use images and diagrams to
explain processes or results where possible.

Creating a Diagram

You are now going to create a diagram in the space in the middle of the right column of
your poster using the Shapes gallery.

1. Adjust the Zoom in your PowerPoint window so that the space in the right
column of your poster fills most of your screen.

2. Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon and click Shapes. Choose the Rounded
Rectangle shape (see Figure 10).

Figure 10 Shapes Gallery

3. Click where you want to place the first rectangle and drag it out to an appropriate
size. Use Figure 11 as a guide.

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Figure 11 Diagram

4. Go to the Home tab and change the size in the Font Size box to 40 and type
Parental Alcohol Problems using the Enter key to place each word on a new
line (see Figure 11). Resize the rectangle as necessary.

5. With the rectangle still selected, go to the Format tab under Drawing Tools. Use
the options in the Shape Styles group to adjust features of the shape like the fill
colour.

6. Right-click on the rectangle and select Copy. Right-click again and select Paste.
A copy of the rectangle will appear over the top of the first. Drag the new
rectangle below the first, click inside it and replace the text with Poor Marital
Quality (see Figure 11).

7. Repeat this process to recreate the other rectangles as shown in Figure 11.

8. Click the Arrow button on the Insert Shapes group on the Format tab and click
and drag an arrow from the Parental Alcohol Problems rectangle to the
Parenting OS rectangle (see Figure 11).

9. With the arrow still selected, use the Shape Styles gallery to increase the
thickness and colour of the arrow.

10. To create the other arrows, copy and paste the first arrow, resizing and
repositioning each as necessary.

11. To change an arrow from a solid line to a dashed line, select the arrow and click
on the Shape Outline button in the Shape Styles group. Point to Dashes and
choose a dash style from those shown.

12. When you have finished your diagram, save your changes.

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Aligning and Grouping Shapes

To position your shapes evenly on the poster, you can use the Align option in the
Arrange group. You can then group all your shapes so that they can repositioned as one
object.

1. Using the Ctrl key, select the three rectangles on the left of your diagram.

2. Select the Format tab and, in the Arrange group, click Align. Select Align Left
to align the objects based on the object on the extreme left.

3. Align the middle two rectangles to the middle and the two rectangles on the right
to the right. Adjust the positions of any arrows as necessary.

4. To select all the shapes and arrows in the diagram, use the mouse pointer to click
and drag a box over the diagram.

5. In the Arrange group, click Group and select Group. The objects will now be
grouped together and can be moved, resized or formatted together.

Tip: You can still modify an individual object in a group by selecting the group and
then clicking the object and editing it as normal. To ungroup the objects again, you can
click Group in the Arrange group and select Ungroup.

Inserting an Image

You may wish to include an image such as a digital photograph on your poster. You can
do this as follows:

1. From the Insert tab, select Picture in the Illustrations group.

2. Navigate to your H: drive and select the alcopops.jpg file that you saved there
earlier and click Insert.

3. Position the image above the heading Introduction and resize it as appropriate.

4. Go to the Format tab under Picture Tools and, in the Picture Styles group,
click Picture Border and select a colour for the border. A thin, dark border
tends to work best around a picture.

5. Experiment with the different Picture Styles available in the Picture Styles group
but avoid anything that will distort the picture too much.

Note: Some images may become distorted when enlarged for posters. Images taken
from the WWW and pictures saved as a gif file tend not to scale well. Images with a
higher resolution will look better when printed so always try to use the best quality image
you can.

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Applying a Background Image

Images can also be used as the background to your poster however this feature should be
used with caution as it may be difficult to find an image that allows your text to be read
easily.

1. In the Background group on the Design tab, click Background styles and
select Format Background. The Format Background dialog box will appear.

2. Select Picture or texture fill and click the File button under Insert from (see
Figure 12).

Figure 12 Format Background Dialog Box

5. In the Select Picture dialog box, navigate to your H: drive, select the alcohol.jpg
image that you saved earlier and click Insert.

6. Click Close in the Format Background dialog box and save your changes.

Tip: If your image file is very large, make sure that you have finished creating your
poster first before inserting the background to avoid wasting time waiting on your poster
refreshing each time you make a change.

Changing the Fill Colour of Text Boxes

To make your text easier to read you can apply a fill colour to the text boxes or make
them semi-transparent.

1. Right-click on the first text box and select Format Shape. The Format Shape
dialog box will appear (see Figure 13).

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Figure 13 Format Shape Dialog Box

2. Make sure that Fill is selected in the list on the left and select Solid fill (see
Figure 13).

3. Select white in the Color: box and set the Transparency: level to 50% (see
Figure 13). Click Close and view the result.

4. Click on the next text box and then click again on its border to select it. Press
and hold down the Ctrl key and click on the remaining text boxes to select them
all simultaneously.

5. Select the Format tab under Drawing Tools and click the dialog box launcher in
the Shape Styles group to open the Format Shape dialog box. Change the Fill
Colour to white and the Transparency to 50% and click OK. All the text
boxes should now be semi-transparent.

6. View your presentation in Slide Show view by clicking the Slide Show icon
in the Status bar to see the finished effect. Press the Esc key to return to
Normal view when you have finished.

7. Save your changes.

Using SmartArt

A quick way to create basic diagrams such as flowcharts, cycle diagrams, pyramids and so
on is to use the new SmartArt feature.

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button and select New. Make sure that Blank
Presentation is selected and click Create.

2. Click Layout in the Slides group and change the layout to a Blank layout.

3. Go to the Insert tab and, in the Illustrations group, click SmartArt. The
Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box will appear (see Figure 14).

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Figure 14 Choose a SmartArt Graphic Dialog Box

4. Use the scrollbar to scroll through the layouts or select a type from the list on the
left to view the layouts for that type.

5. Click a SmartArt graphic to view an example and a description of it in the area to

the right (see Figure 14). To insert a layout, select it and click OK.

6. The SmartArt graphic will appear on your slide along with a Text pane. A design
tab and a Format tab will be added to the Ribbon under SmartArt Tools. Use the
Text pane to add text to each component of your diagram. Press the down
arrow key to move to the next component and press the Enter key to insert a
new component. If you want to create a sublevel bullet point, press the Tab key.

Using the SmartArt Text Pane

Figure 15 SmartArt Text Pane
To close the Text pane, click the X in
the top right corner of it. To display
the Text pane again, click the arrows to
the left of the SmartArt graphic or
select the Design tab under SmartArt
Tools and, in the Create Graphic
group, click Text Pane or the Text
Pane icon.
7. When you have finished creating your SmartArt graphic, use the Design tab
under SmartArt Tools to make changes to it such as changing the order of the
components, the Layout or the SmartArt Style.

8. Exit from Microsoft PowerPoint when you have finished.

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Getting your Poster Printed

Large Scale Plotting Services

Large scale posters can be printed using a high quality colour plotter, located close to the
Information Services Computing Helpdesk room in G010N in Lanyon North. It has a
resolution of 600 dots per inch (dpi) providing a high level of precision. Plots are
normally up to A0 in size i.e. 34 inches (86.36cm) x 44 inches (111.76cm) on Standard
paper (90gm) or High Gloss Photo paper but plots up to 42 inches (106.68cm) wide can
be accommodated.

Access to the plotter can be obtained either from the Information Services Computing
Helpdesk or via a Computer Assistant in the SCCs. Files can be brought on a USB pen
or CD to the Helpdesk, or emailed as an attachment to posters@qub.ac.uk for printing
with details of the size of output and paper type required. A staff/student number and a
contact phone number should also be included.

Files should be brought/sent to Advisory a minimum of 4 working days before the

printed output is required. Prices for an A0 or A1 sized poster range from £8 to £15 for
high gloss photo paper.

For more information about large scale plotting services contact the Helpdesk on 3760
or go to the following web page:
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/Research/Services/LargeScale
plotting/

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