Leaving Space

• effective posters are spacious and easy to follow
• adequate clear space will direct attention to key elements
• remember the eye looks for edges, so align photographs, headings, text materials and axes in groups of graphs
• A column of text should be between 12 inches (30.5 cm) and 16 inches (40.5 cm) wide. A 36 x 48 inch (91.44 x 121.92 cm) poster with a portrait orientation uses two columns. The same size poster with a landscape orientation requires 3 columns. Use rulers to measure and guides to mark columns, leaving at least 1 inch (3 cm) between columns.
• leave a minimum of 1.5 inches (4 cm) of clear space around the inside edge of your poster as no plotter prints right to the edge of the paper
• plotter paper comes in rolls, common sizes are 36 inches (91.44 cm) and 52 inches (132.08 cm) wide, find out what size your printer uses and design your poster to fit