How-to

How to Make a Scientific Poster: Step-by-Step Guide

Make a research poster in 8 steps: sizes (A0, 48x36 in), layout, font sizes, figures, colours, free templates and print export, with a checklist.

Sciicons · Published October 11, 2026 · Last updated October 11, 2026

Last updated: October 11, 2026. Sizes and product details were checked against the sources listed at the end.

Quick answer: To make a scientific poster, confirm the conference size (often A0 or 48 x 36 in), write one take-home message, choose a three- or four-column template, put figures before text, use large readable fonts, apply a colour-blind-safe palette, and export a print PDF at full size. Free templates such as PosterScientist speed up the layout.

What is a scientific poster?

A scientific poster is a large printed or digital summary of a research project, presented at a conference session where authors stand by the poster and discuss it with visitors. A good poster communicates one main finding visually, usually through a title, short introduction, methods, results figures, conclusions and references.

What size should a scientific poster be?

A0 is defined by ISO 216 as one square metre in area. Always follow the board size and orientation in your conference instructions; a landscape poster on a portrait board is a common, avoidable problem.

Which tools can you use to make a poster?

PosterScientist

PosterScientist is a free online research poster maker. You pick a template, fill in title, methods, results and conclusions, arrange sections by drag and drop, and download an editable PowerPoint (.pptx) at A0, A1, 48 x 36 in, 36 x 48 in, 42 x 42 in or other print sizes; SVG download is also offered. Premium templates are available through a one-time Pro Lifetime purchase (listed at US$29 on the site when checked).

Sciicons and LabCanvas

Sciicons supplies free SVG scientific illustrations for poster figures, plus Pro packs such as Lab Essentials and Assays for methods panels. LabCanvas is a browser-based design platform with a 2D canvas, molecule and protein visuals and a chart editor for building figure panels.

General-purpose software

PowerPoint and Google Slides are the most familiar options; set the slide size to the final poster size before you start. Inkscape (free) and Affinity (free with a Canva account since 2025) give more precise vector control. Adobe Illustrator is the paid professional standard.

How do you make a scientific poster step by step?

Step 1: Read the conference requirements

Note the board size, orientation, deadline, whether a printed or e-poster is required, and any template or logo rules. Write these on your first slide so you design to the right canvas.

Step 2: Write your take-home message

Write the single sentence you want visitors to remember, for example "Drug X halves tumour growth in organoids by blocking pathway Y." Put it in the title or in a highlighted box near the top.

Step 3: Choose a layout

Use three columns for portrait A0 and four columns for landscape 48 x 36 in. Readers scan top-left to bottom-right, so follow the logical order: Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusions. A central "results hero" layout, with the main figure in the middle, also works well.

Step 4: Make the figures first

Figures are the poster. Redraw small paper figures at poster scale with thicker lines (at least 2–3 pt) and larger axis labels. Use schematic illustrations for methods, for example icons from the Sciicons lab equipment illustrations, and the Well Plate Colorer or Gel Builder for plate layouts and gels.

Step 5: Cut the text

Replace paragraphs with short bullet points. Keep the total to a few hundred words. Use the poster to start a conversation; the details go in your talk, a handout or a QR code linking to the paper or preprint.

Step 6: Set readable typography

Use one sans-serif family, left-aligned text and high contrast (dark text on a light background). These sizes are common guidelines rather than a formal standard; print an A4 proof and check that body text is readable at arm's length.

Step 7: Apply colour carefully

Choose two or three colours plus neutral grey. About 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have red-green colour vision deficiency (National Eye Institute), so avoid red/green contrasts and use colour-blind-safe palettes such as Okabe–Ito. See our guide to colour-blind-safe palettes for scientific figures.

Step 8: Proof, export and print

1. Check spelling, author names, affiliations and funding acknowledgements.
2. Zoom to 100% and check that images are not pixelated (aim for 150–300 dpi at final size).
3. Export a PDF with fonts embedded.
4. Order the print several days early; fabric posters fold into luggage, paper posters need a tube.

What are the most common poster mistakes?

• Too much text and too-small fonts.
• Low-resolution figures copied from a PDF.
• No clear take-home message.
• Inconsistent fonts, colours and icon styles across panels.
• Wrong size or orientation for the board.

Poster checklist

• ☐ Correct size and orientation
• ☐ Title states the finding
• ☐ Main figure visible from 2 metres
• ☐ Body text 24 pt or larger
• ☐ Colour-blind-safe palette
• ☐ Logos, funding and references included
• ☐ QR code to paper, preprint or contact
• ☐ PDF exported with embedded fonts and checked at 100%

Sources

• PosterScientist: https://www.posterscientist.com/ (checked 11 Oct 2026)
• ISO 216 paper sizes (A0 = 1 m², 841 x 1189 mm): https://www.iso.org/standard/36631.html
• National Eye Institute, colour blindness: https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/color-blindness
• Okabe & Ito, Color Universal Design: https://jfly.uni-koeln.de/color/
• LabCanvas: https://labcanvas.com/ (checked 11 Oct 2026)

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