“Best Poster Ever”Poster Creation in Adobe Illustrator

Gist

• What is Illustrator

• SfN Poster requirements

• Common elements

• How to add them

Disclaimer

• Not the magic recipe!

• Conglomeration from different sources

• Implement your own style

• Instruction limited today, but...

Disclaimer

S M T W R F S

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4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Adobe Illustrator• Vector-based drawing program

• Industry standard

• Vector vs. Raster

• Advantages include:

• Minimal info = minimal file size

• Indefinite zoom

• Modification

Vector

Raster

.ai

.eps

.svg

.pdf

.jpg

.gif

.bmp

.tif

Installation

Version Release OS Source

10 Nov 2001 Win, PPC Lab

13 (CS3) Apr 2007 Win, Intel 30 day trial

https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=illustrator

Tool Palate

Page Tool

Selection Tool (V) Direct Selection Tool (A)

Pen Tool (P) Type Tool (T)

Line Tool (\) Rectangle Tool (M)

Rotate Tool (R)

Zoom Tool (Z)

Tool Panels

SfN Specifications

• Planning and layout

• Title

• Illustrations

• Text

• At the meeting

http://apu.sfn.org/am2007/index.cfm?pagename=resources_presentation

Planning and Layout

“An effective poster balances figures and text.”

78”

44” 35

”

54.4”

Poster Board

Planning and Layout Mike’s 2006 SfN Poster

Title

• Abstract title (88 pt)

• Authors (62 pt)

• Affiliations (62 pt)

• Session number (66 pt)

• Logos

Illustrations

• Clear and visible graphics

• Use color when appropriate

• Color Guide Demo

• Online tools

• Main points clear, details for experts

• Numbered (SfN discourages Fig. or Figure)

Line Drawings - Experimental Setup

Photograph

FlexiForce

Vectorized

Original

Em

0

Rest

EPSP

Actionpotential

threshold

Small-diametermotor neuron

Interneuron

Large-diametermotor neuron

EPSP threshold

Rest

0

Em

Rhigh Rlow

∆V = IR

∆V ∆V

Vectorized

Line Drawings - Figures

SPI

FDI

APBUlnar Nerve

Homonymous

Heteronymous

Ia

Ia

Median Nerve

APB

!MN

SPI

!MNFDI

!MN

-+

! DescendingDrive

! Discharge Rate Variability

! Synaptic Noise

" Force Production

! No of Inputs

! Fluctuations in AHP Trajectory

Spike2 Data

• Important to show raw data in methods

• Adjust data in Spike2 to match figure

• File, Print, to Adobe PDF

• Open PDF in Ai, Copy, Paste into poster

• Adjust line thickness, color, add axis labels

Graphs & Plots

• Same as Spike2

• Adjust figures(s) in SPSS, Excel, SigmaPlot, MATLAB

• Print/Export as a PDF

• Open PDF in Ai, Copy, Paste on poster

• Adjust line thickness, color, add axis labels

Text

• Headings or “Take-home” message figures

• Legends (16 pt)

• Bulleted/Numbered lists

• Tables (example included)

• Introduction in upper left

• Conclusion lower right

IntroductionNulla metus. Nam dictum arcu at tortor. Sed convallis. Praesent commodo metus sit amet sem. Curabitur condimentum lobortis velit. Integer fermentum elit eu leo. Integer nibh. Nunc aliquet, purus at commodo pharetra, orci leo rhoncus libero, nec placerat quam risus eu sem. Quisque at erat. Nunc quis tellus sit amet sapien rutrum pharetra. Quisque tristique, orci vel iaculis ornare, dui libero consectetuer diam, non lobortis elit nibh in tellus. Nullam hendrerit mattis pede. Donec risus tellus, consequat et, nonummy eget, pretium eu, lacus. Praesent tellus. Aenean molestie urna id est. Nulla

Nulla metus. Nam dictum arcu at tortor. Sed convallis. Praesent commodo metus sit amet sem. Curabitur condimentum lobortis velit. Integer fermentum elit eu leo. Integer nibh. Nunc aliquet, purus at commodo pharetra, orci leo rhoncus libero, nec placerat quam risus eu sem. Quisque at erat. Nunc quis tellus sit amet sapien rutrum pharetra. Quisque tristique, orci vel iaculis ornare, dui libero consectetuer diam, non lobortis elit nibh in tellus.

References

• J Neurophysiol style

• Author AR, Author SD, Author WS. Title of the journal article. J Abbrev 276: 23-34, 1999.

• PubMed can help you determine abbreviations

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=Journals

• Alphabetize

Results

• Tables to summarize results

• Make a table in Word

• Print as PDF

• Open PDF in Ai, Copy, Paste into poster

Acknowledg(e)ments

• “The authors thank ___ for assisting with data analysis.”

• “Supported by NINDS R01 NS43275 to Roger M. Enoka.”

Printing

• Install drivers

• Which computer?

• Document setup

• Printer setup

• Page tool

Sharing

• Handouts at the meeting

• Shrink to legal size, export as PDF

• Send to color printer (30 copies)

• Links on your online CV

• Scribd.com?

At the Meeting

• Post 15 minutes prior to session start

• Leave in place for entire session

• Pushpins will be provided

• Remove poster after session

Resource

http://www.mikepascoe.com/sfn/resources.zip

41 MB ZIP file