Student Poster Presentation

To ensure your student poster presentation prints exactly as you designed it, it’s important to set up your artwork correctly before sending it to print. Following the guidelines below will help avoid pixelation, colour changes, or unwanted cropping.

At Print Prime, we check every file before printing, but preparing your file properly guarantees the best possible result — especially for conferences and academic assessments where presentation quality matters.

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1. File Format – Save as PDF

We strongly recommend submitting your poster as a print-ready PDF.

Why PDF?

• Preserves layout and fonts

• Prevents element shifting

• Maintains image quality

• Ensures accurate print scaling

When exporting:

• Use High Quality Print settings

• Embed all fonts

• Do not downsample images

If you designed your poster in PowerPoint, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, or Canva — export to PDF before uploading.

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2. Correct Poster Size Setup

Always set your document to the final print size from the start.

Example sizes:

• A0 → 841 × 1189 mm

• A1 → 594 × 841 mm

• A2 → 420 × 594 mm

• A3 → 297 × 420 mm

Avoid scaling small files up to large sizes — this causes pixelation and blurry text.

If unsure, our team at Print Prime can check your file size before printing.

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3. Bleed & Margins

For most academic posters, bleed is not always required, but it’s recommended if your design has:

• Background colours to the edge

• Full-bleed images

• Border designs

Standard Bleed Setting:

Add 3–5 mm bleed on all sides.

Safe Margin:

Keep all text and logos at least 10–15 mm inside the edge to avoid trimming issues.

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4. Image Resolution (DPI)

Resolution is critical for large-format poster clarity.

Recommended DPI:

• 300 DPI – Best quality (ideal for photos & graphics)

• 150 DPI – Acceptable for large posters viewed from distance

• Below 150 DPI – May appear blurry or pixelated

If you searched Google for:

• “Why is my poster blurry when printed?”

• “Best DPI for conference poster printing”

The answer is almost always low resolution images.

Always use high-resolution charts, graphs, and logos.

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5. Colour Mode – RGB vs CMYK

Design software often uses RGB (screen colours), but printing uses CMYK.

For best accuracy:

• Convert files to CMYK before exporting

• Expect slight colour variation from screen to print

• Avoid overly bright neon colours

Our printers at Print Prime are calibrated for professional colour output, ensuring your charts and visuals remain accurate and vibrant.

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6. Fonts & Text

To prevent font errors:

• Embed fonts in your PDF

• Or convert text to outlines/vectors

• Use clear academic fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Calibri, etc.)

• Minimum text size: 24–32 pt for readability

Remember — posters are read from 1–2 metres away.

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7. File Naming & Submission Tips

When uploading your poster, name your file clearly:

Example:
StudentName_A1_Poster.pdf

This helps avoid confusion during fast turnaround printing.

You can submit files via:

• Email

• Website upload

• USB in store

• Cloud links (Google Drive / WeTransfer)

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Final Pre-Print Checklist

Before sending your file, make sure:

• Size is set correctly

• Saved as High-Quality PDF

• Images are 150–300 DPI

• Fonts are embedded

• Margins are safe

• Bleed added if needed

If you’re unsure about anything, Print Prime offers free file checks to ensure your poster prints perfectly the first time.