name	latex-posters
description	Create professional research posters in LaTeX using beamerposter, tikzposter, or baposter. Support for conference presentations, academic posters, and scientific communication. Includes layout design, color schemes, multi-column formats, figure integration, and poster-specific best practices for visual communication.
allowed-tools	Read, Write, Edit, Bash

LaTeX Research Posters

Overview

Research posters are a critical medium for scientific communication at conferences, symposia, and academic events. This skill provides comprehensive guidance for creating professional, visually appealing research posters using LaTeX packages. Generate publication-quality posters with proper layout, typography, color schemes, and visual hierarchy.

When to Use This Skill

This skill should be used when:

Creating research posters for conferences, symposia, or poster sessions
Designing academic posters for university events or thesis defenses
Preparing visual summaries of research for public engagement
Converting scientific papers into poster format
Creating template posters for research groups or departments
Designing posters that comply with specific conference size requirements (A0, A1, 36×48", etc.)
Building posters with complex multi-column layouts
Integrating figures, tables, equations, and citations in poster format

Visual Enhancement with Scientific Schematics

⚠️ MANDATORY: Every research poster MUST include at least 2-3 AI-generated figures using the scientific-schematics skill.

This is not optional. Posters are primarily visual media - text-heavy posters fail to communicate effectively. Before finalizing any poster:

Generate at minimum TWO schematics or diagrams
Target 3-4 figures for comprehensive posters (methodology flowchart, key results visualization, conceptual framework)
Figures should occupy 40-50% of poster area

How to generate figures:

Use the scientific-schematics skill to generate AI-powered publication-quality diagrams
Simply describe your desired diagram in natural language
Nano Banana Pro will automatically generate, review, and refine the schematic

How to generate schematics:

python scripts/generate_schematic.py "your diagram description" -o figures/output.png

The AI will automatically:

Create publication-quality images with proper formatting
Review and refine through multiple iterations
Ensure accessibility (colorblind-friendly, high contrast)
Save outputs in the figures/ directory

When to add schematics:

Research methodology flowcharts for poster content
Conceptual framework diagrams
Experimental design visualizations
Data analysis pipeline diagrams
System architecture diagrams
Biological pathway illustrations
Any complex concept that benefits from visualization

For detailed guidance on creating schematics, refer to the scientific-schematics skill documentation.

Core Capabilities

1. LaTeX Poster Packages

Support for three major LaTeX poster packages, each with distinct advantages. For detailed comparison and package-specific guidance, refer to references/latex_poster_packages.md.

beamerposter:

Extension of the Beamer presentation class
Familiar syntax for Beamer users
Excellent theme support and customization
Best for: Traditional academic posters, institutional branding

tikzposter:

Modern, flexible design with TikZ integration
Built-in color themes and layout templates
Extensive customization through TikZ commands
Best for: Colorful, modern designs, custom graphics

baposter:

Box-based layout system
Automatic spacing and positioning
Professional-looking default styles
Best for: Multi-column layouts, consistent spacing

2. Poster Layout and Structure

Create effective poster layouts following visual communication principles. For comprehensive layout guidance, refer to references/poster_layout_design.md.

Common Poster Sections:

Header/Title: Title, authors, affiliations, logos
Introduction/Background: Research context and motivation
Methods/Approach: Methodology and experimental design
Results: Key findings with figures and data visualizations
Conclusions: Main takeaways and implications
References: Key citations (typically abbreviated)
Acknowledgments: Funding, collaborators, institutions

Layout Strategies:

Column-based layouts: 2-column, 3-column, or 4-column grids
Block-based layouts: Flexible arrangement of content blocks
Z-pattern flow: Guide readers through content logically
Visual hierarchy: Use size, color, and spacing to emphasize key points

3. Design Principles for Research Posters

Apply evidence-based design principles for maximum impact. For detailed design guidance, refer to references/poster_design_principles.md.

Typography:

Title: 72-120pt for visibility from distance
Section headers: 48-72pt
Body text: 24-36pt minimum for readability from 4-6 feet
Use sans-serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Calibri) for clarity
Limit to 2-3 font families maximum

Color and Contrast:

Use high-contrast color schemes for readability
Institutional color palettes for branding
Color-blind friendly palettes (avoid red-green combinations)
White space is active space—don't overcrowd

Visual Elements:

High-resolution figures (300 DPI minimum for print)
Large, clear labels on all figures
Consistent figure styling throughout
Strategic use of icons and graphics
Balance text with visual content (40-50% visual recommended)

Content Guidelines:

Less is more: 300-800 words total recommended
Bullet points over paragraphs for scannability
Clear, concise messaging
Self-explanatory figures with minimal text explanation
QR codes for supplementary materials or online resources

4. Standard Poster Sizes

Support for international and conference-specific poster dimensions:

International Standards:

A0 (841 × 1189 mm / 33.1 × 46.8 inches) - Most common European standard
A1 (594 × 841 mm / 23.4 × 33.1 inches) - Smaller format
A2 (420 × 594 mm / 16.5 × 23.4 inches) - Compact posters

North American Standards:

36 × 48 inches (914 × 1219 mm) - Common US conference size
42 × 56 inches (1067 × 1422 mm) - Large format
48 × 72 inches (1219 × 1829 mm) - Extra large

Orientation:

Portrait (vertical) - Most common, traditional
Landscape (horizontal) - Better for wide content, timelines

5. Package-Specific Templates

Provide ready-to-use templates for each major package. Templates available in assets/ directory.

beamerposter Templates:

beamerposter_classic.tex - Traditional academic style
beamerposter_modern.tex - Clean, minimal design
beamerposter_colorful.tex - Vibrant theme with blocks

tikzposter Templates:

tikzposter_default.tex - Standard tikzposter layout
tikzposter_rays.tex - Modern design with ray theme
tikzposter_wave.tex - Professional wave-style theme

baposter Templates:

baposter_portrait.tex - Classic portrait layout
baposter_landscape.tex - Landscape multi-column
baposter_minimal.tex - Minimalist design

6. Figure and Image Integration

Optimize visual content for poster presentations:

Best Practices:

Use vector graphics (PDF, SVG) when possible for scalability
Raster images: minimum 300 DPI at final print size
Consistent image styling (borders, captions, sizes)
Group related figures together
Use subfigures for comparisons

LaTeX Figure Commands:

% Include graphics package
\usepackage{graphicx}

% Simple figure
\includegraphics[width=0.8\linewidth]{figure.pdf}

% Figure with caption in tikzposter
\block{Results}{
  \begin{tikzfigure}
    \includegraphics[width=0.9\linewidth]{results.png}
  \end{tikzfigure}
}

% Multiple subfigures
\usepackage{subcaption}
\begin{figure}
  \begin{subfigure}{0.48\linewidth}
    \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{fig1.pdf}
    \caption{Condition A}
  \end{subfigure}
  \begin{subfigure}{0.48\linewidth}
    \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{fig2.pdf}
    \caption{Condition B}
  \end{subfigure}
\end{figure}

7. Color Schemes and Themes

Provide professional color palettes for various contexts:

Academic Institution Colors:

Match university or department branding
Use official color codes (RGB, CMYK, or LaTeX color definitions)

Scientific Color Palettes (color-blind friendly):

Viridis: Professional gradient from purple to yellow
ColorBrewer: Research-tested palettes for data visualization
IBM Color Blind Safe: Accessible corporate palette

Package-Specific Theme Selection:

beamerposter:

\usetheme{Berlin}
\usecolortheme{beaver}

tikzposter:

\usetheme{Rays}
\usecolorstyle{Denmark}

baposter:

\begin{poster}{
  background=plain,
  bgColorOne=white,
  headerColorOne=blue!70,
  textborder=rounded
}

8. Typography and Text Formatting

Ensure readability and visual appeal:

Font Selection:

% Sans-serif fonts recommended for posters
\usepackage{helvet}      % Helvetica
\usepackage{avant}       % Avant Garde
\usepackage{sfmath}      % Sans-serif math fonts

% Set default to sans-serif
\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault}

Text Sizing:

% Adjust text sizes for visibility
\setbeamerfont{title}{size=\VeryHuge}
\setbeamerfont{author}{size=\Large}
\setbeamerfont{institute}{size=\normalsize}

Emphasis and Highlighting:

Use bold for key terms: \textbf{important}
Color highlights sparingly: \textcolor{blue}{highlight}
Boxes for critical information
Avoid italics (harder to read from distance)

9. QR Codes and Interactive Elements

Enhance poster interactivity for modern conferences:

QR Code Integration:

\usepackage{qrcode}

% Link to paper, code repository, or supplementary materials
\qrcode[height=2cm]{https://github.com/username/project}

% QR code with caption
\begin{center}
  \qrcode[height=3cm]{https://doi.org/10.1234/paper}\\
  \small Scan for full paper
\end{center}

Digital Enhancements:

Link to GitHub repositories for code
Link to video presentations or demos
Link to interactive web visualizations
Link to supplementary data or appendices

10. Compilation and Output

Generate high-quality PDF output for printing or digital display:

Compilation Commands:

# Basic compilation
pdflatex poster.tex

# With bibliography
pdflatex poster.tex
bibtex poster
pdflatex poster.tex
pdflatex poster.tex

# For beamer-based posters
lualatex poster.tex  # Better font support
xelatex poster.tex   # Unicode and modern fonts

Ensuring Full Page Coverage:

Posters should use the entire page without excessive margins. Configure packages correctly:

beamerposter - Full Page Setup:

\documentclass[final,t]{beamer}
\usepackage[size=a0,scale=1.4,orientation=portrait]{beamerposter}

% Remove default beamer margins
\setbeamersize{text margin left=0mm, text margin right=0mm}

% Use geometry for precise control
\usepackage[margin=10mm]{geometry}  % 10mm margins all around

% Remove navigation symbols
\setbeamertemplate{navigation symbols}{}

% Remove footline and headline if not needed
\setbeamertemplate{footline}{}
\setbeamertemplate{headline}{}

tikzposter - Full Page Setup:

\documentclass[
  25pt,                      % Font scaling
  a0paper,                   % Paper size
  portrait,                  % Orientation
  margin=10mm,               % Outer margins (minimal)
  innermargin=15mm,          % Space inside blocks
  blockverticalspace=15mm,   % Space between blocks
  colspace=15mm,             % Space between columns
  subcolspace=8mm            % Space between subcolumns
]{tikzposter}

% This ensures content fills the page

baposter - Full Page Setup:

\documentclass[a0paper,portrait,fontscale=0.285]{baposter}

\begin{poster}{
  grid=false,
  columns=3,
  colspacing=1.5em,          % Space between columns
  eyecatcher=true,
  background=plain,
  bgColorOne=white,
  borderColor=blue!50,
  headerheight=0.12\textheight,  % 12% for header
  textborder=roundedleft,
  headerborder=closed,
  boxheaderheight=2em        % Consistent box header heights
}
% Content here
\end{poster}

Common Issues and Fixes:

Problem: Large white margins around poster

% Fix for beamerposter
\setbeamersize{text margin left=5mm, text margin right=5mm}

% Fix for tikzposter
\documentclass[..., margin=5mm, innermargin=10mm]{tikzposter}

% Fix for baposter - adjust in document class
\documentclass[a0paper, margin=5mm]{baposter}

Problem: Content doesn't fill vertical space

% Use \vfill between sections to distribute space
\block{Introduction}{...}
\vfill
\block{Methods}{...}
\vfill
\block{Results}{...}

% Or manually adjust block spacing
\vspace{1cm}  % Add space between specific blocks

Problem: Poster extends beyond page boundaries

% Check total width calculation
% For 3 columns with spacing:
% Total = 3×columnwidth + 2×colspace + 2×margins
% Ensure this equals \paperwidth

% Debug by adding visible page boundary
\usepackage{eso-pic}
\AddToShipoutPictureBG{
  \AtPageLowerLeft{
    \put(0,0){\framebox(\LenToUnit{\paperwidth},\LenToUnit{\paperheight}){}}
  }
}

Print Preparation:

Generate PDF/X-1a for professional printing
Embed all fonts
Convert colors to CMYK if required
Check resolution of all images (minimum 300 DPI)
Add bleed area if required by printer (usually 3-5mm)
Verify page size matches requirements exactly

Digital Display:

RGB color space for screen display
Optimize file size for email/web
Test readability on different screens

11. PDF Review and Quality Control

CRITICAL: Always review the generated PDF before printing or presenting. Use this systematic checklist:

Step 1: Page Size Verification

# Check PDF dimensions (should match poster size exactly)
pdfinfo poster.pdf | grep "Page size"

# Expected outputs:
# A0: 2384 x 3370 points (841 x 1189 mm)
# 36x48": 2592 x 3456 points
# A1: 1684 x 2384 points (594 x 841 mm)

Step 2: Visual Inspection Checklist

Open PDF at 100% zoom and check:

Layout and Spacing:

Content fills entire page (no large white margins)
Consistent spacing between columns
Consistent spacing between blocks/sections
All elements aligned properly (use ruler tool)
No overlapping text or figures
White space evenly distributed

Typography:

Title clearly visible and large (72pt+)
Section headers readable (48-72pt)
Body text readable at 100% zoom (24-36pt minimum)
No text cutoff or running off edges
Consistent font usage throughout
All special characters render correctly (symbols, Greek letters)

Visual Elements:

All figures display correctly
No pixelated or blurry images
Figure captions present and readable
Colors render as expected (not washed out or too dark)
Logos display clearly
QR codes visible and scannable

Content Completeness:

Title and authors complete
All sections present (Intro, Methods, Results, Conclusions)
References included
Contact information visible
Acknowledgments (if applicable)
No placeholder text remaining (Lorem ipsum, TODO, etc.)

Technical Quality:

No LaTeX compilation warnings in important areas
All citations resolved (no [?] marks)
All cross-references working
Page boundaries correct (no content cut off)

Step 3: Reduced-Scale Print Test

Essential Pre-Printing Test:

# Create reduced-size test print (25% of final size)
# This simulates viewing full poster from ~8-10 feet

# For A0 poster, print on A4 paper (24.7% scale)
# For 36x48" poster, print on letter paper (~25% scale)

Print Test Checklist:

Title readable from 6 feet away
Section headers readable from 4 feet away
Body text readable from 2 feet away
Figures clear and understandable
Colors printed accurately
No obvious design flaws

Step 4: Digital Quality Checks

Font Embedding Verification:

# Check that all fonts are embedded (required for printing)
pdffonts poster.pdf

# All fonts should show "yes" in "emb" column
# If any show "no", recompile with:
pdflatex -dEmbedAllFonts=true poster.tex

Image Resolution Check:

# Extract image information
pdfimages -list poster.pdf

# Check that all images are at least 300 DPI
# Formula: DPI = pixels / (inches in poster)
# For A0 width (33.1"): 300 DPI = 9930 pixels minimum

File Size Optimization:

# For email/web, compress if needed (>50MB)
gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 \
   -dPDFSETTINGS=/printer -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -dBATCH \
   -sOutputFile=poster_compressed.pdf poster.pdf

# For printing, keep original (no compression)

Step 5: Accessibility Check

Color Contrast Verification:

Text-background contrast ratio ≥ 4.5:1 (WCAG AA)
Important elements contrast ratio ≥ 7:1 (WCAG AAA)
Test online: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/

Color Blindness Simulation:

View PDF through color blindness simulator
Information not lost with red-green simulation
Use Coblis (color-blindness.com) or similar tool

Step 6: Content Proofreading

Systematic Review:

Spell-check all text
Verify all author names and affiliations
Check all numbers and statistics for accuracy
Confirm all citations are correct
Review figure labels and captions
Check for typos in headers and titles

Peer Review:

Ask colleague to review poster
30-second test: Can they identify main message?
5-minute review: Do they understand conclusions?
Note any confusing elements

Step 7: Technical Validation

LaTeX Compilation Log Review:

# Check for warnings in .log file
grep -i "warning\|error\|overfull\|underfull" poster.log

# Common issues to fix:
# - Overfull hbox: Text extending beyond margins
# - Underfull hbox: Excessive spacing
# - Missing references: Citations not resolved
# - Missing figures: Image files not found

Fix Common Warnings:

% Overfull hbox (text too wide)
\usepackage{microtype}  % Better spacing
\sloppy  % Allow slightly looser spacing
\hyphenation{long-word}  % Manual hyphenation

% Missing fonts
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}  % Better font encoding

% Image not found
% Ensure paths are correct and files exist
\graphicspath{{./figures/}{./images/}}

Step 8: Final Pre-Print Checklist

Before Sending to Printer:

PDF size exactly matches requirements (check with pdfinfo)
All fonts embedded (check with pdffonts)
Color mode correct (RGB for screen, CMYK for print if required)
Bleed area added if required (usually 3-5mm)
Crop marks visible if required
Test print completed and reviewed
File naming clear: [LastName]_[Conference]_Poster.pdf
Backup copy saved

Printing Specifications to Confirm:

Paper type (matte vs. glossy)
Printing method (inkjet, large format, fabric)
Color profile (provided to printer if required)
Delivery deadline and shipping address
Tube or flat packaging preference

Digital Presentation Checklist:

PDF size optimized (<10MB for email)
Tested on multiple PDF viewers (Adobe, Preview, etc.)
Displays correctly on different screens
QR codes tested and functional
Alternative formats prepared (PNG for social media)

Review Script (Available in scripts/review_poster.sh):

#!/bin/bash
# Automated poster PDF review script

echo "Poster PDF Quality Check"
echo "======================="

# Check file exists
if [ ! -f "$1" ]; then
    echo "Error: File not found"
    exit 1
fi

echo "File: $1"
echo ""

# Check page size
echo "1. Page Dimensions:"
pdfinfo "$1" | grep "Page size"
echo ""

# Check fonts
echo "2. Font Embedding:"
pdffonts "$1" | head -20
echo ""

# Check file size
echo "3. File Size:"
ls -lh "$1" | awk '{print $5}'
echo ""

# Count pages (should be 1 for poster)
echo "4. Page Count:"
pdfinfo "$1" | grep "Pages"
echo ""

echo "Manual checks required:"
echo "- Visual inspection at 100% zoom"
echo "- Reduced-scale print test (25%)"
echo "- Color contrast verification"
echo "- Proofreading for typos"

Common PDF Issues and Solutions:

Issue	Cause	Solution
Large white margins	Incorrect margin settings	Reduce margin in documentclass
Content cut off	Exceeds page boundaries	Check total width/height calculations
Blurry images	Low resolution (<300 DPI)	Replace with higher resolution images
Missing fonts	Fonts not embedded	Compile with -dEmbedAllFonts=true
Wrong page size	Incorrect paper size setting	Verify documentclass paper size
Colors look wrong	RGB vs CMYK mismatch	Convert color space for print
File too large (>50MB)	Uncompressed images	Optimize images or compress PDF
QR codes don't work	Too small or low resolution	Minimum 2×2cm, high contrast

11. Common Poster Content Patterns

Effective content organization for different research types:

Experimental Research Poster:

Title and authors
Introduction: Problem and hypothesis
Methods: Experimental design (with diagram)
Results: Key findings (2-4 main figures)
Conclusions: Main takeaways (3-5 bullet points)
Future work (optional)
References and acknowledgments

Computational/Modeling Poster:

Title and authors
Motivation: Problem statement
Approach: Algorithm or model (with flowchart)
Implementation: Technical details
Results: Performance metrics and comparisons
Applications: Use cases
Code availability (QR code to GitHub)
References

Review/Survey Poster:

Title and authors
Scope: Topic overview
Methods: Literature search strategy
Key findings: Main themes (organized by category)
Trends: Visualizations of publication patterns
Gaps: Identified research needs
Conclusions: Summary and implications
References

12. Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Design posters that are accessible to diverse audiences:

Color Blindness Considerations:

Avoid red-green combinations (most common color blindness)
Use patterns or shapes in addition to color
Test with color-blindness simulators
Provide high contrast (WCAG AA standard: 4.5:1 minimum)

Visual Impairment Accommodations:

Large, clear fonts (minimum 24pt body text)
High contrast text and background
Clear visual hierarchy
Avoid complex textures or patterns in backgrounds

Language and Content:

Clear, concise language
Define acronyms and jargon
International audience considerations
Consider multilingual QR code options for global conferences

13. Poster Presentation Best Practices

Guidance beyond LaTeX for effective poster sessions:

Content Strategy:

Tell a story, don't just list facts
Focus on 1-3 main messages
Use visual abstract or graphical summary
Leave room for conversation (don't over-explain)

Physical Presentation Tips:

Bring printed handouts or business cards with QR code
Prepare 30-second, 2-minute, and 5-minute verbal summaries
Stand to the side, not blocking the poster
Engage viewers with open-ended questions

Digital Backups:

Save poster as PDF on mobile device
Prepare digital version for email sharing
Create social media-friendly image version
Have backup printed copy or digital display option

Workflow for Poster Creation

Stage 1: Planning and Content Development

Determine poster requirements:
- Conference size specifications (A0, 36×48", etc.)
- Orientation (portrait vs. landscape)
- Submission deadlines and format requirements
Develop content outline:
- Identify 1-3 core messages
- Select key figures (typically 3-6 main visuals)
- Draft concise text for each section (bullet points preferred)
- Aim for 300-800 words total
Choose LaTeX package:
- beamerposter: If familiar with Beamer, need institutional themes
- tikzposter: For modern, colorful designs with flexibility
- baposter: For structured, professional multi-column layouts

Stage 2: Design and Layout

Select or create template:
- Start with provided templates in assets/
- Customize color scheme to match branding
- Configure page size and orientation
Design layout structure:
- Plan column structure (2, 3, or 4 columns)
- Map content flow (typically left-to-right, top-to-bottom)
- Allocate space for title (10-15%), content (70-80%), footer (5-10%)
Set typography:
- Configure font sizes for different hierarchy levels
- Ensure minimum 24pt body text
- Test readability from 4-6 feet distance

Stage 3: Content Integration

Create poster header:
- Title (concise, descriptive, 10-15 words)
- Authors and affiliations
- Institution logos (high-resolution)
- Conference logo if required
Populate content sections:
- Keep text minimal and scannable
- Use bullet points, not paragraphs
- Write in active voice
- Integrate figures with clear captions
Add visual elements:
- High-resolution figures (300 DPI minimum)
- Consistent styling across all figures
- Color-coded elements for emphasis
- QR codes for supplementary materials
Include references:
- Cite key papers only (5-10 references typical)
- Use abbreviated citation style
- Consider QR code to full bibliography

Stage 4: Refinement and Testing

Review and iterate:
- Check for typos and errors
- Verify all figures are high resolution
- Ensure consistent formatting
- Confirm color scheme works well together
Test readability:
- Print at 25% scale and read from 2-3 feet (simulates poster from 8-12 feet)
- Check color on different monitors
- Verify QR codes function correctly
- Ask colleague to review
Optimize for printing:
- Embed all fonts in PDF
- Verify image resolution
- Check PDF size requirements
- Include bleed area if required

Stage 5: Compilation and Delivery

Compile final PDF:

pdflatex poster.tex
# Or for better font support:
lualatex poster.tex

Verify output quality:
- Check all elements are visible and correctly positioned
- Zoom to 100% and inspect figure quality
- Verify colors match expectations
- Confirm PDF opens correctly on different viewers
Prepare for printing:
- Export as PDF/X-1a if required
- Save backup copies
- Get test print on regular paper first
- Order professional printing 2-3 days before deadline
Create supplementary materials:
- Save PNG/JPG version for social media
- Create handout version (8.5×11" summary)
- Prepare digital version for email sharing

Integration with Other Skills

This skill works effectively with:

Scientific Writing: For developing poster content from papers
Figure Creation: For generating high-quality visualizations
Literature Review: For contextualizing research
Data Analysis: For creating result figures and charts

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Design Mistakes:

❌ Too much text (over 1000 words)
❌ Font sizes too small (under 24pt body text)
❌ Low-contrast color combinations
❌ Cluttered layout with no white space
❌ Inconsistent styling across sections
❌ Poor quality or pixelated images

Content Mistakes:

❌ No clear narrative or message
❌ Too many research questions or objectives
❌ Overuse of jargon without definitions
❌ Results without context or interpretation
❌ Missing author contact information

Technical Mistakes:

❌ Wrong poster dimensions for conference requirements
❌ RGB colors sent to CMYK printer (color shift)
❌ Fonts not embedded in PDF
❌ File size too large for submission portal
❌ QR codes too small or not tested