What Makes a Good Poster?

1. Original - Something eye-catching that makes the public

want to stop and read it (color, pictures, drawings,
unusual shape, etc.)
2. Simple - Put 1-2 basic points on each poster.
3. Colorful - se color !or emphasis, "ariety, and to get and
hold attention. #ut use colors sparingly.
$. Organized - %ake your points easy to read and !ollow.
&. Readable - '! using more than &-( words, use both capital and lower case letters rather than
only capitals.
(. Educational - se a poster when it helps e)plain a point more clearly to your audience.
*. Spaced - space areas between letters ade+uately. se 1 , letter width between words and 3
letter widths between sentences. %argins should be larger on the bottom and e+ual on the
other 3 sides.
! "eat
-. #ccurate - spelling and all in!ormation should be correct.
1.. #ction - /ells the "iewer to do something and makes him0her want to do it.
Color Readabilit$
1onsider legibility when selection colors. %any color combinations harmoni2e well. #ut they may
not read well. /he !ollowing combinations are listed in order o! readability3
1. %&#C' on medium 4ellow. (. %&#C' on 5hite
2. %edium 6ark GREE" on 5hite *. %edium (E&&OW on #lack
3. %edium 6ark RE) on 5hite 7. W*+,E on medium 6ark 8ed
$. %edium 6ark %&-E on 5hite -. W*+,E on medium 6ark 9reen
&. W*+,E on medium 6ark #lue 1.. W*+,E on #lack
Posters and Presentations
1. se to highlight some o! the important points and recipes.
2. %ake sure posters are right side up on the easel.
3. 6o not stand in !ront o! you posters.
$. se a pointer.
,ips for making Posters and Charts
1. :ettering should be large enough to be read at normal reading distance. /he chart below
shows minimum letter heights !or "arious distances.
1ounty 1lub

Reading Distance 70 feet 40 feet 20 feet 10 feet
Large 4 inches 3 inches 2 inches 1 inch
Easy to Read 2 inches 2 inches 1 inches inch
Fairly Easy to Read 1 inches 1 inch inch inch
Possile to Read 1 inch inch inch inch
!annot e Read inch inch inch 3"1# inch
2. /hin lines cannot be read as will as thicker lines.
3. Plain, simple letters are more readable than !ancy letters -- and they take less time to make.
$. :ighter colors are harder to read. '! colors are used, they should pro"ide enough contrast
to the background so they are easier to read. ;nother idea is to outline or highlight light
colors with black. /ry to a"oid using a "ariety o! colors i! the posters are used only !or
writing. #asic black is still the best<
&. 1apital letters should be used !or emphasis or to attract attention. /hey are harder to read
than lower case letters i! there is a lot to be read.
(. =eep writing to a minimum by using a key phrase or word.
*. Plan ahead<
%ay 1---
5innebago 1ounty >)tension