Or anything else on fabric!
*This is not an advertisement, I get nothing from link clicks.
Are you headed to a conference and need to present a poster? Here’s a step-by-step guide for how I print my posters!
Why you should print a fabric poster:
- It’s cheaper! My fabric posters cost ~$20, paper posters at local shipping stores cost at least $60 for the same size, and then you have to pay to check your luggage because it counts as a carry-on item.
- It looks amazing – print quality looks just as good, if not better than traditional paper.
- No more bulky poster tube!
- You can use the poster afterwards for all sorts of other craft projects.
- Here’s what it will look up-close.
Step-by-step Guide
- Design your poster!
I use powerpoint, other options include Canva, Inkscape, or Indesign. Google “good scientific poster” if you want design ideas.
- Protip: Add QR codes. Link to your research articles, your twitter, or your linkedin. You can use any free QR code generator.
2. Make sure your “page size” (under page setup in powerpoint) is the same size as you want your full size poster. For this example, my poster is, 45 x 36 inches.
3. Export your poster as a pdf.
3. Open that pdf with any software, and export it as a jpeg. Make sure your DPI (or pixels per inch) is 150, this will ensure best quality.
4. Open that jpeg, zoom in, and make sure nothing looks blurry.
How to make sure your image quality is good:
- If your picture prints blurry, that is your fault, not the printer – you didn’t upload high enough quality.
- Make sure all of the images in your editing file are SUPER high quality! Blurry on your screen will print blurry.
- When you are saving, use 150 DPI. This is necessary for spoonflower to print your image just how you want it.
- I have never had any problems with print quality, except when one of my inner images was lower quality. Yes, microscopy images look stellar.
5. Go to Spoonflower.com and set up a free account.
6. Click on “Upload design”
- Make sure you qualify for their copyright! You must be the artist/creater/owner, do not steal other people’s work or art and upload it.
- Check out their copyright policy here, they do not own any of the copyright to your work.
7. Upload your design!
8. Pick your details, here are my favorites.
- First, click “single”
- I like “performance pique” fabric. It is soft, prints beautifully, doesn’t wrinkle, and is affordable. It is machine washable, and there is no ink bleeding during washing.
- Choose 1 yard. Here is how to calculate to make sure you got your fabric size correct:
- What is your poster size? Here, mine is 45 x 36.
- What is the size of a yard? This depends on the fabric type, it says right there in the selection. My fabric, Performance Pique is 56 by 36, so my poster will fit.
- If your poster will fit one direction but not the other (for example, if my poster is 30 by 50), go back to your jpeg on your computer. Rotate it. Re-upload it, and it will be sideways and now fit in the yard.
- If your poster is too big for one yard, order 2 yards. Or even better, go back to your poster design and adjust the size by a couple inches. When a conference gives a poster size, this is the MAXIMUM poster size, you can be smaller than that size to fit on the provided poster board.
- Look at the picture that has rulers on the side to see if your size looks correct.
9. Place your order! My cost is typically ~$20, plus $3 shipping. Typically, it takes 1 week to print and 1 week to ship, but it can vary, so give yourself at least 2-3 weeks.
- I will be the one to tell you: You will not have more data in a week or two that you will include on your poster. Just give yourself a deadline and get it done, I know it’s tempting to wait so that you can include more, but just get it done and relax before you have to travel.
- You may have some extra white fabric depending on your poster size, just cut it off with scissors and use it for another craft project.
- Hang your poster using thumbtacks or tape. They hang beautifully. You can iron the fabric in your hotel room if you need to, but mine have never wrinkled.
Enjoy your awesome poster! Here’s what you can do with it afterwards.