latex-posters

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

AI-Powered Visual Element Generation

STANDARD WORKFLOW: Generate ALL major visual elements using AI before creating the LaTeX poster.

This is the recommended approach for creating visually compelling posters:

1. Plan all visual elements needed (title, intro, methods, results, conclusions)
2. Generate each element using scientific-schematics or Nano Banana Pro
3. Assemble generated images in the LaTeX template
4. Add text content around the visuals

Target: 60-70% of poster area should be AI-generated visuals, 30-40% text.

---

Hard limits (do not exceed)

These are limits, not guidelines. Violating them is the single most common cause of a

failed poster. Full reasoning, per-graphic-type tables, and worked examples are in

[references/ai_graphics_for_posters.md](references/ai_graphics_for_posters.md).

| Constraint | Limit |

| --- | --- |

| Elements per AI-generated graphic | 3-4 maximum (3 ideal) |

| Words per graphic | 10 maximum |

| White space per graphic | 50% minimum (60% better) |

| Key numbers / metrics | 120pt+ |

| Labels | 80pt+ |

| Body text on the poster | 24pt+ |

| Content sections (A0) | 5-6 maximum |

| Total words on the poster | 300-800 |

| Figure width | 0.85\linewidth, never 1.0 |

Every graphic prompt must include: POSTER FORMAT for A0, an explicit element or word

count (ONLY 3 icons, 3 words total), a font size (GIANT (120pt+)), 60% white space,

and a viewing distance (readable from 10-12 feet).

Two mandatory review gates. Skipping either is how unreadable posters happen:

• Before generating — for each planned graphic, confirm it is 3-4 items, one message,

under 10 words, and not a 5+ stage workflow. If not, split it into several graphics.

• After generating, before assembly — open each figure at 25% zoom. All text readable,

4 or fewer elements, 50%+ white space, understandable in 2 seconds. Any failure means

regenerate or split. Do not assemble a poster from figures that failed.

Patterns that always fail: 7-stage workflow, timeline with annual milestones,

3 case studies in one graphic, comparison of 5+ methods, architecture with all layers.

Collapse each to 3 high-level items, or make several separate graphics.

Overflow is an error, not a warning. After compiling, run grep -i overfull poster.log

and inspect all four edges at 100% zoom. See

[references/compilation_and_quality_control.md](references/compilation_and_quality_control.md).

Scientific Schematics Integration

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

Key capabilities:

• Nano Banana Pro automatically generates, reviews, and refines diagrams
• Creates publication-quality images with proper formatting
• Ensures accessibility (colorblind-friendly, high contrast)
• Supports iterative refinement for complex diagrams

---

Core Capabilities

Three poster packages are supported — beamerposter (Beamer syntax, institutional

themes), tikzposter (modern, colorful, flexible), and baposter (structured

multi-column). Package comparison, layout and grid systems, design principles, standard

sizes, per-package templates, figure and image integration, color schemes, typography,

and QR codes are all documented in

[references/latex_poster_reference.md](references/latex_poster_reference.md).

Reusable per-section content patterns, accessibility requirements, and presentation-day

guidance are in

[references/poster_patterns_and_presentation.md](references/poster_patterns_and_presentation.md).

Workflow for Poster Creation

Stage 1: Planning and Content Development

1. Determine poster requirements:

• Conference size specifications (A0, 36×48", etc.)
• Orientation (portrait vs. landscape)
• Submission deadlines and format requirements

1. 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

1. 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: Generate Visual Elements (AI-Powered)

CRITICAL: Generate SIMPLE figures with MINIMAL content. Each graphic = ONE message.

Content limits:

• Maximum 4-5 elements per graphic
• Maximum 15 words total per graphic
• 50% white space minimum
• GIANT fonts (80pt+ for labels, 120pt+ for key numbers)

1. Create figures directory:

   mkdir -p figures

1. Generate SIMPLE visual elements:

   # Introduction - ONLY 3 icons/elements
   python scripts/generate_schematic.py "POSTER FORMAT for A0. SIMPLE visual with ONLY 3 elements: [icon1] [icon2] [icon3]. ONE word labels (80pt+). 50% white space. Readable from 8 feet." -o figures/intro.png
   
   # Methods - ONLY 4 steps maximum
   python scripts/generate_schematic.py "POSTER FORMAT for A0. SIMPLE flowchart with ONLY 4 boxes: STEP1 → STEP2 → STEP3 → STEP4. GIANT labels (100pt+). 50% white space. NO sub-steps." -o figures/methods.png
   
   # Results - ONLY 3 bars/comparisons
   python scripts/generate_schematic.py "POSTER FORMAT for A0. SIMPLE chart with ONLY 3 bars. GIANT percentages ON bars (120pt+). NO axis, NO legend. 50% white space." -o figures/results.png
   
   # Conclusions - EXACTLY 3 items with GIANT numbers
   python scripts/generate_schematic.py "POSTER FORMAT for A0. EXACTLY 3 key findings: '[NUMBER]' (150pt) '[LABEL]' (60pt) for each. 50% white space. NO other text." -o figures/conclusions.png

1. Review generated figures - check for overflow:

• View at 25% zoom: All text still readable?
• Count elements: More than 5? → Regenerate simpler
• Check white space: Less than 40%? → Add "60% white space" to prompt
• Font too small?: Add "EVEN LARGER" or increase pt sizes
• Still overflowing?: Reduce to 3 elements instead of 4-5

Stage 3: Design and Layout

1. Select or create template:

• Start with provided templates in assets/
• Customize color scheme to match branding
• Configure page size and orientation

1. 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%)

1. Set typography:

• Configure font sizes for different hierarchy levels
• Ensure minimum 24pt body text
• Test readability from 4-6 feet distance

Stage 4: Content Integration

1. Create poster header:

• Title (concise, descriptive, 10-15 words)
• Authors and affiliations
• Institution logos (high-resolution)
• Conference logo if required

1. Integrate AI-generated figures:

• Add all figures from Stage 2 to appropriate sections
• Use \includegraphics with proper sizing
• Ensure figures dominate each section (visuals first, text second)
• Center figures within blocks for visual impact

1. Add minimal supporting text:

• Keep text minimal and scannable (300-800 words total)
• Use bullet points, not paragraphs
• Write in active voice
• Text should complement figures, not duplicate them

1. Add supplementary elements:

• QR codes for supplementary materials
• References (cite key papers only, 5-10 typical)
• Contact information and acknowledgments

Stage 5: Refinement and Testing

1. Review and iterate:

• Check for typos and errors
• Verify all figures are high resolution
• Ensure consistent formatting
• Confirm color scheme works well together

1. 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

1. Optimize for printing:

• Embed all fonts in PDF
• Verify image resolution
• Check PDF size requirements
• Include bleed area if required

Stage 6: Compilation and Delivery

1. Compile final PDF:

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

1. 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

1. 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

1. 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 Schematics: CRITICAL - Use for generating all poster diagrams and flowcharts
• Generate Image / Nano Banana Pro: For stylized graphics, conceptual illustrations, and summary visuals
• Scientific Writing: For developing poster content from papers
• Literature Review: For contextualizing research
• Data Analysis: For creating result figures and charts

Recommended workflow: Always use scientific-schematics and generate-image skills BEFORE creating the LaTeX poster to generate all visual elements.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

AI-Generated Graphics Mistakes (MOST COMMON):

• ❌ Too many elements in one graphic (10+ items) → Keep to 3-5 max
• ❌ Text too small in AI graphics → Specify "GIANT (100pt+)" or "HUGE (150pt+)"
• ❌ Too much detail in prompts → Use "SIMPLE" and "ONLY X elements"
• ❌ No white space specification → Add "50% white space" to every prompt
• ❌ Complex flowcharts with 8+ steps → Limit to 4-5 steps maximum
• ❌ Comparison charts with 6+ items → Limit to 3 items maximum
• ❌ Key findings with 5+ metrics → Show only top 3

Fixing Overflow in AI Graphics:

If your AI-generated graphics are overflowing or have small text:

1. Add "SIMPLER" or "ONLY 3 elements" to prompt
2. Increase font sizes: "150pt+" instead of "80pt+"
3. Add "60% white space" instead of "50%"
4. Remove sub-details: "NO sub-steps", "NO axis labels", "NO legend"
5. Regenerate with fewer elements

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

Best Practices:

• ✅ Generate SIMPLE AI graphics with 3-5 elements max
• ✅ Use GIANT fonts (100pt+) for key numbers in graphics
• ✅ Specify "50% white space" in every AI prompt
• ✅ Follow conference size specifications exactly
• ✅ Test print at reduced scale before final printing
• ✅ Use high-contrast, accessible color schemes
• ✅ Keep text minimal and highly scannable
• ✅ Include clear contact information and QR codes
• ✅ Proofread carefully (errors are magnified on posters!)

Package Installation

Ensure required LaTeX packages are installed:

# For TeX Live (Linux/Mac)
tlmgr install beamerposter tikzposter baposter

# For MiKTeX (Windows)
# Packages typically auto-install on first use

# Additional recommended packages
tlmgr install qrcode graphics xcolor tcolorbox subcaption

Scripts and Automation

Helper scripts available in scripts/ directory:

• review_poster.sh: Poster review and validation
• generate_schematic.py: Generate scientific diagrams and schematics

References

• [references/ai_graphics_for_posters.md](references/ai_graphics_for_posters.md): full AI

graphic rules, per-type limits, worked prompt examples, and the review gates.

• [references/latex_poster_reference.md](references/latex_poster_reference.md): packages,

layout, design, sizes, templates, figures, color, typography, QR codes.

• [references/compilation_and_quality_control.md](references/compilation_and_quality_control.md):

compilation engines and the complete pre-print QC procedure.

• [references/poster_patterns_and_presentation.md](references/poster_patterns_and_presentation.md):

content patterns, accessibility, presentation tips.

• [references/latex_poster_packages.md](references/latex_poster_packages.md): detailed

comparison of beamerposter, tikzposter, and baposter with examples.

• [references/poster_layout_design.md](references/poster_layout_design.md): layout

principles, grid systems, and visual flow.

• [references/poster_design_principles.md](references/poster_design_principles.md):

typography, color theory, visual hierarchy, and accessibility.

• [references/poster_content_guide.md](references/poster_content_guide.md): content

organization, writing style, and section-specific guidance.

Templates

Ready-to-use poster templates in assets/ directory:

• beamerposter templates (classic, modern, colorful)
• tikzposter templates (default, rays, wave, envelope)
• baposter templates (portrait, landscape, minimal)
• Example posters from various scientific disciplines
• Color scheme definitions and institutional templates

Load these templates and customize for your specific research and conference requirements.