This page was updated on November 3, 2009
Please check back with this web site each time you want to print a poster. It will provide you with new information that may include days when poster printing is booked up or not available.
We now have 2 poster printers available, doubling our capacity.
Regular poster printing appointments will be limited to TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY MORNINGS
All poster printing is by appointment only and appointment times will be between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
We accept appointments 3 months in advance.
Please send all poster printing requests to poster@princeton.edu.
PRISM offers a poster printing service for Princeton students and faculty. This service is by appointment only and is subject to staff availability. Poster printing is generally available from 8:00 AM till 11:00 AM On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (on regular University workdays). Every effort will be made to get your poster printed in a timely manner.
Please include YOUR NAME as part of the file name of your poster.
What is the maximum size poster I can print?
Currently, the maximum size poster we can print is (using Microsoft Power Point 2007) 41” by 54”. All Posters MUST be 41" or less in one dimension. (the paper comes in a 42" roll and the printer needs a 1/2" border.) The poster can be either landscape or portrait orientation.
The largest size we can CUT with our paper cutter is 52"
What other software is available?
Microsoft Office Professional 2003
Microsoft Office Professional 2007
Adobe Acrobat 9.0 Professional
Adobe Illustrator CS-4 Version 14
Adobe Photoshop CS-4 Extended, Version 11
Please note: Power Point is FAR and AWAY the easiest format to print from. Please make a note of the version of Power Point you are using.
I have never made a poster before. Where can I get ideas for my poster?
Try the following web sites.
http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/Poster_Presentations/110.html
Tutorial from University of Kansas
http://www.osti.gov/em52/workshop/tips-exhibits.html
Department of Energy Tips for Poster Preparation
http://www.osti.gov/em52/workshop/em52-gl.html
Department of Energy Requirements for Electronic Posters
http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/Dept/Tips/present/posters.htm
Good summary from CHE Department at University of New Castle
How long does it take to print a poster?
The actual printing time for a 48" wide poster is about 13 minutes. Currently, reservations are booked at 20 minute intervals beginning on the hour. This does not include drying time. You should allow at least another 5 to 10minutes for drying and trimming the edges. If you are printing more that ONE poster, please state that in your reservation request. Additional time will be allocated
How much does it cost to print a poster?
$16.00 PER RUNNING FOOT (rounded up to the nearest foot). A running foot is 42 inches wide by 12 inches long. (If you print a 30"x 40" poster the cost would be $48.00. 3' times $16.00 per foot = $48.00.)
How do I pay for my poster?
We can only accept account numbers (grant numbers) for payment. We are currently NOT able to accept student account numbers.
You must have a Princeton NetID and an account number when you arrive to print your poster. We have gone to an automated system for accounting and will not be able to print a poster without the account number at the time of printing.
WE ARE NOT SET UP TO ACCEPT CASH UNLESS ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE AT THE TIME OF YOUR RESERVATION.
If you are a student organization and have a university account number, you must also provide a contact name to use for the billing.
How do I get my poster printed?
All poster printing is done by reservation ONLY and the times are subject to staff availability. (The printer is NOT self serve and is NOT available on the network). Reservations are made by e-mailing your request to:
I use a MAC. Can you print from a MAC?
No, we do not have a MAC. If you are a MAC user, it will cause you less grief if you can do your poster on a PC. If you want to design your poster on your MAC and then do the finalizing on a PC (BEFORE YOU ARRIVE TO PRINT YOUR POSTER) that will cause you much less grief. Another option is to save your poster as a PDF.
If you save it as A PDF, make sure your PDF version is the same size as your original poster. Simply using the default settings may create the PDF as an 8.5" x 11" document.
How long in advance can I make a reservation?
Reservations are accepted up to 3 months in advance. If you know you are going to need a poster for a conference or seminar, put your reservation in early as the reservation times fill up very quickly. If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment , your appointment will be considered cancelled. If you can't make your appointment, please e-mail and let me know, that way someone can use your time slot.
How do I get my file to the computer for the poster printer?
You can bring it on a CD, a DVD, or a USB drive. We do NOT have a ZIP drive. You can also attach it to an e-mail and send it to the address listed above.
What happens if I find a mistake after my poster is printed?
You have 2 options, correct the error and reprint the poster and pay for the additional poster or use it as is. If the error was caused by the printer, it will be reprinted at no additional cost to you.
Other things that are handy to know
If you use Origin to create graphs and charts, save them as JPG's and then drop them into your slide. Simply dropping them in as an Origin file into your power point slide will cause serious printing issues.
Please let me know if you cannot make your appointment. NO-SHOWS waste my time and deprive someone else of being able to use the time.
".PNG" graphics file WILL cause problems. Your best bet is to use "JPG's.
Please make a note of what version of Power Point you use. There are some minor differences that may cause problems when you print.
Graphs created with Prism Graph will NOT print when put into Power Point slide. They will usually print on a laser printer but will NOT print on the poster printer.
The use of ready made templates for your poster can cause unpredictable results. It is best NOT to use them unless there is some compelling reason.
The LARGEST paper we can CUT with our paper cutter is 52".
72 Points (72 pt.) Font Size equals a 1 inch tall text character on a printed poster
It is good practice to NOT place anything (logo, box, text, fine border lines etc.) within 1/4 " of the edges of your poster. A full color background is OK.
If you use special fonts that are NOT part of the standard Microsoft Office font set, be sure you use the"Embed Fonts" option in Power Point. This is accessed by clicking on Save As, Tools, Save Options, then check "Embed True Type Fonts" . This creates a much larger file, but it also includes all the fonts you used in creating your file.
These posters are NOT suitable for wet locations. The ink WILL run if it gets wet.