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Poster Printing & FAQs

Poster Printing

Two-week notice is required for the printing of posters. For posters with formatting needs (beyond dragging and dropping for PowerPoint slides), please use other print services on campus (FedEx) or off-campus (AlphaGraphics and Kinko's).

If you would like assistance with poster printing, please complete our CFRS Service Request form.

Printing Prices for standard 56"x42" size

  • School of Nursing: $40 for students; $50 for faculty and staff
  • Other schools: $65 for all faculty, staff and students
  • Contact cfrs@case.edu for quote on other sizes

Frequently Asked Questions

Poster Templates

Poster FAQs 

What is your turn-around time?

Two weeks. We ask that you email us as soon as possible to get your name on the schedule: cfrs@case.edu

What is the best way to send you my poster for printing?

Email your file to cfrs@case.edu or bring it to our office on a jump drive.

How big can my file be?

Poster files can be as large as 4 – 6 MB range. If your poster is any bigger we may have trouble receiving it by email or printing it.

What size should my poster be?

Our standard poster size is 56 x 42 inches. Go into Page Set-up to confirm your poster size.

Please check the instructions from your conference to see their specific requirements. The conference will usually tell you the maximum size. Don’t feel like your poster must be that big. It usually looks better to have some space around it.

What size type do I need to use?

Your title should be approximately 100 followed by authors at a font size between 40 and 70. Headings should be between 40 and 65. You should use a font size between 30 and 50 in text boxes.

Do I have to use your templates?

The School of Nursing requires that the header and footer along with the CWRU logo be on your poster. Otherwise, you are welcome to change the layout and color of the poster template. Remember, keep your background light. Dark color backgrounds saturate the paper and make your poster wavy like a Ruffles potato chip. It also uses a lot of ink, and we would have to charge you more.

Can I print a poster larger than 56 x 42?

PowerPoint will not set-up posters larger than 56 inches. Please contact our staff if you need a bigger poster. It is possible to use half the size for posters larger than 56” and we will print at 200% to get the final larger size, but one side is limited to a final of 42”. For example, if the final desired length is 36 x 90”, set it up at 16 x 45” and we will double it in our print driver. Remember to set your fonts at half the size, and view the final at 200%.

How big do my pictures need to be?

We like to see pictures between 300 and 600 dpi in their final size. A good thing to do is to look at your pictures at 100% (200% if we print them at 200%). If they are pixilated (you see noticeable squares of color) on your screen, they will be that way when we print them too. You will want to get higher resolution photos.

What file format should I use for pictures?

PowerPoint works best with jpeg or tif images. Pict and eps images from a Mac brought into a PC are not recommended, they will cause a problem.

How do I bring charts, tables and pictures into PowerPoint?

For pictures it is best to do an Insert Picture from your file or PowerPoint presentation. Charts, tables and graphs can be copy/pasted from an Excel worksheet by copying the chart/table/graph, opening your poster and clicking on Paste (from the menu bar) then Paste Special and highlighting Picture (Enhanced Metafile) and then clicking OK. 

How do I arrange for payment?

If your department is paying for your poster, we will require an account number by the time the poster is ready for pick up. If the poster is an out of pocket expense for you, we will accept either cash or a personal check made payable to Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). Our prices for a standard 56"x42" poster are as follows:

  • School of Nursing: $40 for students; $50 for faculty and staff
  • Other Schools:  $65 for all faculty, staff and students

Will I have an opportunity to view my poster prior to final printing?

Yes, after we view your file and make any necessary adjustments, we will print out a small 8 1/2” x 11” exact duplicate of your poster. You will be asked to proof read and review the poster for alignment and layout. After giving your approval, your final poster will be then printed.

Are you able to trim my poster and mount it on foam board?

No, we do not have the facilities or equipment to trim or mount posters. But the Print Shop in Thwing does for a reasonable fee, and they are always happy to help. You can even arrange for them to deliver your finished product!

Are you able to print and mount Tri-Folds?

No, unfortunately at this time we are not formatting, printing or mounting Tri-Folds. Print Services in Thwing is able to print and mount Tri-Folds. Megaprint, an online poster printing company, has a 36 x 48 Tri-Fold template that may be of help, and they will also print and mount your Tri-Fold for approximately $150.  See www.postersession.com/trifold-posters.php. Tri-Fold boards are available at Office Max and Staples.

Can I have my poster sent to me?

Unfortunately we do not have the resources available to ship posters. After your poster has been printed, you will be notified via email that your poster is ready for pick up. Since we are limited on space to store posters we ask that they be picked up within 24 hours of notification.

Need Assistance?

If you would like assistance with poster printing, please complete our CFRS Service Request form.