Graphic Support Workshop

Media Centre

Graphic Support Workshop

Humanitites Bridgeford St
The University of Manchester
Oxfrord Road
Manchester M13 9PL

Poster Preparation
tel: 0161 275 2545
[email protected]
[email protected]

Preparing your text for use Working with Images

in a DTP Package When scanning images to include in your poster, an
When typing your text for your poster, we image that will be reproduced at actual size should
recommend that you use as little formatting as be scanned at 300 dpi. If you wish to double or
possible, just type it out as you would a letter. triple the size of the image, then you must double
Your text will be inserted into a template, within a or triple the resolution (600dpi or 900dpi) in your
DTP package and we will use style sheets to quickly scanner settings. Please note altering the resolution
and easily format your text, headings, bullet points of an existing image or after you have scanned it in
and captions can all be added at this point. Using will not produce the same results. Caution should
style sheets and the draw function within a word be applied when scanning images from magazines
processing document can cause conflicts when or books, you will need to ‘de-screen’ your image and
taking into DTP packages such as InDesign. blur it slightly. This is to avoid a moiré effect, check
your scanner it should have a de-screen option.
If you want to include any tables in your poster, Please do not use images from the web, they are
then create them in a separate word processing designed to be viewed on-screen and are often low
document. When constructing your table, take into resolution (72 dpi), nothing can be done to improve
consideration how it will fit into your poster. Will the quality of the image.
it fit into one column or will you need to run it over
two ? If so, how will the text flow around it ? Will it Black and white line or vector art (images that
interrupt the flow of the text ? We recommend that consist of lines only such as diagrams or charts)
you save two versions of your table, one with lines should be scanned at 1200dpi. Some scanners may
(it would be useful to bring a printout) and one with not interpret the lines very well in Black an white,
no formatting at all. you can scan the image in full colour and correct the
image in Photoshop using the levels and brightness/
If you wish to include any graphs to illustrate contrast functions.
data, again do not include them within your word
processing document. Either save them as an EPS Before we can import you image into the poster,
file so that they can be edited if need to. If that isn’t please ensure that you have converted the image
possible then save them either as a PDF or print to CMYK, this can be fond in Photoshop under the
them out and scan them in. menu image > mode. Also we would recommend
rotating your images (if needed) before you take
Do not embed your graphics within your word them into In-Design (Desk Top Publishing Software
processing document as this will again cause used for layout).
conflicts if you then try to import your text file into
a DTP package. Please see the section ‘working with We recommend saving your images as a TIFF file or
images’ for advice. EPS (without compression), please avoid WMF, BMP,
JPG, GIF or PNG if possible as those types of files can
be quite erratic. Especially WMF as this particular
file format is well known for corruption if used in a
DTP package
Using an Image as a Background We can currently accept artwork from these
following applications from Apple Macintosh or PC
You have to be very careful when putting text over platform:
a photographic background, it can make text very
hard to read. We recommend that when using an software: Adobe Illustrator
image as a background, you must bleach or lighten file formats: AI, EPS and PDF
the image quite severely. Always think to yourself Convert all fonts to outlines, embed all linked
is it more important to read the text or see the images and if saving as a pdf, make sure the artwork
image ? If the image has importance don’t use it as remains editable.
a background.

software: Adobe InDesign

If you do decide to use an image for the background, file formats: INDD and PDF
take into consideration that the image won’t need
Convert all fonts to outlines and use the Package
to be as high resolution as long as you create it
command to collect files.
at actual size. We recommend that you make the
background image no larger that 150dpi at actual software: Adobe Photoshop
size that you need it. file formats: TIFF, EPS and PDF
Editing images can take a considerable amount of Always flatten your artwork and change to CMYK.
time, so the more prepared you are, the more time software: QuarkXpress 5 - 6.1
you will be able to spend designing your poster. file formats: QXD and PDF
Collect for output, to collect all relevant files.
software: Coreldraw 10 (PC only)
Submitting Artwork for file formats: CDR and EPS
Large Format Printing Convert all fonts to outlines, embed all linked
images.
If you have created your own artwork and would
like to submit a poster for printing, please be aware software: PowerPoint
that if you are using the University logo it must file formats: PPT and PDF
conform to the University Identity guidelines. Do not use WMF or PNG graphics, do not use the
We have poster templates that are available in transparency feature.
InDesign or Powerpoint. There are strict guidelines Please note that this package is designed to present graphics on-
when using the University Logo, you can visit our screen and is not recommended for use in print as it can present
website at www.manchester.ac.uk/visualidentity poor results.
for information on how to use the identity or you
can e-mail [email protected] or mandy.
[email protected] for more details. Naming your files

Saving Files It will not affect the print process, but will aid in the
identification of your file. Especially as we print a lot
It is recommended that you supply two sets of of posters. For example if you your surname is Jones
files for printing. A pdf and a file format native to and you require a A1 poster that you have created in
the application you have used. A pdf file can not Illustrator, I would expect the files to look like this:
be edited and should appear exactly the same
wherever viewed, we can check your artwork for JonesA1post.AI JonesA1post.pdf
consistency against the pdf. If you create a high When choosing the names please bear the
quality pdf for print, we will be able to print your following in mind:
poster from the pdf.
Use lowercase letters only, no more
Where possible it is recommended that you convert than 12 characters
your fonts to outlines, paths or curves. This means
that font compatibility will not be an issue as we Avoid symbols and punctuation marks,
will not be able to install fonts on our computers especially fullstops, with the exception of
due to security issues. Please note that an EPS separating the filename from its extension; i.e.
within an EPS is not a good idea. Postscript errors jones.pdf.
can occur. We can accept files on the following media: ZIP
disks, CD ROM, DVD ROM, USB pen drives and floppy
disks. You will not be able to access your p:drives
and internet access is not permitted.