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Presentation Poster Design Guide

Using Images

Use the following tips to avoid blurry or pixelated images on your poster:

Image from Udemy Support

  • Use a photo with a high pixel count. You can find the pixel count by right clicking on your image and then selecting properties.
  • Check the clarity of the image by zooming in or stretching the image to assess how it looks in relation to the rest of your poster content.
    • Zoom in on the photo 200%, if it is starting to look pixelated or grainy you might want to opt for a better image.
    • Calculate Pixels Per Inch or PPI. This can get tricky so here is a website that will walk you through the process.
    • Stretch the image in MS Word or a similar program to the approximate size it will be when printed and see if it is clear.
  • Some photos are meant to be stretched and enhanced and will never pixelate or blur. These images files are called vector images. These image files are different from the common images we use (JPG, GIF, PNG) in that they are created without a fixed amount of pixels and can easily be adapted to different sizes.

Finding Images

In academic work, it is important to respect copyright by using images legally and with proper attribution.

  • Creative Commons - While using Creative Commons to find images is a great first step, check each image's usage rights to understand how you can reuse, distribute, or edit.
  • Google Images - Be sure to show the tool bar that will filter for images with clear usage rights. 
  • Wikimedia Commons - Check all usage rights before using
  • Pixabay - Before using any image from Pixabay, check the usage rights (should be on the right hand side of each image, example).

Note: Before copying and pasting a Fitchburg State logo, make sure you're doing it right: Fitchburg State University General Visual Identity Guidelines (Logos and more)