i Library Services Creating a Poster with Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Aims The aim of this document is to provide basic instructions in creating a A1 size poster using PowerPoint 2010. Objectives When you have completed these exercises you should be able to: Set up a blank slide within PowerPoint of the correct size for printing an A1 poster Use backgrounds Insert text, images, shapes and SmartArt Print the poster on an appropriate plotter Pre-requisites This document assumes that you are familiar with the use of a computer keyboard and mouse, and Microsoft Windows based products. You should also be familiar with the use of a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Transcript
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Library Services
Creating a Poster with Microsoft PowerPoint 2010
Aims
The aim of this document is to provide basic instructions in creating a A1 size poster using PowerPoint 2010.
Objectives
When you have completed these exercises you should be able to:
Set up a blank slide within PowerPoint of the correct size for printing an A1 poster
Use backgrounds
Insert text, images, shapes and SmartArt
Print the poster on an appropriate plotter
Pre-requisites
This document assumes that you are familiar with the use of a computer keyboard and mouse, and Microsoft Windows based products. You should also be familiar with the use of a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.
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Document Information
Format Conventions
The following format conventions are used in this document.
Created by S Fletcher 2009-10
Updated C Dishman July 2013
Computer input that you type is shown in a bold Arial font
The quick brown fox.
Hypertext links to be followed are shown in bold underlined Courier font
Select the link to John Moores University
Computer output, what is displayed on the
monitor, is shown in a bold Calibri font Save, Go to, Refresh
Text that you must replace is shown in italics
Enter your username
Computer keys that you must press are in
a bold Calibri font and enclosed in angle
brackets
[Enter], [n], [N], [/]
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Contents
Aims ............................................................................................................................. i
Objectives .................................................................................................................... i
Pre-requisites ............................................................................................................... i
Task 1. Setting up the Poster ............................................................................. 1
Starting PowerPoint 2010 and setting up the slide ....................................................... 1
Setting Paper Size and Orientation .............................................................................. 1
Task 3. Printing the Poster ................................................................................. 8
Changing the Printer .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Printing the Poster ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
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Task 1. Setting up the Poster
Task 1.1 Starting PowerPoint 2010 and setting up the slide
Double click on the Office 2010 icon on the LJMU desktop and
then double click on PowerPoint 2010. PowerPoint will open with
a blank Title Slide
Click the Layout button in the Slides group to view the different
slide layouts and select the Blank layout as below
Task 1.2 Setting Paper Size and Orientation The size and orientation of the poster now needs to be specified. The most common paper sizes for a poster are A0 (approx. 84 cm x 120 cm) and A1(approx. 59 cm x 84 cm). For this poster we will use A1. Orientation can be either portrait, the narrower side is the width or Landscape, the wider side is the width.
Select the Design tab on the ribbon and then Page Setup
In the Slides sized for: field select Custom
In the Width: box enter 59.4 and in the Height: box enter 84.1
(true A1 size)
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In the Orientation section select either Portrait or Landscape
depending on the orientation you need and then click the OK
button
Save the file with a suitable name on your M: drive
Task 1.3 Displaying Drawing Guides
A grid and drawing guides can be displayed to assist you in aligning objects on the poster. Objects snap to the grid unless you specify otherwise. These guides only show on the screen view and are not printed out.
Right-click on the slide and select Grid and Guides…
In the Grid and Guides dialogue box select Display grid on screen and Display drawing guides on screen and then select
the OK button
As well as displaying the grid two guides are shown centrally horizontal and vertical. These guides can be moved by dragging with the mouse or
duplicated by holding down the [Ctrl] key as you drag.
Task 1.4 Using the Zoom Control
After resizing the slide PowerPoint automatically adjusts the view of the slide so that it displays all the slide on-screen. As you build up your poster you may wish to zoom in and out of the slide to fix fine details, to see the true size of an object or to view the overall effect of the poster. This can be easily done by using the Zoom Control at the bottom right of the PowerPoint window.
Move the Zoom Control slider right to zoom in or left to zoom out
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Task 2. Building the Poster
Task 2.1 Creating a Gradient Background PowerPoint offers you a variety of options for backgrounds for presentations. You can simply change the colour, or you can add shading, patterns, textures or pictures. The background of your poster should not detract from the content and careful consideration should be given to the choice of colours and/or images so as to ensure that your poster is still legible. Remember that slide colour schemes that are suitable for projection are not always suitable for printing.
Ensure the Design tab is selected and then click on Background
Styles within the Background Group
Select Format Background…
Select Gradient fill, choose a scheme from the Preset colors: and then use the Gradient stops section to set up the desired
gradient of colours for each stop
Use the Type: and Direction: selectors to choose the style of
gradient you want
You can use the Reset Background button at any time to clear
the current scheme
Finally use the Close button to confirm the settings
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Notes:
When applying a gradient make sure that you choose colours which are compatible. Generally colours should be “light to lighter” or “dark to darker” not “light to dark”.
If you do not wish to use a gradient fill simply select Solid fill and
choose a colour.
Task 2.2 Adding Text
The title and other text can be added to your poster by various methods; the most flexible is Text Boxes. Title text should be readable from around 3 metres and should, therefore, have a minimum font size of 40 points. Other text can be sized as appropriate but remember to make it large enough to be easily read.
Select the Insert tab and then click on the Text Box tool
The cursor changes to a tall cross. Click on the slide approximately where you want the text to start. Enter the text, the box will expand to accommodate what you type
Use the zoom control to zoom into the text box, it will automatically centre the text box on screen as it is selected. Highlight your text
and then use the Font group to change the text’s size, font, add
shadow, colour, etc
The position of the text can be changed by grabbing and dragging the box
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Task 2.3 Adding Images
Images can make a great impact on posters. However, to save on file size it is best to resize images with a programme such as Paint Shop Pro before inserting them into PowerPoint. Although you can enlarge a picture within PowerPoint this will degrade the quality of the image. It is therefore important to ensure the source file is physically large enough for your purposes.
Images can be gathered from a variety of sources, however, you should always check the copyright on any images that you do not own yourself.
Select the Insert tab and then click on the Picture tool. The
Insert Picture dialogue box opens
Locate the picture on your M: drive or other source such as a
USB drive. Select it and then click on the Insert button
The image will be placed in the centre of the slide and can then be moved to the desired position
Task 2.4 Adding Shapes
Shapes can be used to create diagrams, etc. They can be drawn to any size, can be coloured and also joined together. There is a whole gallery of shapes available to you from lines and rectangles to Call Outs.
Select the Insert tab and then click on the Shapes tool to open
the gallery
Select the shape you want and using the mouse draw and size it on the slide. It will be shaded as default
If the [Shift] key is held down whilst drawing the shape it will be
drawn symmetrically. This applies to all shapes, therefore, holding
down the [Shift] key whilst drawing an ellipse will draw a true
circle
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Right click on the shape and select Format Shape… to open the
Format Shape dialogue box
Using this box you can carry out basic formatting of the fill, line, etc and more complex actions such as 3-D rotation. Try out some of the ways in which the shape can be formatted
Shapes can be overlaid one on top of another in layers. The first drawn shape is positioned on the bottom layer and the next is drawn on the layer above, etc. To move one shape in front of or behind another you can right click on the shape and use the use
Bring to Front and Send to Back commands
To duplicate a shape you can right click on it, select Copy, and
then right click and select Paste Options and then the left-hand icon Use Destination Theme (H)
When connecting shapes together such as a line to a rectangle it is best to zoom in to get accuracy of placement
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Task 2.5 Adding SmartArt
SmartArt is pre-configured diagrams to which you can add text. It can be used for a variety of purposes to illustrate lists, cycles, relationships, etc.
Select the Insert tab and then click on the SmartArt tool to open
the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialogue box
The dialogue box contains 3 panes; the left to select all or a particular theme of SmartArt, the central displays the SmartArt itself, the right explains the purpose of the chosen SmartArt. Below is an example of SmartArt use.
Select the Cycle theme in the left-hand pane
Select the Block Cycle shape in the centre pane; the 3rd from the
left and read the explanation of its use
Select the OK button to insert the SmartArt on the slide. Move it to
a clear portion of the slide
Starting with the top box enter the following words in each box in turn to represent a recurring cycle; Plan, Consult, Refine, Instigate, Assess
Use the SmartArt Styles group in the ribbon to explore variations
of and colours for the diagram
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Task 3. Printing the Poster
Task 3.1 Changing the Printer
As the poster is sized at A1 it will not be possible to print it on the normal printers. You need to connect to a specialised plotter.
To ensure that the plotter is picked up by Microsoft PowerPoint it is best to close and then re-open the application after the plotter has been selected.
When your poster is ready to print save it and then close PowerPoint
Click on the Start Button
Select Change Network Printer
Select your site and then Poster Printer and click on Connect
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Task 3.2 Open Microsoft PowerPoint and your poster file
Select File, Print
The Print dialogue box opens. Ensure that the printer Printer is
ARGFLDJ1 on printsrv4 (please note this is the Aldham Robarts
poster printer)
Select the Print button to send the poster to the printer
Go to the Poster Printer Release Station, log in and release your poster
DO NOT leave the poster printing until the last minute. The plotter is much in demand and production of a poster can take up to 30 minutes
REMEMBER to spell check your poster before printing
REMEMBER not to print out the poster until it is finished. Poster printing is expensive
REMEMBER to change the printer back to Follow Me if you need to print something else in this session
If you need assistance with PowerPoint then support can provided in person at the Library Services Hub or by contacting Library Services on 3179
