Microsoft PowerPoint is a go-to tool for most of us to show presentation ideas to our audiences. But you can also use it to design poster presentations. Whether for advertising or promoting an event, PowerPoint lets you create a poster for any purpose. In this article, you will learn how to make a poster in PowerPoint step-by-step.

Additionally, you will know proven tips to design your poster to make it more appealing.

Let’s dive in:

How to Create a Poster in Powerpoint

There is no fixed PowerPoint poster design. Business owners incorporate different design elements in their posters, depending on their needs. We’ll explore key design elements you can use to make a poster.

To make the process of PowerPoint poster creation easy to understand, we have divided it into the following small steps:

1- Open a Blank Presentation Slide

Click on the New tab and select a blank presentation to open a blank slide.

Click on the View menu and enable Ruler, Gridlines, and Guides. This will assist you in aligning images, text, and other content for your poster on the slide.

2- Pick a Size for Your Poster Presentation

Go to the Design Tab and click on the Slide Size menu. You will see three options: Standard (4:3), Widescreen (16:9), and Custom Slide Size.

If you don’t want to use any of the typical sizes (standard or widescreen), Click on the Custome Slide Size tab to make a poster of a custom size.

For this poster presentation, we will create a poster measuring 24 inches by 36 inches. This site is versatile and can be used for various purposes.

After you set the PowerPoint poster size, PowerPoint will ask you whether you want to maximize the size of your content or you want to scale down to ensure fit. Choose Maximize.

3- Add Visual Elements

To design an attractive PowerPoint poster, you need to incorporate creative elements into your slide. Click on the Insert tab and choose the picture menu.

You will have three options to insert pictures from – This Device, Stock Images, and Online Pictures. For this poster, we have used a stock image. So we have selected the Stock Images option.

4- Add Text Elements

Once your chosen image is uploaded to the slide, click on the Text Box tab from the Insert menu to add a text box.

You can add as many text boxes as your poster demands. Once text boxes are added to the poster, you can change font sizes, colors, and types of fonts.

5- Insert Shape Elements into the Poster

Click on the Insert menu and select the desired shape you want to add to your poster.

You can write desired text using shape elements. Also, you will have the option of choosing Shape Fill, Shape Outline, or Shape Effects. Based on the layout of your poster, you should pick shape elements and colors to personalize those elements.

6- Check if You Have Included Everything

We have included an icon from the Insert menu at the footer of the poster to enhance its appearance. Alternatively, you can add your logo in place of this icon.

And finally, we have added one more shape and a text box at the footer. Your poster design will look like the following:

7- Save Your Poster Design

Once your poster is ready, you should save the file. You have multiple options to save it.

But make sure you save the file in PowerPoint. If you save the file in PowerPoint, you can easily edit it in the future.

To print the file, you can save it as a PDF or JPEG file.

As you have observed, there are multiple options to add images, icons, and shapes to your poster.

So, your PowerPoint poster design can be as creative as you want.

Formatting Your PowerPoint Presentation Poster

Formatting plays a significant role in creating an eye-catching poster for your business.

PowerPoint poster dimensions vary according to the purposes for which the posters are being created.

Therefore, it is important to first clarify your requirements before you start designing a poster in PowerPoint.

Here are a few formatting tips:

Don’t write a long title
Use easy-to-read fonts in your poster
Don’t change the type sizes and/or typefaces excessively in your poster design
Consider poster sizes that are common in your industry before deciding the size for your poster

Best PowerPoint Poster Template Options

Creating a poster in PowerPoint from scratch can be time-consuming, particularly if you are using the software for the first time. In this situation, utilizing PowerPoint poster templates can help save both time and effort.

Here are five beautiful PowerPoint templates to create posters:

Newfield PowerPoint Poster Template

This template is well-suited for creating research posters. Newfield template comes in many sizes, including 36×48, 36×56, 36×60, and more.

Pool Party Poster Template

If you’re looking to create and print a poster for a pool party or any other event, the Pool Party template can simplify the process for you. This template is fully customizable to meet your needs.

Multipurpose Corporate Flyer Design

This template is perfect for designing a poster to present your business at trade events. You can fully customize the Multipurpose Corporate Flyer Design template to meet your objectives.

Community Posters from Microsoft

Microsoft has a collection of community posters that you can easily customize. These templates are good for creating posters for fundraisers, festivals, or other community events.

Product Flyer Template

You can use the Product Flyer Template to design creative sale posters easily. You can use it to create fashion flyers, tech store flyers, car-for-sale flyers, and more.

Top Tips on How to Make a PowerPoint Poster

Here are five top tips on how to make a poster in PowerPoint:

Consider Your Branding

Your poster represents your brand irrespective of its purpose. So you should keep your brand in mind while creating a poster.

Colors, fonts, and creatives should be in line with your brand theme.

Use Design Elements in Harmony

You should use all the design elements in harmony. Images, texts, shapes, and graphics should be used in a way that one element doesn’t overpower the other.

Avoid Excessive Color Variations

Using too many color variations can be distracting and hinder effective message delivery. Therefore, when creating a poster, it’s important to use colors strategically that align with your brand philosophy.

Break Your Poster into Sections

Ensure that your poster does not resemble a lengthy thread. Instead, divide it into sections to enhance the effectiveness of your message delivery.

Be Creative

When it comes to adding creativity to your PowerPoint poster design, you have multiple options.

You can use beautifully created images, write smart copy, and experiment with graphics to create a poster that catches the attention of your audience.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to make a poster in PowerPoint. It is time to put a thinking cap on and create a powerful poster, avoiding common PowerPoint mistakes.

PowerPoint is an excellent software tool for preparing presentation slides. But to fully harness the power of this software tool, you should also know how to do a voiceover in PowerPoint, how to create a roadmap in PowerPoint, and how to make a Venn Diagram in PowerPoint.

Image: Depositphotos

This article, “How to Make a Poster in PowerPoint” was first published on Small Business Trends