Canva is a graphic design platform that is used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. The app includes a wide range of templates, many of which are free to users with a basic, free account. To use Canva, you will need to create an account, but you should not feel obligated to purchase a Canva Pro plan.
- Open the Canva homepage.
- Select ""Create New Design" in the upper right corner.
- In the drop down, select the "Custom Size" button.
- Make sure that you have selected inches and not pixels. Set the width to 48" and the height to 36". Hit the "Create Design" button.
- In the lefthand margin, go to the "Templates" button. Here you will be able to search through hundreds of templates, many of which are free. A search for "research poster" will yield a number of selections that would be appropriate templates for your design. You can change the templates easily as you browse.
- Start modifying your template using the tools in the lefthand column. To upload graphics, you will need to use the "Uploads" tool.
- All changes will be saved automatically, so you can always log in and pick up where you left off!
- When you are satisfied with your poster, select the "Download" button in the upper right corner. For file type, select "PDF Print."
- Save the poster to your computer or shared drive.
Source: https://students.dartmouth.edu/ugar/news-events/wetterhahn-science-symposium/posters/designing-research-poster
