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skills/latex-posters/README.md
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skills/latex-posters/README.md
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# LaTeX Research Poster Generation Skill
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Create professional, publication-ready research posters for conferences and academic presentations using LaTeX.
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## Overview
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This skill provides comprehensive guidance for creating research posters with three major LaTeX packages:
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- **beamerposter**: Traditional academic posters, familiar Beamer syntax
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- **tikzposter**: Modern, colorful designs with TikZ integration
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- **baposter**: Structured multi-column layouts with automatic positioning
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## Quick Start
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### 1. Choose a Template
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Browse templates in `assets/`:
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- `beamerposter_template.tex` - Classic academic style
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- `tikzposter_template.tex` - Modern, colorful design
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- `baposter_template.tex` - Structured multi-column layout
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### 2. Customize Content
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Edit the template with your research:
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- Title, authors, affiliations
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- Introduction, methods, results, conclusions
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- Replace placeholder figures with your images
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- Update references and acknowledgments
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### 3. Configure for Full Page
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Posters should span the entire page with minimal margins:
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```latex
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% beamerposter - full page setup
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\documentclass[final,t]{beamer}
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\usepackage[size=a0,scale=1.4,orientation=portrait]{beamerposter}
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\setbeamersize{text margin left=5mm, text margin right=5mm}
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\usepackage[margin=10mm]{geometry}
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% tikzposter - full page setup
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\documentclass[25pt,a0paper,portrait,margin=10mm,innermargin=15mm]{tikzposter}
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% baposter - full page setup
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\documentclass[a0paper,portrait,fontscale=0.285]{baposter}
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```
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### 4. Compile
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```bash
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pdflatex poster.tex
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# Or for better font support:
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lualatex poster.tex
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xelatex poster.tex
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```
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### 5. Review PDF Quality
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**Essential before printing!**
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```bash
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# Run automated checks
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./scripts/review_poster.sh poster.pdf
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# Manual verification (see checklist below)
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```
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## Key Features
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### Full Page Coverage
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All templates configured to maximize content area:
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- Minimal outer margins (5-15mm)
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- Optimal spacing between columns (15-20mm)
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- Proper block padding for readability
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- No wasted white space
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### PDF Quality Control
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**Automated Checks** (`review_poster.sh`):
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- Page size verification
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- Font embedding check
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- Image resolution analysis
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- File size optimization
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**Manual Verification** (`assets/poster_quality_checklist.md`):
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- Visual inspection at 100% zoom
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- Reduced-scale print test (25%)
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- Typography and spacing review
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- Content completeness check
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### Design Principles
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All templates follow evidence-based poster design:
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- **Typography**: 72pt+ title, 48-72pt headers, 24-36pt body text
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- **Color**: High contrast (≥4.5:1), color-blind friendly palettes
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- **Layout**: Clear visual hierarchy, logical flow
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- **Content**: 300-800 words maximum, 40-50% visual content
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## Common Poster Sizes
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Templates support all standard sizes:
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| Size | Dimensions | Configuration |
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|------|------------|---------------|
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| A0 | 841 × 1189 mm | `size=a0` or `a0paper` |
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| A1 | 594 × 841 mm | `size=a1` or `a1paper` |
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| 36×48" | 914 × 1219 mm | Custom page size |
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| 42×56" | 1067 × 1422 mm | Custom page size |
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## Documentation
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### Reference Guides
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**Comprehensive Documentation** (in `references/`):
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1. **`latex_poster_packages.md`** (746 lines)
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- Detailed comparison of beamerposter, tikzposter, baposter
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- Package-specific syntax and examples
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- Strengths, limitations, best use cases
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- Theme and color customization
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- Compilation tips and troubleshooting
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2. **`poster_design_principles.md`** (807 lines)
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- Visual hierarchy and white space
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- Typography: font selection, sizing, readability
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- Color theory: schemes, contrast, accessibility
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- Color-blind friendly palettes
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- Icons, graphics, and visual elements
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- Common design mistakes to avoid
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3. **`poster_layout_design.md`** (650+ lines)
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- Grid systems (2, 3, 4-column layouts)
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- Visual flow and reading patterns
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- Spatial organization strategies
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- White space management
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- Block and box design
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- Layout patterns by research type
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4. **`poster_content_guide.md`** (900+ lines)
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- Content strategy (3-5 minute rule)
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- Word budgets by section
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- Visual-to-text ratio (40-50% visual)
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- Section-specific writing guidance
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- Figure integration and captions
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- From paper to poster adaptation
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### Tools and Assets
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**Scripts** (in `scripts/`):
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- `review_poster.sh`: Automated PDF quality check
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- Page size verification
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- Font embedding check
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- Image resolution analysis
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- File size assessment
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**Checklists** (in `assets/`):
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- `poster_quality_checklist.md`: Comprehensive pre-printing checklist
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- Pre-compilation checks
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- PDF quality verification
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- Visual inspection items
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- Accessibility checks
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- Peer review guidelines
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- Final printing checklist
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**Templates** (in `assets/`):
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- `beamerposter_template.tex`: Full working template
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- `tikzposter_template.tex`: Full working template
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- `baposter_template.tex`: Full working template
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## Workflow
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### Recommended Poster Creation Process
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**1. Planning** (before LaTeX)
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- Determine conference requirements (size, orientation)
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- Identify 3-5 key results to highlight
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- Create figures (300+ DPI)
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- Draft 300-800 word content outline
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**2. Template Selection**
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- Choose package based on needs:
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- **beamerposter**: Traditional conferences, institutional branding
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- **tikzposter**: Modern conferences, creative fields
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- **baposter**: Multi-section posters, structured layouts
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**3. Content Integration**
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- Copy template and customize
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- Replace placeholder text
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- Add figures and ensure high resolution
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- Configure colors to match branding
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**4. Compilation & Review**
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- Compile to PDF
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- Run `review_poster.sh` for automated checks
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- Review visually at 100% zoom
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- Check against `poster_quality_checklist.md`
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**5. Test Print**
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- **Critical step!** Print at 25% scale
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- A0 → A4 paper, 36×48" → Letter paper
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- View from 2-3 feet (simulates 8-12 feet for full poster)
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- Verify readability and colors
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**6. Revisions**
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- Fix any issues identified
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- Proofread carefully (errors are magnified!)
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- Get colleague feedback
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- Final compilation
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**7. Printing**
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- Verify page size: `pdfinfo poster.pdf`
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- Check fonts embedded: `pdffonts poster.pdf`
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- Send to professional printer 2-3 days before deadline
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- Keep backup copy
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## Troubleshooting
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### Large White Margins
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**Problem**: Excessive white space around poster edges
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**Solution**:
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```latex
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% beamerposter
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\setbeamersize{text margin left=5mm, text margin right=5mm}
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\usepackage[margin=10mm]{geometry}
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% tikzposter
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\documentclass[..., margin=5mm, innermargin=10mm]{tikzposter}
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% baposter
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\documentclass[a0paper, margin=5mm]{baposter}
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```
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### Content Cut Off
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**Problem**: Text or figures extending beyond page
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**Solution**:
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- Check total width: columns + spacing + margins = pagewidth
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- Reduce column widths or spacing
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- Debug with visible page boundary:
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```latex
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\usepackage{eso-pic}
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\AddToShipoutPictureBG{
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\AtPageLowerLeft{
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\put(0,0){\framebox(\LenToUnit{\paperwidth},\LenToUnit{\paperheight}){}}
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}
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}
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```
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### Blurry Images
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**Problem**: Pixelated or low-quality figures
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**Solution**:
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- Use vector graphics (PDF, SVG) when possible
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- Raster images: minimum 300 DPI at final print size
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- For A0 width (33.1"): 300 DPI = 9930 pixels minimum
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- Check with: `pdfimages -list poster.pdf`
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### Fonts Not Embedded
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**Problem**: Printer rejects PDF due to missing fonts
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**Solution**:
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```bash
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# Recompile with embedded fonts
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pdflatex -dEmbedAllFonts=true poster.tex
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# Verify embedding
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pdffonts poster.pdf
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# All fonts should show "yes" in "emb" column
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```
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### File Too Large
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**Problem**: PDF exceeds email size limit (>50MB)
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**Solution**:
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```bash
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# Compress for digital sharing
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gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 \
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-dPDFSETTINGS=/printer -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -dBATCH \
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-sOutputFile=poster_compressed.pdf poster.pdf
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# Keep original uncompressed version for printing
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```
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## Common Mistakes to Avoid
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### Content
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- ❌ Too much text (>1000 words)
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- ❌ Font sizes too small (<24pt body text)
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- ❌ No clear main message
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- ✅ 300-800 words, 30pt+ body text, 1-3 key findings
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### Design
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- ❌ Poor color contrast (<4.5:1)
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- ❌ Red-green color combinations (color-blind issue)
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- ❌ Cluttered layout with no white space
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- ✅ High contrast, accessible colors, generous spacing
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### Technical
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- ❌ Wrong poster dimensions
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- ❌ Low resolution images (<300 DPI)
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- ❌ Fonts not embedded
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- ✅ Verify specs, high-res images, embedded fonts
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## Package Comparison
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Quick reference for choosing the right package:
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| Feature | beamerposter | tikzposter | baposter |
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|---------|--------------|------------|----------|
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| **Learning Curve** | Easy (Beamer users) | Moderate | Moderate |
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| **Aesthetics** | Traditional | Modern | Professional |
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| **Customization** | Moderate | High (TikZ) | Structured |
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| **Compilation Speed** | Fast | Slower | Fast-Medium |
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| **Best For** | Academic conferences | Creative designs | Multi-column layouts |
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**Recommendation**:
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- First-time poster makers: **beamerposter** (familiar, simple)
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- Modern conferences: **tikzposter** (beautiful, flexible)
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- Complex layouts: **baposter** (automatic positioning)
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## Example Usage
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### In Scientific Writer CLI
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```
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> Create a research poster for NeurIPS conference on transformer attention
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The assistant will:
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1. Ask about poster size and orientation
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2. Generate complete LaTeX poster with your content
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3. Configure for full page coverage
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4. Provide compilation instructions
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5. Run quality checks on generated PDF
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```
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### Manual Creation
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```bash
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# 1. Copy template
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cp assets/tikzposter_template.tex my_poster.tex
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# 2. Edit content
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vim my_poster.tex
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# 3. Compile
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pdflatex my_poster.tex
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# 4. Review
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./scripts/review_poster.sh my_poster.pdf
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# 5. Test print at 25% scale
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# (A0 on A4 paper)
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# 6. Final printing
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```
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## Tips for Success
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### Content Strategy
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1. **One main message**: What's the one thing viewers should remember?
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2. **3-5 key figures**: Visual content dominates
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3. **300-800 words**: Less is more
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4. **Bullet points**: More scannable than paragraphs
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### Design Strategy
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1. **High contrast**: Dark on light or light on dark
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2. **Large fonts**: 30pt+ body text for readability from distance
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3. **White space**: 30-40% of poster should be empty
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4. **Visual hierarchy**: Vary sizes significantly (title 3× body text)
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### Technical Strategy
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1. **Test early**: Print at 25% scale before final printing
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2. **Vector graphics**: Use PDF/SVG when possible
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3. **Verify specs**: Check page size, fonts, resolution
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4. **Get feedback**: Ask colleague to review before printing
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## Additional Resources
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### Online Tools
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- **Color contrast checker**: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
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- **Color blindness simulator**: https://www.color-blindness.com/coblis-color-blindness-simulator/
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- **Color palette generator**: https://coolors.co/
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### LaTeX Packages
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- `beamerposter`: Extends Beamer for poster-sized documents
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- `tikzposter`: Modern poster creation with TikZ
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- `baposter`: Box-based automatic poster layout
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- `qrcode`: Generate QR codes in LaTeX
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- `graphicx`: Include images
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- `tcolorbox`: Colored boxes and frames
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### Further Reading
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- All reference documents in `references/` directory
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- Quality checklist in `assets/poster_quality_checklist.md`
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- Package comparison in `references/latex_poster_packages.md`
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## Support
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For issues or questions:
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- Review reference documentation in `references/`
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- Check troubleshooting section above
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- Run automated review: `./scripts/review_poster.sh`
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- Use quality checklist: `assets/poster_quality_checklist.md`
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## Version
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LaTeX Poster Skill v1.0
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Compatible with: beamerposter, tikzposter, baposter
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Last updated: January 2025
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