Before Creating Your Poster

1. In Microsoft PowerPoint, click the Design tab
   
2. On the top right hand side of the page, click Slide Size
3. Click on Custom Slide Size from the drop down menu that appears
   
4. Set the width to 30 in, and the height to 42 in
5. Ensure that the orientation is in Portrait mode

6. Click OK when done

   

   If the following message appears, you can select either option (maximize or ensure fit). There isn’t content in your slide yet so it will not make a difference:

   

When Creating Your Poster

1. Keep your content away from the edge of the page. It is recommended to leave at least a 0.5 inch margin between the edge of the page and your content. This will prevent your content from accidently getting cut off during the printing process. 
2. If you are using images in your design make sure that you are using the largest size / highest resolution possible (300 dpi recommended). This ensures your images will remain crisp during the printing process. Never enlarge a small, low resolution image. It will become pixelated and blurry.
3. Remember that posters are meant to be looked at from a distance. Make sure you text is clear and readable.

After Creating Your Poster

1. Click the File tab
   
2. On the menu that appears on the left-hand side of the page, click Save as Adobe PDF
3. A dialogue box will appear prompting the saving to PDF, click Yes
    
4. Name your file, select where you want to save it to, and click Save