/latex-posters

name: latex-posters
description: "Use when creating or revising LaTeX research posters with beamerposter, tikzposter, or baposter, including poster layout, typography, color, print sizing, figure placement, QR codes, compilation, and print-ready PDF checks."
allowed-tools: [Read, Write, Edit, Bash]

LaTeX Research Posters

Overview

Research posters are a critical medium for scientific communication at conferences, symposia, and academic events. This skill provides comprehensive guidance for creating professional, visually appealing research posters using LaTeX packages. Generate publication-quality posters with proper layout, typography, color schemes, and visual hierarchy.

When to Use This Skill

This skill should be used when:

• Creating research posters for conferences, symposia, or poster sessions
• Designing academic posters for university events or thesis defenses
• Preparing visual summaries of research for public engagement
• Converting scientific papers into poster format
• Creating template posters for research groups or departments
• Designing posters that comply with specific conference size requirements (A0, A1, 36×48", etc.)
• Building posters with complex multi-column layouts
• Integrating figures, tables, equations, and citations in poster format

Boundary

This skill owns poster layout and LaTeX poster production. It can place existing figures and specify visual space allocation, but it does not generate diagrams, plots, data figures, or presentation decks, and it must not require a separate visual specialist as part of normal poster work.

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Core Capabilities

1. LaTeX Poster Packages

Support for three major LaTeX poster packages, each with distinct advantages. For detailed comparison and package-specific guidance, refer to `references/latex_poster_packages.md`.

**beamerposter**:

• Extension of the Beamer presentation class
• Familiar syntax for Beamer users
• Excellent theme support and customization
• Best for: Traditional academic posters, institutional branding

**tikzposter**:

• Modern, flexible design with TikZ integration
• Built-in color themes and layout templates
• Extensive customization through TikZ commands
• Best for: Colorful, modern designs, custom graphics

**baposter**:

• Box-based layout system
• Automatic spacing and positioning
• Professional-looking default styles
• Best for: Multi-column layouts, consistent spacing

2. Poster Layout and Structure

Create effective poster layouts following visual communication principles. For comprehensive layout guidance, refer to `references/poster_layout_design.md`.

**Common Poster Sections**:

• **Header/Title**: Title, authors, affiliations, logos
• **Introduction/Background**: Research context and motivation
• **Methods/Approach**: Methodology and experimental design
• **Results**: Key findings with figures and data visualizations
• **Conclusions**: Main takeaways and implications
• **References**: Key citations (typically abbreviated)
• **Acknowledgments**: Funding, collaborators, institutions

**Layout Strategies**:

• **Column-based layouts**: 2-column, 3-column, or 4-column grids
• **Block-based layouts**: Flexible arrangement of content blocks
• **Z-pattern flow**: Guide readers through content logically
• **Visual hierarchy**: Use size, color, and spacing to emphasize key points

3. Design Principles for Research Posters

Apply evidence-based design principles for maximum impact. For detailed design guidance, refer to `references/poster_design_principles.md`.

**Typography**:

• Title: 72-120pt for visibility from distance
• Section headers: 48-72pt
• Body text: 24-36pt minimum for readability from 4-6 feet
• Use sans-serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Calibri) for clarity
• Limit to 2-3 font families maximum

**Color and Contrast**:

• Use high-contrast color schemes for readability
• Institutional color palettes for branding
• Color-blind friendly palettes (avoid red-green combinations)
• White space is active space—don't overcrowd

**Visual Elements**:

• High-resolution figures (300 DPI minimum for print)
• Large, clear labels on all figures
• Consistent figure styling throughout
• Strategic use of icons and graphics
• Balance text with visual content (40-50% visual recommended)

**Content Guidelines**:

• **Less is more**: 300-800 words total recommended
• Bullet points over paragraphs for scannability
• Clear, concise messaging
• Self-explanatory figures with minimal text explanation
• QR codes for supplementary materials or online resources

4. Standard Poster Sizes

Support for international and conference-specific poster dimensions:

**International Standards**:

• A0 (841 × 1189 mm / 33.1 × 46.8 inches) - Most common European standard
• A1 (594 × 841 mm / 23.4 × 33.1 inches) - Smaller format
• A2 (420 × 594 mm / 16.5 × 23.4 inches) - Compact posters

**North American Standards**:

• 36 × 48 inches (914 × 1219 mm) - Common US conference size
• 42 × 56 inches (1067 × 1422 mm) - Large format
• 48 × 72 inches (1219 × 1829 mm) - Extra large

**Orientation**:

• Portrait (vertical) - Most common, traditional
• Landscape (horizontal) - Better for wide content, timelines

5. Package-Specific Templates

Provide ready-to-use templates for each major package. Templates available in `assets/` directory.

**beamerposter Templates**:

• `beamerposter_classic.tex` - Traditional academic style
• `beamerposter_modern.tex` - Clean, minimal design
• `beamerposter_colorful.tex` - Vibrant theme with blocks

**tikzposter Templates**:

• `tikzposter_default.tex` - Standard tikzposter layout
• `tikzposter_rays.tex` - Modern design with ray theme
• `tikzposter_wave.tex` - Professional wave-style theme

**baposter Templates**:

• `baposter_portrait.tex` - Classic portrait layout
• `baposter_landscape.tex` - Landscape multi-column
• `baposter_minimal.tex` - Minimalist design

6. Figure and Image Integration

Optimize visual content for poster presentations:

**Best Practices**:

• Us