/latex-posters

name: latex-posters
description: "Create professional research posters in LaTeX using beamerposter, tikzposter, or baposter. Support for conference presentations, academic posters, and scientific communication. Includes layout design, color schemes, multi-column formats, figure integration, and poster-specific best practices for visual communication."
allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Bash
metadata:
  version: "1.4"
  openclaw:
    primaryEnv: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
    envVars:
    - name: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
      required: false
      description: OpenRouter API key for the skill's LLM-powered steps.

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

AI-Powered Visual Element Generation

**STANDARD WORKFLOW: Generate ALL major visual elements using AI before creating the LaTeX poster.**

This is the recommended approach for creating visually compelling posters: 1. Plan all visual elements needed (title, intro, methods, results, conclusions) 2. Generate each element using scientific-schematics or Nano Banana Pro 3. Assemble generated images in the LaTeX template 4. Add text content around the visuals

**Target: 60-70% of poster area should be AI-generated visuals, 30-40% text.**

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Hard limits (do not exceed)

These are limits, not guidelines. Violating them is the single most common cause of a failed poster. Full reasoning, per-graphic-type tables, and worked examples are in [references/ai_graphics_for_posters.md](references/ai_graphics_for_posters.md).

| Constraint | Limit | | --- | --- | | Elements per AI-generated graphic | **3-4 maximum** (3 ideal) | | Words per graphic | **10 maximum** | | White space per graphic | **50% minimum** (60% better) | | Key numbers / metrics | **120pt+** | | Labels | **80pt+** | | Body text on the poster | **24pt+** | | Content sections (A0) | **5-6 maximum** | | Total words on the poster | **300-800** | | Figure width | `0.85\linewidth`, never `1.0` |

Every graphic prompt must include: `POSTER FORMAT for A0`, an explicit element or word count (`ONLY 3 icons`, `3 words total`), a font size (`GIANT (120pt+)`), `60% white space`, and a viewing distance (`readable from 10-12 feet`).

**Two mandatory review gates.** Skipping either is how unreadable posters happen:

• **Before generating** — for each planned graphic, confirm it is 3-4 items, one message,

under 10 words, and not a 5+ stage workflow. If not, split it into several graphics.

• **After generating, before assembly** — open each figure at 25% zoom. All text readable,

4 or fewer elements, 50%+ white space, understandable in 2 seconds. Any failure means regenerate or split. Do not assemble a poster from figures that failed.

Patterns that always fail: `7-stage workflow`, `timeline with annual milestones`, `3 case studies in one graphic`, `comparison of 5+ methods`, `architecture with all layers`. Collapse each to 3 high-level items, or make several separate graphics.

**Overflow is an error, not a warning.** After compiling, run `grep -i overfull poster.log` and inspect all four edges at 100% zoom. See [references/compilation_and_quality_control.md](references/compilation_and_quality_control.md).

Scientific Schematics Integration

For detailed guidance on creating schematics, refer to the **scientific-schematics** skill documentation.

**Key capabilities:**

• Nano Banana Pro automatically generates, reviews, and refines diagrams
• Creates publication-quality images with proper formatting
• Ensures accessibility (colorblind-friendly, high contrast)
• Supports iterative refinement for complex diagrams

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Core Capabilities

Three poster packages are supported — **beamerposter** (Beamer syntax, institutional themes), **tikzposter** (modern, colorful, flexible), and **baposter** (structured multi-column). Package comparison, layout and grid systems, design principles, standard sizes, per-package templates, figure and image integration, color schemes, typography, and QR codes are all documented in [references/latex_poster_reference.md](references/latex_poster_reference.md).

Reusable per-section content patterns, accessibility requirements, and presentation-day guidance are in [references/poster_patterns_and_presentation.md](references/poster_patterns_and_presentation.md).

Workflow for Poster Creation

Stage 1: Planning and Content Development

1. **Determine poster requirements**:

• Conference size specifications (A0, 36×48", etc.)
• Orientation (portrait vs. landscape)
• Submission deadlines and format requirements

2. **Develop content outline**:

• Identify 1-3 core messages
• Select key figures (typically 3-6 main visuals)
• Draft concise text for each section (bullet points preferred)
• Aim for 300-800 words total

3. **Choose LaTeX package**:

• beamerposter: If familiar with Beamer, need institutional themes
• tikzposter: For modern, colorful designs with flexibility
• baposter: For structured, professional multi-column layouts

Stage 2: Generate Visual Elements (AI-Powered)

**CRITICAL: Generate SIMPLE f