Creating a Poster in Powerpoint - Learn how to design an A0 portrait poster

Sep 17, 2026

Upload by Fahsai

Guide to creating a print-ready poster in PowerPoint, starting from launching the workspace and configuring slide dimensions and orientation (commonly A0, with custom width and height). Explains how to display and use a grid for alignment, apply backgrounds using solid, gradient, or picture/texture fills while cautioning against unreliable transparency printing. Covers adding and formatting text, rotating text boxes, inserting WordArt and pictures, and working with Excel to support poster content layout.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Starting Powerpoint

Setting Size and Orientation

Display a Grid

Apply a background

Add text to your poster

Add WordArt to your poster

Add Pictures

Working With Excel

Creating a Poster in Powerpoint January 2013 Contents 1 . Starting Powerpoint 2 . Setting Size and Orientation 3 . Display a Grid 5 . Apply a background 7 . Add text to your poster 9 . Add WordArt to your poster 10 . Add Pictures 12 . Working With Excel Starting PowerPoint 􀁸 Double click the PowerPoint Icon on your desktop. 􀁸 You will be taken to the PowerPoint Workspace Setting the Size and Orientation of your Poster The most common size of poster is A0 (84.1 cm x 118.9 cm), the maximum poster width and height that PowerPoint will allow is 140cms or 56 ins. To change the size and orientation 􀁸 Click the Design tab on the ribbon 􀁸 Click Page Setup 􀁸 A dialog box will appear: 􀁸 In the ‘Slides sized for:’ drop down menu, select ‘Custom’ 􀁸 Type 84.1 in the width box and 118.9 in the height box for an A0 Portrait poster. If your poster requirement is for a portrait style poster (tall and thin), then click the portrait orientation button to swap the values around for a portrait layout. 􀁸 Click OK to see your new A0 slide. Your workspace should now look similar to the picture below. Display a Grid When we come to introduce the different elements to our poster, it is beneficial to use a grid and to help us align our images and text. Turn on the Grid 􀁸 Right click on any blank part of the slide and left click Grid and Guides 􀁸 In the Grid and Guides dialog box, leave the spacing as is and put a tick in all the boxes except the one named ‘Display drawing guides on screen’. 􀁸 Click OK . You should see the grid overlay on the workspace Apply a Background to your poster To access the options for changing the background, 􀁸 Right click on the slide and left click ‘Format Background...’ This dialog box contains three main options 􀁸 Solid fill : Applies a wash of a single colour across the background 􀁸 Gradient fill : Applies a blend of two or more colours gradually acrossthe background 􀁸 Picture or Texture fill : Applies a large single picture background or a regular tiled picture background We do not recommend using the transparency function to lighten the background image of a poster as this has proved to print unpredictable results Examples of each are shown below (without the grid showing for clarity) Add Text to your Poster 􀁸 Click the Insert tab 􀁸 click on Text Box 􀁸 The cursor will change shape to that of a long cross 􀁸 left click anywhere on the slide to place the text box. 􀁸 Click the bottom right hand circle on the text box, hold, and drag it to the right to make it larger. 􀁸 Click inside the text box to start typing. 􀁸 You can also copy and paste text into the text box from other packages. 􀁸 To rotate the text box click and drag the green control circle at the top of the box in a circular motion. To change the font, colour, and size of the text in the text box, highlight the text: 􀁸 Click on the Home tab 􀁸 All the options are under the Font section on the ribbon.

FAQs

What are the common poster dimensions used in this guide, and how can you set a custom size in PowerPoint?

The guide recommends A0 (84.1 cm x 118.9 cm). It shows using Design > Page Setup, selecting Custom, entering the width and height, and confirming to update the slide.

How do you turn on a grid for aligning poster elements?

Right-click a blank area of the slide, choose Grid and Guides, keep the spacing as default, tick all boxes except 'Display drawing guides on screen,' and click OK.

What background options does the guide describe, and what warning is given about transparency?

It explains Solid fill, Gradient fill, and Picture or Texture fill. It warns that using the transparency function to lighten a background image can produce unpredictable printing results.

Sep 17, 2026

Upload by Fahsai