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https://github.com/rafaelbailo/betterposter-latex-template

LaTeX Template for Mike Morrison's #betterposter
https://github.com/rafaelbailo/betterposter-latex-template

academic communication conference imperial imperial-college imperial-college-london latex latex-class latex-template poster science-communication

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LaTeX Template for Mike Morrison's #betterposter

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README 

        
# Better Poster Latex Template



*Now available in [Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com/latex/templates/better-poster-latex-template/gmkgjvxqbyyt)!*



The **Better Poster** is [Mike Morrison](https://twitter.com/mikemorrison)'s response to the traditional academic poster. In his own words:

> Every field in science uses the same, old, wall-of-text poster design. If we can improve the knowledge transfer efficiency of that design even by a little bit, it could have massive ripple effects on all of science.

> 

> Also, poster sessions tend to suck, so here's my pitch to make them more efficient AND more fun with a new approach to designing scientific posters/academic posters that is both more usable, and easier to create!



 - If you want to learn more about the reasons behind the design and how it improves upon more typical academic poster templates, I recommend Mike's [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RwJbhkCA58&feature=youtu.be).

 - If you want to see how people are using the Better Poster design, see [#betterposter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/betterposter?src=hash) on twitter.

 - If you want the original PowerPoint template, you can find it [here](https://t.co/6WRGQK63g6).

 - If you want to start using the LaTeX template instead, download the repository and keep reading!










## Documentation

The template has been implemented as a LaTeX class, `betterposter.cls`. You can load it into your `tex` file by using the command

```

\documentclass{betterposter}

```



### The `\betterposter` command



The main command provided by the `betterposter` class is `\betterposter`. The command takes three arguments: the content of the central, left and right columns, respectively. You type  the content in, and the command takes care of the formatting.

```

\betterposter{

% content of the main column

}{

% content of the left column

}{

% content of the right column

}

```



### The `\maincolumn` command



The `\maincolumn` command takes care of the formatting of the main column. It takes two arguments: the content of the main section (for the main point of the poster), and the content of the bottom section (destined for the QR code).

```

\maincolumn{

% main point of the poster

}{

% QR code

}

```



### The `\qrcode` command



The `\qrcode` command formats the QR code for the poster. It takes three arguments: the path for the QR code image, the path for a small icon (a smartphone by default), and the caption ("Take a picture to download the full paper" by default).

```

\qrcode{path/to/image}{path/to/icon}{

% caption

}

```






Alternatively, the `\compactqrcode` command renders a more compact link by omitting the small icon.

```

\compactqrcode{path/to/image}{

% caption

}

```






#### Generating QR Codes



You should include a QR code that links to a relevant document which complements the poster (your paper, a website containing simulations or data...) There are many free QR code tools available, I have used [www.qr-code-generator.com](https://www.qr-code-generator.com/).



The example included in the template points to this repository:






You can also create QR codes which contain a logo:






### Class Options



The `betterposter` class accepts three options which change the paper size:

 - `a0paper`, for A0, the default size.

 - `a1paper`, for A1.

 - `a2paper`, for A2.



These options behave like the usual LaTeX class options, for instance:

```

\documentclass[a0paper]{betterposter}

```

#### Other Class Options

The `betterposter` class extends the basic `article` class. Any options you give `betterposter`, other than the ones mentioned above, will be passed directly to `article`. For instance,

```

\documentclass[a0paper,fleqn]{betterposter}

```

will let `betterposter` deal with the `a0paper` option, but will pass `fleqn` directly to `article`.



### Custom Formatting Options

These commands should be placed before `\begin{document}`.



#### Column Width

You can customise the width of the columns:

 - The left column, `\setlength{\leftbarwidth}{value}`.

 - The right column, `\setlength{\rightbarwidth}{value}`.

 - The main column automatically resizes to the rest of the space available.



#### Column Margins

You can change the margins of the columns:

 - The vertical margin of the side columns, `\setlength{\columnmarginvertical}{value}`.

 - The horizontal margin of the side columns, `\setlength{\columnmarginhorizontal}{value}`.

 - The vertical margin of the side columns, `\setlength{\maincolumnmarginvertical}{value}`.

 - The horizontal margin of the side columns, `\setlength{\maincolumnmarginhorizontal}{value}`.



#### Font Sizes

The `\fontsize` command takes two arguments, the `size` (the size of the font in `pt`) and the `baselineskip` (usually you want `baselineskip` to be roughly 1.25 times the `size`.



You can change specific font sizes:

 - The text font, `\renewcommand{\fontsizestandard}{\fontsize{28}{35} \selectfont}`.

 - The main column font, `\renewcommand{\fontsizemain}{\fontsize{28}{35} \selectfont}`.

 - The title font, `\renewcommand{\fontsizetitle}{\fontsize{28}{35} \selectfont}`.

 - The author font, `\renewcommand{\fontsizeauthor}{\fontsize{28}{35} \selectfont}`.

 - The section font, `\renewcommand{\fontsizesection}{\fontsize{28}{35} \selectfont}`.



Additionally, you can change the font size of a specific text segment by placing the text in brackets as:

```

{\fontsize{28}{35} \selectfont Your text goes here}

```



#### Colours



The class defines the theme colours of the original design:

 - `empirical`: ![#f03c15](https://placehold.it/15/004D40/000000?text=+) `(0,77,64)`,

 - `theory`: ![#f03c15](https://placehold.it/15/1A237E/000000?text=+) `(26,35,126)`,

 - `methods`: ![#f03c15](https://placehold.it/15/8C1616/000000?text=+) `(140,22,22)`,

 - `intervention`: ![#f03c15](https://placehold.it/15/FFD54F/000000?text=+) `(255,213,79)`,



as well as `imperialblue`: ![#f03c15](https://placehold.it/15/003E74/000000?text=+) `(0,62,116)`.



You can change the background and the font colours:

 - Background of side columns, `\renewcommand{\columnbackgroundcolor}{black}`.

 - Font of side columns, `\renewcommand{\columnfontcolor}{gray}`.

 - Background of main column, `\renewcommand{\maincolumnbackgroundcolor}{empirical}`.

 - Font of main column, `\renewcommand{\maincolumnfontcolor}{gray}`.



## Questions/Suggestions?

You can find me on twitter, [@rtsbailo](https://twitter.com/rtsbailo).



## Acknowledgements



| Item | Author | Preview |

|:-------:|:-------:|:------:|

|[Original Better Poster Design](https://t.co/6WRGQK63g6)|[Mike Morrison](https://twitter.com/mikemorrison)||

|[Smartphone icon](https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/smartphone_65680)|[Freepik](https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik)||

|[Ducklings](https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-photo-of-flock-of-ducklings-perching-on-gray-concrete-pavement-1300355/)|[Magda Ehlers](https://www.pexels.com/@magda-ehlers-pexels)||

|[Linear regression](http://www.texample.net/tikz/examples/linear-regression/)|Henri Menke||

|[Commutative diagram](http://www.texample.net/tikz/examples/commutative-diagram/)|[Stefan Kottwitz](http://texblog.net/)||

|[Imperial College London logo](https://www.imperial.ac.uk/brand-style-guide/visual-identity/the-imperial-logo/)|[Imperial College London](https://www.imperial.ac.uk/)||