visualization lab

Location and Hours

Hours: M – F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: LSE 222 map
Phone: (480) 965–8109
Email

Design Support: Visualization Lab

FAQ: Ottmar Large Format Printer

This page will answer most commonly asked questions. You can also use this page to help troubleshoot a problem you may be having setting up a file for Ottmar. If you don’t find the answer to a question you have, feel free call the Visualization Lab at (480)965–8109 or send us an email at solsvl@asu.edu.

How do I begin making my poster?
Select the software package that is easily accessible and that you are most comfortable with. The software packages that can be used with Ottmar are as follows:

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe PDF
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Corel Draw
  • Corel Presentations
  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Next, make sure to set up a “custom page size”. This option is usually found under Page Set Up or Document Options in most programs. It is best to put all text in text boxes so that it is easy to arrange in the poster layout.

How large is “large format”?
The printable area is up to 59” wide. The length will vary depending on program limitations.

What size should I make my poster?
A common size for many conferences and presentations is 36"x48". Please follow the conference's poster guidlines regarding poster size, it may have specific size requirements.

Why can’t I print a poster larger than 53” from a PowerPoint file?
A glitch in PowerPoint may distort text and may flow out of the text boxes, overlapping other parts of the poster when printing files which are 53” or larger. This can be avoided by setting the PPT custom page set up smaller than 53”. We can scale up if a larger size is needed.

What kind of paper can I get my poster printed on?
Currently we have semi–gloss paper and vinyl banner paper. The semi–gloss paper is used for most poster projects.

What file types will Ottmar accept?
Ottmar will accept the following file types:

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe PageMaker*
  • Adobe PDF
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Corel Draw*
  • Corel Presentations*
  • Microsoft PowerPoint

*Keep in mind that we are still doing testing procedures for printing with these file formats.

What considerations must be addressed when using images in my poster?
If using copyright images, make sure to get the proper permissions. For best quality, images should have a minimum resolution of 100dpi at the size they appear on the poster. Ottmar prints images a little dark, so be sure to brighten the images slightly in order to get optimal results (Keep in mind that there may be a slight color discrepancy between your monitor and the printed poster).

Where can I get the ASU and SOLS logo to use in my poster?
Various file types of the logo are available on the ASU website at http://commguide.asu.edu/download. Be sure to choose the link for EPS, TIFF or WMF versions of the logos. A reference of the important guidelines for the use of the university logos and word marks is available at http://commguide.asu.edu/elements. The SOLS logo can be downloaded from the Downloads section.

My poster looked great on my computer... why doesn’t it look the same on your computer?
Opening a file on a different computer may yield different results. Text boxes may change, which can impact text wrapping. Before the test print is run, the VL staff will look over the file briefly and attempt to correct this. Be aware that you may need to make an appointment to work with the VL staff to correct shifts in the file. Please note: this is not the time to make content changes. This will waste your time as well as ours.

How can I get my background color to print correctly?
Make sure to pick a color that is in the “printable” range. The screen has a greater latitude for color. The printer will not reproduce the same colors seen on the screen because it is simply not capable. You can check your colors in Photoshop in the color selection window. If you are unsure how to do this– please call the Visualization Lab (965–8109) for more details.

Why do you run test prints first?
Running a test print first allows us to troubleshoot before printing the final poster. Computers and printers usually work well together, but occasionally there are glitches that need to be worked out. This is just the nature of the beast. Whenever possible, always allow plenty of time for printing.

How fast can I get my poster printed?
A test print can be turned around in 24 hours. After the test print is approved, the poster will be turned around in 24 hours. The minimum total turn around time is 48 hours.

back to top