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Overview
Need to print a poster for a conference, thesis, or class project? Williams offers free printing for academic posters. Here’s how to get it done.
Requirements
Before you begin: is your poster "academic"? This free service is only for posters related to your academic work at Williams, including:
- Course assignments
- Conference presentations
- Thesis presentations
- Summer research projects
Posters for clubs, events, or personal use are considered non-academic and will have a printing cost. Non-academic posters may be printed at the Print & Mail Office on campus, or using commercial print services. Non-academic posters can be submitted by email to printservices@williams.edu.
Instructions
Step 1: Design and Finalize Your Poster
Before you submit your poster for printing, make sure it's perfect:
- Proofread Carefully: Check for any typos, spelling errors, or incorrect data.
- Get Feedback: Have your professor or advisor review your poster for content and clarity.
- Check the Size: The only 3 printable sizes are: 36"x24" or 36”x36” or 36”x48”.
- File Format: Save (don’t “Print”!) your final poster as a PDF. This is the only file format we accept.
Design Tip: For the best quality, make sure your images have a resolution of 300 dpi or more.
IMPORTANT: Printing Policies
Please review your poster carefully before you submit:
- Only one (1) copy of an academic poster will be printed. Typos or other mistakes (incorrect size, grainy images) do not qualify for a free reprint. We cannot edit your file, and you are responsible for its final contents.
- Copyright: The Print & Mail Office may refuse to print copyrighted materials. In such cases, you must provide proof of a copyright holder’s permission to print their creative works. Please refer to the College’s Research Guide on Copyright for more information.
Step 2: Submit Your Poster for Printing
Ready to print? Follow these steps:
- Fill out the Academic Poster Request Form with the following information:
- Your name and email address
- Your professor's name
- The course or department your poster is for
- The dimensions of your poster
- Upload Your PDF: Attach your final, proofread PDF file (maximum of 100 MB).
- Submit!
Turnaround Time: Please allow at least two (2) business days for your poster to be printed. During busy periods, like the end of the semester, printing may take longer.
Step 3: Pick Up Your Poster
You will get an email notification when your poster is ready. You can pick up your poster at the Print & Mail Office, at 51 Park Street (Class of ’37 House), during normal office hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm.
Additional Help
- Poster design and software: We recommend Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint. Additional tools (e.g. Adobe Creative Cloud) are also available on certain college computers.
- Questions about the printing process or your submission: Contact the Print & Mail Office at printservices@williams.edu or 413-597-2022.