I was going to write it myself, then I recalled something provided by TOS (The Oceanography Society). Here it is:
It's helpful, isn't it? I don’t agree with everything it says, and you don’t need to, either
Here is my own list based on my first serious attempt:
1) Font size: Make sure people can read with ease from 6-7 feet away.
Title: 66 to 96
Names: 36 to 54
Abstract: 28 to 42
Others: at least 28 (including labels for graphics and tables)
2) Font type:
Do not use too many types. I used one type for the abstract, another type for captions, etc.
I like Comic Sans MS, because it’s like neat handwriting, which is the only font type I use for my new posters.
3) Tricks:
a) Shrink the file to 10% to decide on its layout;
b) Enlarge it to 40-50% to work on the details (text, graphics, etc.);
c) PRINT OUT a 11 by 8.5 handout (using “scale to fit paper” option) before printing a BIG one--THIS is very important, because you can have a good look at what it will look like in terms of layout and you can change it many times without wasting a lot of big tree branches;
d) Use the cheap paper (instead of the glossy type), which you can fold and take on a plane easily. (I saw a Japanese colleague using cloth instead of paper for his poster, which is really neat. Then, you can make a T-shirt out of it
f) Get someone to help you, if you don't know how to use the BIG printer. I cannot tell you how to print it, because I have a colleague printed it for me every time. (Yes, I should buy him lunch.)
Final note, and a very important one: If you use the ppt file for printing, some "words" might shift. So, "save" the ppt file as a pdf file first. Do NOT use the "save" button to get the pdf file; use the "print" button: print it to a pdf file USING "high quality" and "scale to fit paper." Check the pdf file size, and make sure it's about the same as the ppt file size...
Never too old to learn, or too late to learn (I just got a low-quality BIG poster).