MERIT
Media, Education Resources, and Information Technology

Poster Printing

MERIT is NOT a location for Undergraduate Symposium poster printing

If you need to print your poster for the Undergraduate Symposium, please contact College Library (linked above).

NOTICE: Our large-scale poster trimmer is currently broken.  If you need to trim the poster you ordered with us, Steenbock and College libraries have cutting boards available to use.  Apologies for the inconvenience.

MERIT offers wide-format poster printing to students, staff, faculty, and our community users. Orders must be placed online for pickup. Cost is $4 per square foot and is payable with Wiscard, departmental Wiscard, departmental funding string, or guest print card (note: MERIT does not accept credit card payments). Examples: conference or research posters, promotional materials, graphic design work, and signage. Poster printing is not self-service. 

NOTE for Spring 2025:

  • We’ve updated to 43″ print size option
  • We now use satin paper as the default for our poster prints

How to order: By clicking the red “Submit a Poster” button below, you will be redirected to sign-in to your UW Libraries account.

  • On the sign-in page you can review poster printing options and poster file requirements.
  • Once signed-in to your library account you can choose MERIT as a printing location.
  • Our service desk staff will review requests submitted through the UW-Madison Libraries Poster Printing application during open hours.

Submit a Poster

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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What are the poster file requirements?

File considerations

  • We currently accept image files-only: JPEG, PNG, or TIFF
  • Image files received are printed as-is.
  • Format, edit, and resize before submitting print request
  • Need support creating a poster? Review UW Libraries Poster Printing KnowledgeBase article for tips & troubleshooting (including working from PowerPoint or Google Slides).

Review your poster thoroughly for typos and quality issues

  • Check print quality!  TIP: Zoom to “Actual Size” to look for pixelation, distortion, or blurriness

Make sure your file size is printable

  • One edge must measure less than 43 inches (maximum length for other edge = 100 inches)
  • How to check size in Photoshop:
    • From the “Image” tab (top navigation)
    • Select “Image Size”
    • As needed, use drop-downs to change from pixels to inches

Save your file with this naming style:

  • YourName-OneWordDescription (e.g. BuckyBadger-Lakefront)

Are there resources for making posters?

Yes! The DesignLab has an entire website page dedicated to poster creation, including:

  • Recommended software
  • Poster examples
  • Instructional videos
  • Troubleshooting tips

Make a DesignLab appointment

How do I create a poster from PowerPoint or Google Slides?

Checkout the UW Libraries Poster Printing KnowledgeBase article!  You can learn tips & navigate issues for creating, designing, and exporting files to submit print requests.

How quickly are posters printed?

  • 3 hours from receipt of order (during open hours)
    • Orders submitted after 5 p.m. may be processed the following business day
    • We do not print posters within 1-hour of closing time
  • During busy times, wait for posters can be up to 2-days; please plan ahead
  • We do not cut posters (there is a table with trimming tools available)

How do I pick-up my poster?

You will be notified by email when your poster is ready for pick-up.  It will be available from the MERIT service desk: 3rd floor of Teacher Education building (225 N. Mills street).  What to expect:

  • Ask for your poster by name
    • We will ask you to verify poster file name (for example: “Bucky Badger, Lakefront”)
  • Payment at pick-up
    • Cost: $4 per square foot
    • Personal:
      • Wiscard
      • Guest print card (available at MERIT service desk or for purchase at Memorial library)
      • NOT ACCEPTED: Credit or debit cards
    • Department:
      • Departmental Wiscard
      • Departmental funding strings
      • NOT ACCEPTED: P-cards (credit cards)
  • Add-on
    • Cardboard poster tubes available for $3.10

What are my payment options?

You can pay for a poster in the following ways:

  •  Personal
    • Wiscard
    • Guest print card (available at MERIT service desk or for purchase at Memorial library)
    • NOT ACCEPTED: Credit or debit cards
  • Department
    • Departmental Wiscard
    • Departmental funding strings
    • NOT ACCEPTED: P-cards (credit cards)

Does MERIT offer poster travel tubes?

Yes, we do!   Cardboard poster tubes available for $3.10

I'm a community user without a library account, can I print?

Yes!

MERIT welcomes local PreK-12 educators (and other community users) to use our poster printing as well as other printing/lamination services in our space.

Contact our service desk staff directly by email at: library@education.wisc.edu or call: 608-263-4750.

Questions about this service?  Email: library@education.wisc.edu