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, department Wiscard, or guest print card. Examples: conference or research posters, promotional materials, graphic design work, and signage. Poster printing is not self-service.
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.
- Poster printing is also available at College and Steenbock libraries.
- Our service desk staff will review requests submitted through the UW-Madison Libraries Poster Printing application during open hours.
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
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 42 inches (maximum length for other edge = 72 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)
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
- NOT ACCEPTED: Funding strings or 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
- NOT ACCEPTED: Funding strings or 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