THE PDFLATEX POSTER CLASS. USER'S GUIDE

THE PDFLATEX POSTER CLASS.
USER’S GUIDE
R. Fortrie
18 avril 2002

TABLE DES MATIÈRES
Table des matières
1 Software requirements 1
2 Poster class presentation 1
3 Compilation 2
4 For any question and notification 2
5 Predefined constants 2
5.1 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
5.2 Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
6 Positions and lengthes 4
7 Rotations 4
8 Positioning an object in relation to a root position 4
9 Environments 4
9.1 Paragraph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
9.2 DisplayMath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
9.3 Poster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
10 Commands 5
10.1 Manipulation of objects and boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
10.2 Cliparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
10.3 General parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
10.4 Actions in the draw area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
10.5 Popups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
10.6 Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
10.7 Logos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
10.8 Objects on cliparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
11 A short example 10
The pdfLaTeX Poster class. User’s guide

2 POSTER CLASS PRESENTATION
Introduction
Creating an aesthetically pleasant poster using LaTeX is now possible. Thanks to the pdfLa-
TeX Poster class, you can now quikly disign a poster in various formats (A0, A1, A2, . . . ), with
colors, pictures, cliparts, . . . . Most common graphical operations are available : scaling, rotation,
superposition, . . . Moreover, like pdfLaTeX do, the Poster class allows you including other pdf
documents or jpeg pictures on your presentation.
1 Software requirements
All you need, excluding the pdflatex compiler, is provided in the Poster_v1.0.tar.gz
file that can be found on the Poster class home page at :
http ://remy.fortrie.free.fr/telechargement/latex/Poster/.
Installation of the Poster_v1.0.tar.gz file is achieved as following :
gunzip Poster_v1.0.tar.gz ; tar -xvf Poster_v1.0.tar
2 Poster class presentation
The Poster class includes two options :
– The Poster format. It can be a0, a1, a2, a3 or a4. Default is a0.
– The Poster orientation. It can be portrait or landscape. Default is portrait.
Then, a poster could begin with :
\documentclass[a2,landscape]{Poster}
When parameters are defined and usefull packages charged, begins the document :
\begin{document}
...
[document]
...
\end{document}
This document is composed whith posters (of course, you can make several posters in the same
document) :
\begin{Poster}
...
[the show]
...
\end{Poster}
Note that the Poster environment includes a picture environment. Then, do not put directly
objects in the Poster environment, it would results in strange undesirable effects.
In order to print a small text on the sheet, you have to use \Put**Object commands. A
minimum Poster presentation could be :
The pdfLaTeX Poster class. User’s guide Page 1

5 PREDEFINED CONSTANTS
\documentclass{Poster}
\begin{document}
\UseColor{Text}
\begin{Poster}
\PutObject{1/2}{1/2}{A small Text}
\end{Poster}
\end{document}
3 Compilation
After having created your document, compile it with pdflatex twice. Then you can look at the
pdf file with your pdf-viewer (Acrobat Reader 1 for example).
4 For any question and notification
For FAQ, have a look to the Poster class home page at :
http ://remy.fortrie.free.fr/telechargement/latex/Poster/.
For any question or notification, please send an E-mail to
5 Predefined constants
5.1 Definitions
Remy.Fortrie@ens-lyon.fr.
In the Poster class, all is done for you not to use any unit length. Everything is managed
with counters (take care that counters only accept integer values). Here is a part of the counters
internally used by the Poster class. It is often dangerous or without effect changing them directly.
You had better to use the corresponding command in order to do it.
PaperHeight : Height of the sheet (see table 1 for details).
PaperWidth : Width of the sheet (see table 1 for details).
DrawHeight : The Height of the area in which will reside objects to be shown. It excludes the
bottom of the sheet, in which arrows, subject and number are printed, and actually excludes
the title of the Show if one is printed. This is the counter you must use in order to position
object on the sheet.
DrawWidth : The same, for the width.
LeftInset : Left inset between the border of the sheet and the poster content. Default value is 0.
RightInset : Right inset between the border of the sheet and the poster content. Default value is
0.
1 Acrobat Reader is free and can be downloaded from http ://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/.
The pdfLaTeX Poster class. User’s guide Page 2

5 PREDEFINED CONSTANTS
Format Width Height
a0 8409 11892
a1 5946 8409
a2 4204 5946
a3 2973 4204
a4 2102 2973
TAB. 1 – Dimensions of predefined formats, given in internal length unit (0.1 mm).
TopInset : Top inset between the border of the sheet and the poster content. Default value is 0.
BottomInset : Bottom inset between the border of the sheet and the poster content. Default value
is 0.
BottomHeight : The Height of the bottom of the sheet, in which logos are printed.
ListMarkClipartHeight : Height of the picture which will be used as list mark.
ListMarkClipartWidth : The same, for the width
PopupInset : Size of the empty border between the object printed in the Popup and the border of
the popup. The default value is 2.
TitleLeftInset : Left inset between the border of the poster content area and the title.
TitleRightInset : Right inset between the border of the poster content area and the title.
TitleTopInset : Top inset between the border of the poster content area and the title.
TitleBottomInset : Inset below the title.
TitleRealWidth : Width of the Paragraph wich will be used for the creation of the title. This
paragraph is scaled in order to fit to the given title insets.
PopupInset : Space between the object and the border of the popup.
PopupShadowWidth : Thickness of the shadow bhind a popup.
TotalLogosNumber : Total number of logos which have to be printed at the bottom of the poster.
LogosHeight : Common height used for all the logos.
LogosInset : Space above and below the logos.
unitlength : Length unit used in the poster (0.1 mm).
5.2 Colors
Using a given color is done thanks to the \UseColor{ColorName} command. ColorName
is one of the names given on the table 2
Of course, those colors can be changed. Such an action can be achieved using the following
command :
\SetColor{ColorName}{Format}{Description}
ColorName is one of the names shown in the previous table, Format is gray, rgb (for red
green blue) or cmyk (for Cyan Magenta Yellow blacK) and Description is the corresponding
description 2 .
2 See litterature for details about the color package.
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9 ENVIRONMENTS
6 Positions and lengthes
ColorName Format Description Aspect
Background gray 0.8 light gray
Title rgb 0.5,0.0,0.0 dark red
Text gray 0.0 black
HighlightedText rgb 1.0,0.0,0.0 red
PopupBackground gray 0.5 gray
PopupBorder gray 0.0 black
PopupShadow gray 0.0 black
PopupText rgb 1.0,1.0,1.0 white
PopupHighlightedText rgb 1.0,0.0,0.0 red
TAB. 2 – Default values for colors.
For the almost all the commands, when a position or a length has to be given, two different
ways of giving it are availabel. First of all, of course, it is possible to give an absolut (intager)
value. But you can also provide a fraction. The value of this fraction will depend on the value of
the DrawWidth and DrawHeight constants. For example, 1/2 given for an horizontal position will
return half the value of DrawWidth. The fraction can be whatever you want between 0 and 1/1.
There some exceptions. Particularly for big arrows or circles, where only an absolut value is
necessary.
Moreover, when scaling an object is requested, it is possible to give, for one or both of the
requested dimensions, an integer smaller than 1. This will result in a scalling action keeping the
ratio height/width for the scaled object. If both width and height are integers smaller than 1, the
given object will not be scaled.
7 Rotations
When an angle is requested for a rotation, it must be an integer value between -180 and 360.
Other values will be accepted, but the resulting operation can not be predicted.
8 Positioning an object in relation to a root position
For a great number of graphical operations, both an horizontal position and a vertical position
are requested. Their values can be l, c or r for the horizontal position and t, c, b for the vertical
position. These symboles mean respectively left, center, right, top and bottom. For example, If
{l}{b} is used, the given object will be printed on the left and at the bottom of the root position,
which is equivalent to say that the root position will be located at the top right corner of the object.
If this positionning operation is followed by a rotation, the center of this rotation is the root
position.
9 Environments
9.1 Paragraph
Creates a minipage whose #1 is the width. For example :
The pdfLaTeX Poster class. User’s guide Page 4

10 COMMANDS
\begin{Paragraph}{70}
Text
\end{Paragraph}
9.2 DisplayMath
Using the displaymath environment for printing a mathamatical expression in a Paragraph
environment is of course allowed, but if there is no text above this expression, ther will be a too
large space above the mathematical expression. Here is the reason for this environment. It can
allays be used instead of displaymath, but when the first parameter is set to NoTextAbove,
the remaining space above the mathematical expression is suppressed.
\begin{DiplayMath}{NoTextAbove} or \begin{DiplayMath}{}
A.X=B
\end{DisplayMath}
9.3 Poster
This is the main environment of this class. Do not forget this defines a picture environment
and, as a consequence, that it is prohibited putting directly things in this environment. Prefer using
\Put**Object commands.
\begin{Poster}
\PutObject{1/2}{1/2}{A small Text}
\end{Poster}
10 Commands
10.1 Manipulation of objects and boxes
SetToWidth : Initialisation of the given counter to the width of the given object in \unitlength
unit.
SetToHeight : Initialisation of the given counter to the height of the given object in \unitlength
unit.
SetToDepth : Initialisation of the given counter to the depth of the given object in \unitlength
unit.
\SetTo***{CounterName}{Object}
HValueOf : For example,
\HValueOf{CounterName}{1/2}
will initialise the given counter to half the value of the DrawWidth counter. H Means horizontal.
All the fractions between 0 and 1/1 are valides.
VValueOf : This is the same, but for vertical lengthes. The reference counter is DrawHeight.
ResizeBox : Resizes the given box using the given size.
\ResizeBox{Width}{Height}{BoxName}
ResizeObject : This is the same, but for an object.
\ResizeObject{Width}{Height}{Object}
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10 COMMANDS
10.2 Cliparts
GetListMarkClipartFile : Print the name of the pdf or jpeg file used as a source for the list mark
picture. There is no default value for this parameter.
GetBigArrowClipartFile : The same for the big arrow.
GetTitleBackgroundClipartFile : The same for picture used as background for the title.
GetPhotoClipartFile : The same for picture used as the photo of the author.
GetObjectOnClipartClipartFile : The same for picture used as background for the ObjectOn-
Clipart and BoxOnClipart commands.
GetObjectOnClipartShadowClipartFile : The same for picture used as shadow for the ObjectOnClipart
and BoxOnClipart commands.
SetClipartFile : Defines the name of the pdf or jpeg file used as a source for a given picture.
\SetClipartFile{Clipart}{FileLocation}
Clipart is one of the following :
– ListMark
– BigArrow
– TitleBackground
– Photo
– ObjectOnClipart
– ObjectOnClipartShadow
FileLocation is the file name, with or without extension (.pdf, .jpg or .jpeg) and with or
without relative or absolute path.
SetClipartSize : Defines the size of a given picture.
\SetClipartSize{Clipart}{Size}{Value}
Size is Width or Height and Value is an integer or a fraction among the recognised
ones. Defaults values are :
– 100x100 for the list mark clipart.
UseClipart : Print the given picture using predefined values for its size.
\UseClipart{Clipart}
10.3 General parameters
GetSubject : Print the subject of the presentation.
GetAuthor : Print the name the name of the author.
GetAdress : Print the adress of the author.
SetGeneralParameter : Defines the value of previously mentioned fields.
\SetGeneralParameter{Parameter}{Value}
Parameter is Subject, Author or Adress.
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10 COMMANDS
10.4 Actions in the draw area
PutBox : Print a box at a given position.
\PutBox{X}{Y}{BoxName}
PutObject : Put a given object at the given position.
\PutObject{X}{Y}{Object}
PutMobileBox : Put a given box at the given root position, but with a given placement arround
this root position.
\PutMobileBox{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{BoxName}
HPos can be l (for left), c (for center) or r (for right). VPos can be t (for top), c (for center)
or b (for bottom).
PutMobileObject : The same, but for an object.
PutScalableBox : The same as PutMobileBox, but after having resized the given box to the given
size.
\PutScalableBox{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}{BoxName}
PutScalableObject : The same, but for an object.
PutRotateBox : Put a given box at the given position, rotating it with the given angle.
\PutRotateBox{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Angle}{BoxName}
PutRotateObject : Put a given object at the given position, rotating it with the given angle.
\PutRotateObject{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Angle}{Object}
PutScalRotBox : Put a given box at the given position, scalling it to the given size and rotating it
with the given angle.
\PutScalRotBox{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}{Angle}{BoxName}
PutScalRotObject : The same, but with an object.
\PutScalRotObject{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}{Angle}{Object}
PutBigArrow : Print a big arrow (defined with the \SetClipartFile command) at the given
position, with the given size and the given angle.
\PutBigArrow{X}{Y}{Width}{Height}{Angle}
PutFrameBox : Put a frame at the given position with a given size.
\PutFrameBox{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}
PutDashBox : Put a dashed frame at the given position with a given size.
\PutDashBox{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}
PutRule : Put a rule at the given position with a given size.
\PutRule{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}
PutCircle : Put a circle at the given position with a given radius.
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10 COMMANDS
\PutCircle{X}{Y}{Radius}
PutFullCircle : Put a full circle at the given position with a given radius.
\PutFullCircle{X}{Y}{Radius}
PutOval : Put an oval at the given position with a given size.
\PutOval{X}{Y}{Width}{Height}{Option}
Option can be l, r, t, b, or a combination of them. It allows printing of only respectively the
left part of the oval, the right one, the top one, the bottom one.
PutLine : Put an line at the given position with a given size and the given direction
\PutLine{X}{Y}{Xdirection}{YDirection}{Length}
PutVector : Put an vector at the given position with a given size and the given direction
\PutVector{X}{Y}{Xdirection}{YDirection}{Length}
PutGraphic : This is like \PutScalableObject, but using a given graphic file as an object.
\PutScalableBox{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}{GraphicFileName}
The graphic file can be a pdf, jpg or jpeg file.
PutTexFile : This is the same, but with a given tex file.
PutListItem : Put, at the specified position, a list mark and a list item, both centered vertially on
the root position. The mark is on the left of the root position and the item is on the right.
\PutListItem{X}{Y}{Width}{Height}{Content of the item}
Width and Height are those of the text on the right.
ClearArea : Clear the given area on the sheet.
\ClearArea{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}
10.5 Popups
Is called Popup, a small frame, with an object inside and a shadow behind.
SetPopupInset : Defines the thickness of the space between the object inside the popup and the
border of the popup. In reallity, they are outset. Default value is 20
SetPopupShadowWidth : Set the thickness of the shadow behind the popup. The given value
must be an integer. Default value is 50.
Popup : Create a popup with the given object inside.
\Popup{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}{Angle}{Object}
Width and Height are those of the object. Insets are use for the definition of a space
around the object. The popup border is printed arround this space. The shadow is printed
behind the popup, on the right bottom of the popup.
PopupGraphic : This is the same, but with a given graphic file inside.
\PopupGraphic{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}{Angle}{GraphicFileName}
PopupGraphic : This is the same, but with a given tex file inside.
\PopupTexFile{X}{Y}{HPos}{VPos}{Width}{Height}{Angle}{TexFileName}
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10 COMMANDS
10.6 Title
SetTitleInset : Set values of insets for the title.
\SetTitleInset{Inset}{Value}
Inset is Left, Right, Top or Bottom. Value is a fraction or an integer. Defaults
values are 1000, 1000, 400 and 400, respectively.
SetTitleRealWidth : Set the width of the Paragraph wich will be used for the creation of the title.
This paragraph is scaled in order to fit to the given title insets. Default value is 3500.
MakeTitle : Print the title at the top of the Poster. This will change the value of the DrawHeight
counter, depending on the size of the title. This title include the subject of the poster, authors
and their adress.
\MakeTitle
10.7 Logos
SetLogosHeight : Set the common value for the height of logos. Default value is 400.
SetLogosInset : Set the value for the space above and below the logos. Default value is 0.
SetTotalLogosNumber : Set the total number of logos which will be printed. Default value is 0.
AddLogo : Use the given file name (#1) as a source for a new logo and print it at the good
position, in a popup.
10.8 Objects on cliparts
The following commands are built for printing objects in some cliparts. The Clipart can be a
pdf or jpeg file and is scaled in order to fit the given object. Insets are in reallity outsets and are
expressed as a fractionnal part of the width and the height of the given object.
GetObjectOnClipartLeftInset : Print the value of the left inset.
GetObjectOnClipartRightInset : Print the value of the right inset.
GetObjectOnClipartTopInset : Print the value of the top inset.
GetObjectOnClipartBottomInset : Print the value of the bottom inset.
SetObjectOnClipartInset : Set the value of the given inset expressed as a fractionnal part of the
width and the height of the given object.
\SetObjectOnClipartInset{Left}{2/21}
This will set the left inset th 2/21 times the width of the object.
SetObjectOnClipartShadowWidth : Set the value of the shadow thickness. The given value
must be an integer. Default value is 100.
PutBoxOnClipart : Put the given box on the clipart defined through the SetClipart command.
\PutBoxOnClipart{X}{Y}{XPos}{YPos}{Width}{Height}{Angle}{BoxName}
All the given values are applied to the object. The clipart is printed around the given box,
scaled thanks to the predefined insets.
PutObjectOnClipart : The same, but for a given object.
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11 A SHORT EXAMPLE
11 A short example
\documentclass{Poster}
\SetInset{Left}{0}
\SetInset{Right}{0}
\SetInset{Top}{0}
\SetInset{Bottom}{0}
\SetClipartFile{BigArrow}{BigArrow}
\SetClipartFile{TitleBackground}{disc}
\SetClipartFile{Photo}{me}
\SetGeneralParameter{Subject}{%
Here is the title of this poster. It can be very long and, in this %
case, run over several lines, but it can also be shorter. Below, you can %
find \ldots%
}
\SetGeneralParameter{Author}{%
\underline{The main author} ; And the others%
}
\SetGeneralParameter{Adress}{%
Which is followed by the adress.\\%
It can be writen an sereral lines to.\\%
Note that tha picture used as a background for the title is\\%
stratched in order to fit the size of the title.%
}
\SetTotalLogosNumber{4}
\SetLogosHeight{500}
\SetLogosInset{200}
\begin{document}
\begin{Poster}
\UseColor{Text}
\SetTitleInset{Left}{1/6}
\SetTitleInset{Right}{1/6}
\SetTitleInset{Top}{300}
\SetTitleInset{Bottom}{300}
\SetTitleRealWidth{3500}
\MakeTitle
\AddLogo{logo}
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11 A SHORT EXAMPLE
\AddLogo{logo}
\AddLogo{logo}
\AddLogo{logo}
\PutScalableObject{15/16}{1/1}{c}{t}{1/16}{0}{\UseClipart{Photo}}
\PutScalableObject{15/16}{15/16}{c}{c}{1/16}{0}{%
Here is a photo of the author}
\PutBigArrow{15/16}{61/64}{300}{50}{90}
\SetClipartFile{ObjectOnClipart}{GreenPillow}
\SetClipartFile{ObjectOnClipartShadow}{GreenPillowShadow}
\SetObjectOnClipartInset{Left}{2/18}
\SetObjectOnClipartInset{Right}{2/18}
\SetObjectOnClipartInset{Top}{3/8}
\SetObjectOnClipartInset{Bottom}{3/8}
\SetObjectOnClipartShadowWidth{50}
\PutObjectOnClipart{1/8}{7/8}{c}{b}{1/8}{0}{10}{\color{white}
\begin{Paragraph}{800}
Here is an example of an equation printed with a small text,
both on a clipart. Note that the clipart is stretched to fit
the size of the Paragraph inside.
\begin{displaymath}
\int_0^1 x dx = \frac{1}{2}%
\end{displaymath}
But there is something particular with equations. If you want to print
a solely equation, you have to use the DisplayMath environment
with the ’NoTextAbove’ option.
\end{Paragraph}
}
\PutMobileObject{1/4}{15/16}{r}{c}{Without displaymath :}
\PutMobileObject{1/4}{14/16}{r}{c}{With displaymath :}
\SetClipartFile{ObjectOnClipartShadow}{}
\PutObjectOnClipart{3/8}{15/16}{l}{c}{1/8}{0}{170}{\color{white}%
\begin{Paragraph}{800}%
\begin{displaymath}%
\int_0^1 x dx = \frac{1}{2}%
\end{displaymath}%
\end{Paragraph}%
}
\PutObjectOnClipart{3/8}{14/16}{l}{c}{1/8}{0}{170}{\color{white}%
\begin{Paragraph}{800}%
\begin{DisplayMath}{NoTextAbove}%
\int_0^1 x dx = \frac{1}{2}%
\end{DisplayMath}%
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11 A SHORT EXAMPLE
\end{Paragraph}%
}
\PutBigArrow{1/2}{1/2}{2000}{400}{240}
\PutBigArrow{1/2}{1/2}{2000}{400}{300}
\PutScalableObject{1/2}{1/2}{c}{c}{1/2}{0}{%
\colorbox{white}{At the bottom, you can find several logos}}
\SetClipartFile{ObjectOnClipart}{BluePillow}
\SetObjectOnClipartInset{Left}{4/20}
\SetObjectOnClipartInset{Right}{4/20}
\SetObjectOnClipartInset{Top}{4/20}
\SetObjectOnClipartInset{Bottom}{4/20}
\PutObjectOnClipart{3/4}{3/4}{c}{c}{1/4}{0}{0}{\includegraphics{curve}}
\PutRotateObject{15/16}{3/4}{c}{t}{-90}{\colorbox{yellow}{This graphe %
was created thanks to xmgrace}}
\PutMobileObject{1/2}{1/8}{c}{c}{\includegraphics{ENS}}
\PutScalRotObject{1/2}{1/16}{c}{c}{1/4}{0}{20}{jpeg are also supported !}
\end{Poster}
\end{document}
The pdfLaTeX Poster class. User’s guide Page 12