# Compilation and Quality Control

Compilation commands and engines, then the full pre-print QC procedure: page-size
verification, overflow detection, reduced-scale test prints, font embedding, image
DPI, file size, and log-warning triage.

### 10. Compilation and Output

Generate high-quality PDF output for printing or digital display:

**Compilation Commands**:
```bash
# Basic compilation
pdflatex poster.tex

# With bibliography
pdflatex poster.tex
bibtex poster
pdflatex poster.tex
pdflatex poster.tex

# For beamer-based posters
lualatex poster.tex  # Better font support
xelatex poster.tex   # Unicode and modern fonts
```

**Ensuring Full Page Coverage**:

Posters should use the entire page without excessive margins. Configure packages correctly:

**beamerposter - Full Page Setup**:
```latex
\documentclass[final,t]{beamer}
\usepackage[size=a0,scale=1.4,orientation=portrait]{beamerposter}

% Remove default beamer margins
\setbeamersize{text margin left=0mm, text margin right=0mm}

% Use geometry for precise control
\usepackage[margin=10mm]{geometry}  % 10mm margins all around

% Remove navigation symbols
\setbeamertemplate{navigation symbols}{}

% Remove footline and headline if not needed
\setbeamertemplate{footline}{}
\setbeamertemplate{headline}{}
```

**tikzposter - Full Page Setup**:
```latex
\documentclass[
  25pt,                      % Font scaling
  a0paper,                   % Paper size
  portrait,                  % Orientation
  margin=10mm,               % Outer margins (minimal)
  innermargin=15mm,          % Space inside blocks
  blockverticalspace=15mm,   % Space between blocks
  colspace=15mm,             % Space between columns
  subcolspace=8mm            % Space between subcolumns
]{tikzposter}

% This ensures content fills the page
```

**baposter - Full Page Setup**:
```latex
\documentclass[a0paper,portrait,fontscale=0.285]{baposter}

\begin{poster}{
  grid=false,
  columns=3,
  colspacing=1.5em,          % Space between columns
  eyecatcher=true,
  background=plain,
  bgColorOne=white,
  borderColor=blue!50,
  headerheight=0.12\textheight,  % 12% for header
  textborder=roundedleft,
  headerborder=closed,
  boxheaderheight=2em        % Consistent box header heights
}
% Content here
\end{poster}
```

**Common Issues and Fixes**:

**Problem**: Large white margins around poster
```latex
% Fix for beamerposter
\setbeamersize{text margin left=5mm, text margin right=5mm}

% Fix for tikzposter
\documentclass[..., margin=5mm, innermargin=10mm]{tikzposter}

% Fix for baposter - adjust in document class
\documentclass[a0paper, margin=5mm]{baposter}
```

**Problem**: Content doesn't fill vertical space
```latex
% Use \vfill between sections to distribute space
\block{Introduction}{...}
\vfill
\block{Methods}{...}
\vfill
\block{Results}{...}

% Or manually adjust block spacing
\vspace{1cm}  % Add space between specific blocks
```

**Problem**: Poster extends beyond page boundaries
```latex
% Check total width calculation
% For 3 columns with spacing:
% Total = 3×columnwidth + 2×colspace + 2×margins
% Ensure this equals \paperwidth

% Debug by adding visible page boundary
\usepackage{eso-pic}
\AddToShipoutPictureBG{
  \AtPageLowerLeft{
    \put(0,0){\framebox(\LenToUnit{\paperwidth},\LenToUnit{\paperheight}){}}
  }
}
```

**Print Preparation**:
- Generate PDF/X-1a for professional printing
- Embed all fonts
- Convert colors to CMYK if required
- Check resolution of all images (minimum 300 DPI)
- Add bleed area if required by printer (usually 3-5mm)
- Verify page size matches requirements exactly

**Digital Display**:
- RGB color space for screen display
- Optimize file size for email/web
- Test readability on different screens

### 11. PDF Review and Quality Control

**CRITICAL**: Always review the generated PDF before printing or presenting. Use this systematic checklist:

**Step 1: Page Size Verification**
```bash
# Check PDF dimensions (should match poster size exactly)
pdfinfo poster.pdf | grep "Page size"

# Expected outputs:
# A0: 2384 x 3370 points (841 x 1189 mm)
# 36x48": 2592 x 3456 points
# A1: 1684 x 2384 points (594 x 841 mm)
```

**Step 2: OVERFLOW CHECK (CRITICAL) - DO THIS IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPILATION**

**⚠️ THIS IS THE #1 CAUSE OF POSTER FAILURES. Check BEFORE proceeding.**

**Step 2a: Check LaTeX Log File**
```bash
# Check for overflow warnings (these are ERRORS, not suggestions)
grep -i "overfull\|underfull\|badbox" poster.log

# ANY "Overfull" warning = content is cut off or extending beyond boundaries
# FIX ALL OF THESE before proceeding
```

**Common overflow warnings and what they mean:**
- `Overfull \hbox (15.2pt too wide)` → Text or graphic is 15.2pt wider than column
- `Overfull \vbox (23.5pt too high)` → Content is 23.5pt taller than available space
- `Badbox` → LaTeX struggling to fit content within boundaries

**Step 2b: Visual Edge Inspection (100% zoom in PDF viewer)**

**Check ALL FOUR EDGES systematically:**

1. **TOP EDGE:**
   - [ ] Title completely visible (not cut off)
   - [ ] Author names fully visible
   - [ ] No graphics touching top margin
   - [ ] Header content within safe zone

2. **BOTTOM EDGE:**
   - [ ] References fully visible (not cut off)
   - [ ] Acknowledgments complete
   - [ ] Contact info readable
   - [ ] No graphics cut off at bottom

3. **LEFT EDGE:**
   - [ ] No text touching left margin
   - [ ] All bullet points fully visible
   - [ ] Graphics have left margin (not bleeding off)
   - [ ] Column content within bounds

4. **RIGHT EDGE:**
   - [ ] No text extending beyond right margin
   - [ ] Graphics not cut off on right
   - [ ] Column content stays within bounds
   - [ ] QR codes fully visible

5. **BETWEEN COLUMNS:**
   - [ ] Content stays within individual columns
   - [ ] No text bleeding into adjacent columns
   - [ ] Figures respect column boundaries

**If ANY check fails, you have overflow. FIX IMMEDIATELY before continuing:**

**Fix hierarchy (try in order):**
1. **Check AI-generated graphics first:**
   - Are they too complex (5+ elements)? → Regenerate simpler
   - Do they have tiny text? → Regenerate with "150pt+" fonts
   - Are there too many? → Reduce number of figures

2. **Reduce sections:**
   - More than 5-6 sections? → Combine or remove
   - Example: Merge "Discussion" into "Conclusions"

3. **Cut text content:**
   - More than 800 words total? → Cut to 300-500
   - More than 100 words per section? → Cut to 50-80

4. **Adjust figure sizing:**
   - Using `width=\linewidth`? → Change to `width=0.85\linewidth`
   - Using `width=1.0\columnwidth`? → Change to `width=0.9\columnwidth`

5. **Increase margins (last resort):**
   ```latex
   \documentclass[25pt, a0paper, portrait, margin=25mm]{tikzposter}
   ```

**DO NOT proceed to Step 3 if ANY overflow exists.**

**Step 3: Visual Inspection Checklist**

Open PDF at 100% zoom and check:

**Layout and Spacing**:
- [ ] Content fills entire page (no large white margins)
- [ ] Consistent spacing between columns
- [ ] Consistent spacing between blocks/sections
- [ ] All elements aligned properly (use ruler tool)
- [ ] No overlapping text or figures
- [ ] White space evenly distributed

**Typography**:
- [ ] Title clearly visible and large (72pt+)
- [ ] Section headers readable (48-72pt)
- [ ] Body text readable at 100% zoom (24-36pt minimum)
- [ ] No text cutoff or running off edges
- [ ] Consistent font usage throughout
- [ ] All special characters render correctly (symbols, Greek letters)

**Visual Elements**:
- [ ] All figures display correctly
- [ ] No pixelated or blurry images
- [ ] Figure captions present and readable
- [ ] Colors render as expected (not washed out or too dark)
- [ ] Logos display clearly
- [ ] QR codes visible and scannable

**Content Completeness**:
- [ ] Title and authors complete
- [ ] All sections present (Intro, Methods, Results, Conclusions)
- [ ] References included
- [ ] Contact information visible
- [ ] Acknowledgments (if applicable)
- [ ] No placeholder text remaining (Lorem ipsum, TODO, etc.)

**Technical Quality**:
- [ ] No LaTeX compilation warnings in important areas
- [ ] All citations resolved (no [?] marks)
- [ ] All cross-references working
- [ ] Page boundaries correct (no content cut off)

**Step 4: Reduced-Scale Print Test**

**Essential Pre-Printing Test**:
```bash
# Create reduced-size test print (25% of final size)
# This simulates viewing full poster from ~8-10 feet

# For A0 poster, print on A4 paper (24.7% scale)
# For 36x48" poster, print on letter paper (~25% scale)
```

**Print Test Checklist**:
- [ ] Title readable from 6 feet away
- [ ] Section headers readable from 4 feet away
- [ ] Body text readable from 2 feet away
- [ ] Figures clear and understandable
- [ ] Colors printed accurately
- [ ] No obvious design flaws

**Step 5: Digital Quality Checks**

**Font Embedding Verification**:
```bash
# Check that all fonts are embedded (required for printing)
pdffonts poster.pdf

# All fonts should show "yes" in "emb" column
# If any show "no", recompile with:
pdflatex -dEmbedAllFonts=true poster.tex
```

**Image Resolution Check**:
```bash
# Extract image information
pdfimages -list poster.pdf

# Check that all images are at least 300 DPI
# Formula: DPI = pixels / (inches in poster)
# For A0 width (33.1"): 300 DPI = 9930 pixels minimum
```

**File Size Optimization**:
```bash
# For email/web, compress if needed (>50MB)
gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 \
   -dPDFSETTINGS=/printer -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -dBATCH \
   -sOutputFile=poster_compressed.pdf poster.pdf

# For printing, keep original (no compression)
```

**Step 6: Accessibility Check**

**Color Contrast Verification**:
- [ ] Text-background contrast ratio ≥ 4.5:1 (WCAG AA)
- [ ] Important elements contrast ratio ≥ 7:1 (WCAG AAA)
- Test online: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/

**Color Blindness Simulation**:
- [ ] View PDF through color blindness simulator
- [ ] Information not lost with red-green simulation
- [ ] Use Coblis (color-blindness.com) or similar tool

**Step 7: Content Proofreading**

**Systematic Review**:
- [ ] Spell-check all text
- [ ] Verify all author names and affiliations
- [ ] Check all numbers and statistics for accuracy
- [ ] Confirm all citations are correct
- [ ] Review figure labels and captions
- [ ] Check for typos in headers and titles

**Peer Review**:
- [ ] Ask colleague to review poster
- [ ] 30-second test: Can they identify main message?
- [ ] 5-minute review: Do they understand conclusions?
- [ ] Note any confusing elements

**Step 8: Technical Validation**

**LaTeX Compilation Log Review**:
```bash
# Check for warnings in .log file
grep -i "warning\|error\|overfull\|underfull" poster.log

# Common issues to fix:
# - Overfull hbox: Text extending beyond margins
# - Underfull hbox: Excessive spacing
# - Missing references: Citations not resolved
# - Missing figures: Image files not found
```

**Fix Common Warnings**:
```latex
% Overfull hbox (text too wide)
\usepackage{microtype}  % Better spacing
\sloppy  % Allow slightly looser spacing
\hyphenation{long-word}  % Manual hyphenation

% Missing fonts
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}  % Better font encoding

% Image not found
% Ensure paths are correct and files exist
\graphicspath{{./figures/}{./images/}}
```

**Step 9: Final Pre-Print Checklist**

**Before Sending to Printer**:
- [ ] PDF size exactly matches requirements (check with pdfinfo)
- [ ] All fonts embedded (check with pdffonts)
- [ ] Color mode correct (RGB for screen, CMYK for print if required)
- [ ] Bleed area added if required (usually 3-5mm)
- [ ] Crop marks visible if required
- [ ] Test print completed and reviewed
- [ ] File naming clear: [LastName]_[Conference]_Poster.pdf
- [ ] Backup copy saved

**Printing Specifications to Confirm**:
- [ ] Paper type (matte vs. glossy)
- [ ] Printing method (inkjet, large format, fabric)
- [ ] Color profile (provided to printer if required)
- [ ] Delivery deadline and shipping address
- [ ] Tube or flat packaging preference

**Digital Presentation Checklist**:
- [ ] PDF size optimized (<10MB for email)
- [ ] Tested on multiple PDF viewers (Adobe, Preview, etc.)
- [ ] Displays correctly on different screens
- [ ] QR codes tested and functional
- [ ] Alternative formats prepared (PNG for social media)

**Review Script** (Available in `scripts/review_poster.sh`):
```bash
#!/bin/bash
# Automated poster PDF review script

echo "Poster PDF Quality Check"
echo "======================="

# Check file exists
if [ ! -f "$1" ]; then
    echo "Error: File not found"
    exit 1
fi

echo "File: $1"
echo ""

# Check page size
echo "1. Page Dimensions:"
pdfinfo "$1" | grep "Page size"
echo ""

# Check fonts
echo "2. Font Embedding:"
pdffonts "$1" | head -20
echo ""

# Check file size
echo "3. File Size:"
ls -lh "$1" | awk '{print $5}'
echo ""

# Count pages (should be 1 for poster)
echo "4. Page Count:"
pdfinfo "$1" | grep "Pages"
echo ""

echo "Manual checks required:"
echo "- Visual inspection at 100% zoom"
echo "- Reduced-scale print test (25%)"
echo "- Color contrast verification"
echo "- Proofreading for typos"
```

**Common PDF Issues and Solutions**:

| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| Large white margins | Incorrect margin settings | Reduce margin in documentclass |
| Content cut off | Exceeds page boundaries | Check total width/height calculations |
| Blurry images | Low resolution (<300 DPI) | Replace with higher resolution images |
| Missing fonts | Fonts not embedded | Compile with -dEmbedAllFonts=true |
| Wrong page size | Incorrect paper size setting | Verify documentclass paper size |
| Colors look wrong | RGB vs CMYK mismatch | Convert color space for print |
| File too large (>50MB) | Uncompressed images | Optimize images or compress PDF |
| QR codes don't work | Too small or low resolution | Minimum 2×2cm, high contrast |