Error when trying to save as pdf, and software crashes (Windows)

Not reproduced with Inkscape 0.48.1, 0.48.2 (both 32bit, cairo 1.10.2) and Inkscape 0.48.3.1 (64bit, cairo 1.12.2) on OS X 10.7.4, using default PDF export options (I don't appear to have most of the used fonts installed on my system, but for now did not spend the time to investigate which ones exactly are missing, and which of those would be freely available for download and use).

Could you please provide information about your OS/platform, and which PDF export options you use for the poster?

Yeah, sure.
On Windows 7 64 bit with Inkscape 32bit.
With Ubuntu 11.04, Inkscape 0.48.1-2ubutnu2 - export didn't make Inkscape crash, but exported objects selectively.

There's another parameter that may be the cause of the mess... The fonts? I'll check it out in a minute and update.

It isn't the fonts.
I manage to export if I remove one copy of those vials, or if I export the vials and embed them as png. It's probably an issue with the size/number of curves/something of that sort, but nevertheless, at least the error notice needs to be a tad more informative...

crash confirmed on Windows 7, Inkscape 0.48.3.1. exit message in DOS is

C:\Program Files\Inkscape>inkscape

** (inkscape.exe:1000): WARNING **: Missing source image for feComposite (in=-2 in2=1)

Then I get the message window "Inkscape has stopped working" . pdf export parameters were 300 dpi, otherwise no check boxes used in export.

> pdf export parameters were 300 dpi, otherwise no check boxes used in export.

I assume you had '[x] Rasterize filter effects' checked none-the-less, otherwise the DPI setting would have no effect.

Crash not reproduced on OS X 10.7.4 (stable and trunk) when rasterizing filter effects at 300 dpi for PDF export.

Note: stable Inkscape versions are affected by bug #494115 and omit the large filtered rectangle at the top at high resolutions, with this console message:
** (inkscape:76384): WARNING **: 123255000 bytes requested for pixel buffer, I won't try to allocate that.

No crash for me. Plz re-test.

Win 7 64-bit
Inkscape 0.92pre1_64bit r15044

Reproduced on Windows XP (32-bit), Inkscape 0.92.x rev. 15044.
Inkscape's memory consumption increases to about 1.6 Gio and the application crashes.

GDB error message:
Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
0x68e15dd8 in ?? () from d:\dev\inkscape\0.92.x\inkscape\libcairo-2.dll

(nothing else useful)

Note that I used 300 dpi in the PDF export options.