Before mounting your exhibit elements on the structure permanently, lay
them out temporarily. (You will probably want to move them around
several times to get the best position.) You can then pencil in your
title, text, and caption blocks in actual size. Use separate sheets of
paper for each, and try out various locations around the materials they
explain.
Use of too many letter styles will detract from the attractiveness of
your exhibit. Headings can be all in capital letters, and subheads in
smaller “caps”, or in initial caps and “lower case” letters. Statements
and other text should use caps and lower case. Do not use all caps for a
paragraph of descriptive material—a mass of capitals is harder to read.
Before completing the lettering, you should try out your layout and text
on classmates, family, and perhaps your English teacher. Science fair
exhibits should be understandable to intelligent laymen as well as to
trained specialists. Technical jargon, pompous adjectives, and stilted
sentence structure are not scientific. In scientific writing, as in any
good writing, the simple, direct approach is usually best. Try to use
short sentences, familiar words, and a minimum of technical terms and
formulae.
Are your present photographs too small? You can experiment with
desirable sizes of photos by clipping from old magazines any
illustrations that appear about the right size, and trying them on your
layout. You can then have your photos enlarged to the ideal sizes that
you find most pleasing. Matte-finish photo prints are preferable since
glossy prints produce “glare”. Before mounting photographs, trim off the
white border, which detracts from the impact of your pictures and the
simple unity of your exhibit.
When fully satisfied with your layout, begin the final lettering of your
text. For hand-lettering, sketch with a soft pencil first, using a ruler
and eraser freely. A lettering guide, borrowed from your school’s
graphic arts department, will prove very helpful. Unless you are
experienced you can save yourself trouble by not lettering directly upon
the background. Instead, letter each copy block on a separate piece of
art paper which can be glued into position later. Have a friend or
teacher double-check your lettering for typographical errors.
With illustrations and copy blocks complete and trimmed to size, you are
ready to start mounting. For paper products use “rubber cement”,
obtainable at stationery stores. Coat both surfaces completely, but do
not press them together until each is dry. To avoid air bubbles, first
separate the coated surfaces with a “slip sheet” of waxed paper or
aluminum foil, which can be slipped out when the materials are
positioned exactly. Then press into place with a soft cloth or rubber
roller. (Excess cement will rub off when dry, without damage.) Also
consider using double-coated adhesive tape for mounting. It is
obtainable at art-supply stores.
Assemble your structure, mount your lighting fixtures, and plug them in.
Install whatever equipment needs to be displayed. Put your project
notebook, project report, and handout brochure in place. Your science
fair exhibit is finished and you are ready to compete!
[Illustration: _Typical arrival day activities at the 14th National
Science Fair-International, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1963._]