2. Numerous times throughout the
semester, you will be asked to prepare a
small poster-type project. Each project
will have specific content requirements,
but the actual appearance of the
presentation will often be up to you.
Your presentations will be
expected to meet or
exceed certain standards.

3. You may be asked to add a title, your
name, or labels on a project. Anytime
you need to put wording on a poster,
make sure it is done well.
Always use a lettering
template or a computer
to add wording to your
projects.
No free-hand
printing!
No cursive
lettering!
Check all spelling.

4. Before you cut out a picture or mat, mark the lines. Use
a pencil and a light touch… marks are hard to erase!
You might be able to mark on the back side.
Use a ruler or
straight edge with
a sharp pencil.
Use a architect’s
square or triangle
for 90 degree
corners. Ask for
individual
instruction on
this if needed.

5. Whether you are cutting with a scissors, paper cutter,
rotary cutter, or exacto-knife… cut straight! Mark the
line you want to cut on, and be precise. Cut off any
lines you might have drawn.

6. Jagged cutting line
Corners are not all square

7. Notice the difference in the shape of the
handles… the instruments on the right
are scissors for cutting paper (black
enamel handles) and the instrument
above is a shears for cutting fabric
(orange or blue plastic handles). Cut
A rotary cutter is simply
from the back of the blade, using the
a thin blade, and can be
point only at corners.
bent with too many
thicknesses of paper.
Use care and work
slowly.
You must ALWAYS use
an exacto-knife with a
A traditional paper cutter
magazine backing! They
will cut off fingertips as
will cut countertops and
easily as paper. Think.
floor tiles! Position
Don’t cut too many sheets
yourself above your
at one time.
cutting line.
Always clean up your own paper scraps.

8. Suppose you need a picture of a window
treatment, and you found this perfect example
in a catalog. Think about how you can trim the
picture to look it’s best on your project page.
The printing on the picture detracts from
draperies themselves.
With careful
planning, you can
trim the picture to
eliminate part or all
of the printing. What
you really want the
viewer to see is still
intact.

9. Victorian Furniture Style
A picture glued to a piece of paper may not be very
attractive. You may want to consider adding a mat to
your picture. Choose a color to complement the
background paper and the colors in your picture. The
mat should extend about 1/4 inch beyond the edges of
the picture.
Victorian Furniture Style
Victorian Furniture Style
Matting is extra
work, but well
worth it! A mat on
a picture or even a
title or label has
much more
appeal. The mat
will need to be cut
as accurately as
the picture itself.

10. When mounting the pictures on the
background, horizontal and vertical lines are
most often preferred over diagonal lines. As
we’ll learn later, diagonal lines are interesting
but can be confusing.
Title of Project
Title of Project
by Name
by Name
When pictures line up at the
right or left, the focus tends
to be toward the center.
Diagonal lines lead the eye
away, and the focus does
not remain on the page.

11. When laying out the pictures or samples on the
background, think about the proportion of the space to
the picture. You don’t want your page to be too empty
or too full. This would be a good time to experiment
with borders, the size of font, perhaps adding an
additional picture, and single or double mats.
TITLE OF PROJECT
by Your Name
TITLE OF PROJECT
by Your Name

12. Decorating a project page should be considered carefully. Does the
decoration improve the presentation or detract from it? Does it
change your focus? Remember, if used, it should simply accent
and complement your project, not overwhelm it. Limit the number
of different colors on your page to two or three.
Victorian Furniture Style
Victorian Furniture Style
Victorian Furniture Style

13. When using paste to attach pictures to your
project, use care not to leave a gluey mess
showing. Rubber cement is usually a good
choice, as excess amounts can be rubbed off.
Glue sticks might also be a good choice. Tape
does not work well, and staples are unattractive.
Duct tape or a glue gun
might be used for
attaching heavy samples
such as carpet and
upholstery.
Paint in the
lines!
When working with any
kind of glue or paint, be
sure to clean your work
area thoroughly when
finished. There are other
classes, some working
with textile projects, that
may not see the residue
you left until it’s too late
and their project is
ruined.

14. Good displays take time and
effort. Neatness always counts!
Your presentation of pictures and
samples is always as important as the
pictures and samples themselves. If
the client’s first impression isn’t
good… they won’t maintain their focus
long enough to study your work.
While some samples are attached to the
front, others might be visible through cut
outs…giving a framed appearance.