Poster participants of the Jan 1997 Pacific Symposium on BioComputing were informed that they would have a space 32" x 40" on which to display their work. In keeping with these restrictions, the desire not to have any of the poster materials extend beyond the display area and the need to keep the production of the poster as simple as possible, it was decided to use full 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of paper for the text. There were a number of colored sheets of construction paper measuring 9" x 12" that could be used for background edging. Keeping a margin of 1/4" of color around all the text panels would result in a poster card measuring 9" x 11 1/2".
The display area was mapped out and it was decided that 6 text cards and a title one could fit in this space. Since a poster should contain an abstract and a conclusion card, there were four other cards to be produced from the materials contained in the paper upon which the poster was based. The paper itself was not going to be included in the proceedings and, therefore, it was decided to have one card be used to distribute the actual paper. It was decided to have an image portray the confusion over all the decisions that had to be made in starting up a biocomputing course. That left two cards to contain condensed concepts from the paper. The times font was used throughout the poster.
All text sheets were attached to the colored backgrounds by spray mount adhesive. The resulting cards were then trimmed with a paper cutter so that a 1/4 inch margin as on all sides of the white paper. For their protection the produced cards were then laminated in plastic.
Title - The title of the poster. This card was produced from two sheets of paper, each containing part of the title. The orientation of the text on the paper was landscape. The actual title line was the biggest type size (50pt) and therefore controlled the overall size of the final card. The text was broken so that a word would not be split accross the two sheets of pager. The middle of this title was determined and that location used to center the rest of the 40pt text. The space inbetween the two different sizes of type was 24pt. Once the alignment of the text was worked out, the second sheet of text for the title was cut and taped to the first one. The combined sheets were turned over and tape applied to the seam on the back. The final sheet was trimmed to have the same size margin on all sides of the text on the card.
Card 1 -Abstract. The title and abstract section of the paper printed in 18pt type. The title and the actual text of the abstract were in bold face the author and address information in plain text. This size type just about filled the entire 8 1/2" x 11" sheet and was readable from a distance of over 2 feet.
Card 2 - Image to show the state of confusion that an instructor experiences when first deciding to teach a biocomputing course. This image was comprised of a cartoon of a confused professor type taken from the nets, question marks of various sizes from Word and curved text produced by GCG's Figure program. This is a pieced together image.
The cartoon image was printed off and planned to be used in the middle of the page. The GCG Figure program was then used to produce the curved text based on a pre-described circle. The ellipse was created by adjusting the size of the viewport x-axis values. Four figure files were needed to control the locations of the text in the four sections of the ellipse. Once the text was in the correct spot, a postscript output file was generated and printed off to be used in the image.
The ellipse was used to orientate the four sections and then trimmed off the final taped composite of images. This collection was then positioned on another piece of white paper and the various sizes of question marks put in place. The resulting image is a copy of the final taped together collection of images.
Card 3 - The general steps for deciding how to construct a biocomputing course. The steps for deciding what and how to teach a biocomputing course were taken from the paper and outlined on one page of text. The type used is bold 18pt which again just fills up the page.
Card 4 - Reality check to see what is really possible and what isn't. Concepts taken from the paper to be used to turn ideas into reality without spending a lot of money to get the course up and running were outline and placed on this card. Again, bold 18pt type was used.
Card 5 - Conclusions and Acknowledgments. The conclusion from the paper is repeated here. Acknowledgements were placed on this card as well to fill up the sheet. Bold 18pt type was used.
Card 6 - A constructed box holding copies to the paper on which the poster is based. The plastic encased card with the first part of the text from this card was glued to a trimmed piece of foam board. The plastic edges were folded over and taped to the back of the card. A box was constructed from addition thin cardboard and strips of foam board and attached to the bottom of the re-enforced card. Matching construction paper covered the front and sides of the box and wrapped around to the back of the card. The Take One label was trimmed and placed on the front of the box. To help hold the box together, clear shelving paper was then placed over the box and wrapped around the back of the card.