1 Understanding Microsoft PowerPoint What is it? Vector-based graphics program The graphics it produces are resizable The colors can be changed easily The text is always crisp PowerPoint vs. PhotoShop Vector vs. Bitmap Vector Clipart images are vector Uses mathematical formulas Can be ungrouped and re-colored easily Bitmap Scanned photographs are bitmap Uses pixels Photos can be re-colored, but it takes much more effort

2 PowerPoint Strengths Easy to learn Installed on many computers Easy to edit Make changes before, or even during a presentation Multiple medias Text, images, clipart Graphs, charts Sound, video Versatile Computer slides Handouts 35mm slides Transparencies Posters Website

3 PowerPoint Weaknesses Is fairly common Many people use it for presentations, and your audience can get bored easily It will let you create bad slides

4 PowerPoint Weakness This program will let you create bad slides! Slides that produce ‘visual noise’ can be distracting for your audience. 4

5 Slide layout Make backgrounds dark It is easier on the eye in a dark room It is easier to read text if you have bad lighting Why? The screen’s natural color – in any room – with any lighting – ….is black! Text color matters Light to dark The greater the contrast = the greater the importance Text size matters The bigger the text = the greater the importance Don’t make the smallest text, the most important text, most of your audience won’t be able to read it!

6 ABC Sans-Serif Serif Text Issues Keep all fonts above 20 pt. What’s the easiest font to read? Suggestions from the pros Arial Century Gothic Tahoma Verdana What’s the difference? Sans-Serif Serif

7 Graphic Design Principles Proximity Group related items together Helps the eye “move” through your slide Alignment Visually connect elements Create strong verticals Repetition Repeat colors, shapes, visual elements Consistent: background, picture placement, etc. Contrast Good color and shading techniques Using text that is readable

8 A DISCUSSION ABOUT VISUAL SPACE Chris Bornhoft Guest Lecturer Chris Bornhoft Guest Lecturer Center for Teaching Innovation Education 208 Center for Teaching Innovation Education 208 Graphic Design Principles

9 A DISCUSSION ABOUT VISUAL SPACE Chris Bornhoft Guest Lecturer Chris Bornhoft Guest Lecturer Center for Teaching Innovation Education 208 Center for Teaching Innovation Education 208 Graphic Design Principles

10 Visual Guidelines Avoid multiple sentences if possible Avoid lines of text that leave one word hanging Keep spacing and text style consistent Other things to avoid….

11 Things to Avoid… Distracting backgrounds Distracting text Bad clipart Multiple fonts Unnecessary color 11

Slide layout Top 3/4 guideline

Slide layout Top 3/4 guideline

Slide layout Top 3/4 guideline 14