1. Create Your Own Backgrounds— For the Artistically Challenged Ellen Finkelstein

2. 22 Components of a presentation Content: – Your message – Its organization – Your choice of words

3. 33 Components of a presentation Content: Your message, its organization, your choice of words

4. 4 Backgrounds aren’t necessary! 4

5. 5 What a bright idea! 5

6. 66 Hire a professional

7. 77

8. 88 Find a free background

9. 9 Show that you care 9

10. 10 Choose your colors 10

11. 11 Text should be clear! Arial Verdana Tahoma Calibri Times New Roman Book Antiqua Cambria Century Schoolbook

12. 12 Choose your font for legibility Arial Verdana Tahoma Calibri Times New Roman Book Antiqua Cambria Century Schoolbook

13. 13 Sans-serif fonts are easy to read Arial Verdana Tahoma Calibri Times New Roman Book Antiqua Cambria Century Schoolbook

14. 14 Washout

15. 15 Photo with semi-transparent placeholders Which road should we take? Left or right? We can’t decide without information So, let’s stop here and plan

16. 16 Gradients should be understated

17. Colorized photos are common

18. Sunrise is the start … … of a new day

19. 19 Is the start of a new day A chance for new beginnings A sunrise

20. 20 Preparation is the key to success Always have a plan Learn from experience Adjust the plan as necessary

21. 21 Do you have enough time?

22. 22 1 st Quarter Financial Results

23. 23 How can we see forever?

24. 24 1 st quarter financial results

25. 25 Content Your message, its organization, your choice of words

26. 26 Agenda Review results of project to date Explain problems Explain successes Brainstorm solutions to problems Decide on appropriate solutions Assign action steps

27. 27 Ideas for developing creativity Watch children playing Brainstorm many possibilities

28. 28 We are global 28 New York Los Angeles Miami Mexico City São Paulo Buenos Aires Tokyo Mumbai Shanghai Jakarta

29. 29 Washout

30. 30 Photo with semi-transparent placeholders Which road should we take? Left or right? We can’t decide without information So, let’s stop here and plan

31. 31 Gradients should be understated

32. Colorized photos are common

33. Sunrise is the start … … of a new day

34. 34 Preparation is the key to success Always have a plan Learn from experience Adjust the plan as necessary

35. 35 Agenda Review results of project to date Explain problems Explain successes Brainstorm solutions to problems Decide on appropriate solutions Assign action steps

36. You CAN design your own backgrounds! For more ideas and monthly tips, visit www.ellenfinkelstein.com

37. 37 For more information on PowerPoint How to Do Everything with PowerPoint 2003, 2007 101 Tips Every PowerPoint User Should Know PowerPoint for Teachers: Dynamic Presentations and Interactive Classroom Projects 37 www.ellenfinkelstein.com/estore.html

38. 38 Learn more! Sign up for the PowerPoint Tips Newsletter Read my PowerPoint Tips Blog www.ellenfinkelstein.com

39. 39 Special offer Download the presentation and the handout with step-by-step instructions. (10 pages) Get 15% off my new ebook, 101 Tips Every PowerPoint User Should Know. 39 www.ellenfinkelstein.com/events/backgrounds.html

40. 40 Contest! Submit a presentation using the 5 background techniques plus a no- background slide (7 slides) My choice of the 5 best entries will get a free copy of 7 Steps to Great Images, my latest e-book The deadline is in 2 weeks: May 28, 2008 Send to contact@ellenfinkelstein.com; put Contest in the subjectcontact@ellenfinkelstein.com

41. Wishing you great backgrounds!