The PowerPoint® Blog Archives - Page 229 of 239

Use Line Spacing to Increase Legibility

Here is a sample from a recent project (logos, names and telling content have been removed to protect the design challenged). Here is the original slide:

Here is the revised slide:

I was somewhat limited in what could be done. Things like the template could not be altered, content could not be edited, etc. But here are some details of what was adjusted:

(1) I adjusted the template so the content text box was separated a bit more from the header text.
(2) I changed the font to a more legible Arial, which does not have the serifs (small ‘hooks’ on the end of the letters)
(3) I adjusted the overall line spacing from 0 to .35, this gives a bit of room between each bullet and allows the brain to “clump” the content into sections – which makes it more legible.
(4) Used a soft return (SHIFT RETURN) and made sub-content on its own line and reduced its font size. Did the same with the sub-content at the end of the last bullet.

There is a lot of small things that can be done to text heavy slides to make them more legible. The problem is that this usually involves modifying the content on a slide-by-slide basis, which can be time consuming. But the results are an audience the is able to understand your message clearer!

Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:06:38-08:00July 18th, 2006|Portfolio, Tutorial|

NXPowerlite 2.3 Released

The NXPowerLite guys over in the UK have been hard at work. There is a new update this excellent (and recommended) PowerPoint compression application. For me the install went smooth and in expirimenting with the new features I am even more impressed.
– Batch processing is great. Select 2,3,50 presentations and it will optimize them all in one step!
– The explanation for .jpg compression has been improved and it should eliminate a lot of questions.
– But the feature I like most is that you can keep the original file date/time.

Download the latest from the NXPowerlite website here (a full function trial is offered as well).

-Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:06:18-08:00July 16th, 2006|Software/Add-Ins|

Background vs. Layer in Photoshop

You are trying to remove the background from an image in Photoshop but when you hit the delete key it fills the selection with a solid color. This is an easy oversight, and even easier to correct. Most likely your image is set to a single merged/flattened layer. In Photoshop:
○ Open the layers palette by going to WINDOWS >> LAYER
○ Look at your image layer. It will either say BACKGROUND, LAYER 0 or another name. We are only concerned if it says “background.”

○ Either double-click the layer or go to LAYER >> NEW >> LAYER FROM BACKGROUND

○ Optionally name the layer in the New Layer dialog, click OKAY

○ Now in the layers palette the “background” has been replaced with “Layer 0” or the name you set. Make a selection, hit delete and the transparency checker board will be all that remains.

Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:06:00-08:00July 14th, 2006|Tutorial|

Online Movie Tutorial : Remove Image Background in PhotoShop

In this screen capture tutorial I go through the process of exporting an image from a presentation, opening it in PhotoShop, removing the background, properly saving it with transparency and then inserting back into the presentation.

This is a 4 minute narrated online movie – because seeing a real demonstration saves hours of frustration! To view click here.

– Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:05:43-08:00July 12th, 2006|Tutorial|

Make Your Images RGB in Photoshop

When creating or editing an image in PhotoShop – be sure it is set to RGB. I recently encountered a situation with a clients files that was perplexing (aka: extremely frustrating). They were scanning photos at a print resolution (300 dpi and very large) and also as CMYK images. I figured out their problem, corrected the images in the current presentation and gave them a scanning tutorial so future efforts will work better.

For any images you will be using in a PowerPoint presentation, make sure your images being edited in Photoshop, or any image editor, are set to RGB. In Photoshop:

○ Check the top information bar of your image to see what color mode it is currently set to. Common mode are RGB, CMYK and INDEX

○ To change your image to RGB go to IMAGE >> MODE >> RGB

Done.
You now know your image is compatible with PowerPoint and one potential conflict/problem has been eliminated!

Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:05:22-08:00July 10th, 2006|Tutorial|

3D Spheres from AutoShapes

I create a lot of graphic elements for presentations and since the inception of PPT XP I have been able to do many directly in PowerPoint with some creative use of AutoShapes and transparency settings. PPT MVP Shawn Toh has posted a sample presentation with some really great 3D spheres at Indezine.

Here is one of the spheres created entirely with autoshapes:
One of the 3D Spheres in the Presentation
Here are the autshapes used to create the above 3D spere:
Autoshapes used to create the 3D Sphere

Here is the description and download link on Indezine, click here.

Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:05:00-08:00July 8th, 2006|Resource/Misc, Tutorial|

PPT Keyboard Shortcuts

There are lots of great ways to work faster in PowerPoint (and all Office applications for that matter). Most everyone knows the basic keyboard shortcuts; copy, paste, duplicate slide, etc. But how about moving through action panes (F6) or move one word (Ctrl + Right Arrow).

Here is a reference this page on Microsoft for the complete listing of keyboard shortcuts, click here.

Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:04:41-08:00July 6th, 2006|Resource/Misc, Tutorial|

4th of July template

Happy 4th of July!! The states are awash with patriotism and we are off for our annual trip to the state fair where we end the day listening to the Navy Band and watching a huge fireworks show.

There are lots of great template sites out there, and it is not something I have focused on (providing a library of downloadable templates). But I designed this Americana themed template to share with all. Download here (580k).

Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:04:24-08:00July 4th, 2006|Templates/Assets|

Where’s the job application…

My work environment when I interact with people face-to-face is generally in ballrooms and convention centers across the country. I hear and get the “I’d like to do what you do” question fairly common. I recently responded to someone, who was very serious about a change of direction in their design work, which I will share with all:

“Dear XXXX,

Over the past few years I have seen a surprising need for qualified people to work showsite presentations. But for straight design work I believe there is a very competitive market. For me the two have become inseparable. I do lots of creative design work for live events, both in pre-production from my office and while on showsite.

For showsite presentations the graphics person needs to be very knowledgeable about design principles – PowerPoint – computer/hardware issues – A/V equipment (projectors, scalers, switchers, etc.) and of course people skills. I would recommend:

○ Spending lots of time on the PowerPoint newsgroup just reading the questions and answers. Knowing the solutions to the various common problems is mandatory. https://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.aspx?NewsGroup=microsoft.public.powerpoint&SLCID=US&ICP=GSS3&sd=GN&id=fh;en-us;newsgroups
○ Get familiar with the PPT FAQ that Steve Rindsberg maintains(you will see plenty of newsgroup replies are just links to pages on this site) https://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq
○ Beyond skills and knowledge it is a matter of getting your name in with production companies. The industry is relatively small, so working with one means referrals to others.

Lest you think it all exciting, the hours are anywhere between midnight-and-midnight. Airplanes – hotels – banquet food – and lots of travel are a daily part of things too…”

Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:03:47-08:00July 2nd, 2006|Personal|

Animation : Morph Images By Rotating In/Out

Sometimes you want to give a little pizzazz to entrance of a new image. Here I added movement with a rotation to the images for something unique.
iame

This requires a bit of preparation, but everything is done inside PowerPoint.
○ Insert both images on the slide
○ The first image, that will be fading out, apply a FADE OUT and SPIN animation. I set the spin to be 40º and CLOCKWISE
○ For the second image, right-click and choose FORMAT PICTURE. Go to the SIZE tab and set the ROTATION (I set mine to 20º)
○ Apply a FADE IN and SPIN animation. Set the spin to COUNTER CLOCKWISE and the same rotation you set in the step above (mine is set to 20º)
○ Set all animations to WITH PREVIOUS
○ Set the animations for the second image to begin at a .2 second delay

The sample presentation can be downloaded here.

Troy @ TLC

By TLC Creative Services, Inc.|2016-11-17T14:03:28-08:00June 30th, 2006|Tutorial|