Guide To Making PowerPoints!

[nerdattack16]

Well, yesterday my friend and I were sitting in class, watching PowerPoint presentations. We were shocked and appalled to see that nobody could make a halfway decent, professional-looking PowerPoint! So, we wrote a short guide on how to make one, and how to present it better. Originals are in blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. No sounds. They're stupid.

 

 

 

Unless you can find cool and simple, hacker-esque sound effects that complement the PP, rather than attracting all the attention.

 

 

 

2. Stick with one background. Don't change your background every slide - also stupid.

 

 

 

3. Templates are nice.

 

 

 

4. Pick a nice looking font, but not some insane font that you can't read.

 

 

 

Examples: Arial, Trebuchet MS - good to use! "Curlz", cursive fonts, "Jokerman" - bad.

 

 

 

5. Don't change fonts. You don't need to have five different fonts per slide. One constant font for the whole show is nice.

 

 

 

6. Don't change the default font for WordArt if you use it.

 

 

 

7. On the topic of WordArt, don't overuse it. I always use it twice - once for the title, and once for the end slide.

 

 

 

8. Pick an easily readable font color to go with your background. Many PowerPoints are plagued by white text on yellow backgrounds - a severe no-no.

 

 

 

9. No ridiculous effects. Your picture doesn't have to flip and dissolve in, then zoom around the screen to be seen.

 

 

 

10. Don't use overly small or big fonts.

 

 

 

11. Know what you put on your PowerPoint. Don't read off it - use it as a quick reference, but it's mainly to help your audience.

 

 

 

12. You don't need five pictures on every slide. One is enough - only if you need it though.

 

 

 

13. If you make your own backgrounds, NEVER mix contrasting colors. Always use colors next to each other on the color wheel. Use different shades, or mix colors close by on the color wheel.

 

 

 

Examples: blue + purple, green + yellow - nice. red + green, purple + yellow - eurgh.

 

 

 

14. (credit to Anesthesia, reworded by me) Bullets are nice, but don't do bullets under bullets under bullets or any of that nonsense. A bullet for a bullet is okay if needed. Don't make EVERY line a bullet.

 

 

 

15.

Never write paragraphs or anything. Just write down main points - a short sentence maximum usually. Have your own notes, usually memorized, that you're going to be reading them. If you have paragraphs up there, the people will read them instead of listening to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

16.

Just put it tidbits of information and a lot of graphics to keep it interesting. People are not going to read whatever you put if there's a lot.

 

 

 

17.

Seven lines of text down and no more than seven words across. You can see if from far away and you can read it easier closer up.

 

 

 

Victorkrum77's Tips!

 

 

 

My suggestions (some may have been mentioned before):

 

 

 

• 
   
   
   
  -No graphics or sounds.
   
   
   
  -Never say 'The End'.
   
   
   
  -Always use contrasting background colors and font colors, and avoid picture backgrounds, unless used to display only the picture.
   
   
   
  - I tend to like around 7-10 points per slide, with approximalty a size 14-18 font.
   
   
   
  -Never bold your font.
   
   
   
  -Arial is a good choice.
   
   
   
  -If pertaining to subject, at least one picture per slide.
   
   
   
  -Title slide, with title and name.
   
   
   
  -Always use headings, even if just to say continue.
   
   
   
  -Stick with one background color, never switch them up, unless displaying a whole slide picture, as mentioned about.
   
   
   
  - Don't use extra pronouns, or any extra words, stick to the basics, and put in the rest while presenting, for example:
   
   
   
  'Part of the aftermath of WWII was reconstruction beggining in countries like Germany'
   
   
   
  'After WWII, reconstruction in countries like Germany
   
   
   
  -or-
   
   
   
  'He then moved to New York to pursue the rest of his career in 1918'
   
   
   
  'Moved to new York in 1918 to pursue career.'

 

 

 

Also, check out Vmser's post on Page 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, that's about all we had. If you want to add something, post it, and I'll see if I like it. Comment please! And enjoy.

[BlueLancer]

I thought this is just another useless topic, thank the lord for this thread. It's so full of fact I'm going to curl in the fetal position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. No sounds. They're stupid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unless you can find cool and simple, hacker-esque sound effects that complement the PP, rather than attracting all the attention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. No ridiculous effects. Your picture doesn't have to flip and dissolve in, then zoom around the screen to be seen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I totally agree. However, again, elegant effects such as when the text changes, a nice fading effect will do wonders to make it look more professional.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't agree more with

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't change your background every slide - also stupid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It looks childish, especially if they are blurry and you obviously just typed "flowers" in google images and copied the first available image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stick with a professional looking, say dark blue background with lighter upper and lower marginals, and easily readable text. You want to make a point clear with style, not look like a hippie who's trying to demonstrate the effectiveness of marijuana with swirling, flashy pink & magenta backgrounds and ear-shattering, psychedelic sounds.

[Anesthesia]

Another annoying thing is when someone makes EVERY LINE a bullet point, one of my lecturers does it and his slides look like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• [*:2hhcuz1s]Item
  • [*:2hhcuz1s]Item
    • [*:2hhcuz1s]Item

[*:2hhcuz1s]Item

 

 

 

[*:2hhcuz1s]Item

 

 

 

[*:2hhcuz1s]Item

 

 

 

• [*:2hhcuz1s]Item

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Except his slides use the same symbol for bullet points, unlike this.

[darkmage099]

Dude, this goes in the player made guides forum. :roll: reported noob.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

interesting guide. I'm taking Computer Applications for one of my electives and we just got through Word. We do Powerpoint next semester.

[Faux]

1. Make the font HUGE.

 

 

 

2. Don't put more than 3 points in one slide. People are NOT going to read a paragraph and people don't want to watch you reading the screen.

[Mr_Putter]

I made one really, really nice seminar presentation for an Organize Crime presentation in law last year. It was basically black background, white font, and a few similar but slightly modified backgrounds, which I spent quite a while putting together in photoshop. The point was that they were nice and elegant, but didn't detract at all from the points (which, were written in large font, 4ish points per slide, with a clear but non TNR font). It was really nice, and I think elevated my project past other ones, alteast in terms of professionalism. I also had a nice, edited together movie montage, rather than attempting to fast forward to find the places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though, generally, just don't do Powerpoint. The only reason I have heard for legitimately doing powerpoint is in university lectures, which are basically white background, black text, large font. PP really isn't required for most high school presentations (in fact, I did a group presentation a few weeks ago, and I refused to allow our group to do powerpoint. We went on to get a mark that brought all of our averages way up.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just generally, don't do powerpoint. But if you HAVE to, or you just really want to, be very careful. Put in effort, use good judgement as to what looks good (ARRGH, don't you love when people put lime green text onto random googled backgrounds?), and just generally keep it simple.

[Viktorkrum77]

I love powerpoints! I make them every year for art history. This year I've got GaudÃÆÃâÃâí, lasy year was 18th Century England and Hogarth, and so on and so fourth. I've been doing them since sixth grade.

[nerdattack16]

Unless you can find cool and simple, hacker-esque sound effects that complement the PP, rather than attracting all the attention.

 

 

 

Good point - you get props for the first addition!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another annoying thing is when someone makes EVERY LINE a bullet point

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also a good point. I think I'll add this also.

 

 

 

1. Make the font HUGE.

 

 

 

2. Don't put more than 3 points in one slide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tend to disagree with this - 3 points per slide means too many slides. No, you don't want paragraphs on your slides, but I usually keep myself to 7 points if absolutely necessary. And a good size font for it is generally 28-32. I find that those sizes are clear to read, and don't put too few or too many points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though, generally, just don't do Powerpoint.

 

 

 

Well, yeah, good point for you. But I'm in high school, and my dumb teachers like me to make them PowerPoints a lot. But I don't like PowerPoint, really.

[Adam007]

These are my tips in addition to what you said. Never write paragraphs or anything. Just write down main points - a short sentence maximum usually. Have your own notes, usually memorized, that you're going to be reading them. If you have paragraphs up there, the people will read them instead of listening to you.

 

 

 

I thought I had more. I guess that's it.

[Faux]

 

 

 

I tend to disagree with this - 3 points per slide means too many slides. No, you don't want paragraphs on your slides, but I usually keep myself to 7 points if absolutely necessary. And a good size font for it is generally 28-32. I find that those sizes are clear to read, and don't put too few or too many points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's only going to be too many slides if you plan to put too much information on it. The thing is, you shouldn't. Just put it tidbits of information and a lot of graphics to keep it interesting. People are not going to read whatever you put if there's a lot.

[nerdattack16]

Good point, Adam - I think I'll put that in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Shadow, your second comment actually helped me to understand the first - I know what you mean better now. I'll put that in.

[Fadfdfd]

What's better?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flash>PowerPoint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In rating of Easiness?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case Closed. Think about those two little Math-Type Equations and think which one you'd rather do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As my language arts teacher says,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lazy..And Soft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I was tired when I wrote this, so it probably won't make much sense to you)

[Viktorkrum77]

My suggestions (some may have been mentioned before):

 

 

 

• 
   
   
   
  -No graphics or sounds.
   
   
   
  -Never say 'The End'.
   
   
   
  -Always use contrasting background colors and font colors, and avoid picture backgrounds, unless used to display only the picture.
   
   
   
  - I tend to like around 7-10 points per slide, with approximalty a size 14-18 font.
   
   
   
  -Never bold your font.
   
   
   
  -Arial is a good choice.
   
   
   
  -If pertaining to subject, at least one picture per slide.
   
   
   
  -Title slide, with title and name.
   
   
   
  -Always use headings, even if just to say continue.
   
   
   
  -Stick with one background color, never switch them up, unless displaying a whole slide picture, as mentioned about.
   
   
   
  - Don't use extra pronouns, or any extra words, stick to the basics, and put in the rest while presenting, for example:
   
   
   
  'Part of the aftermath of WWII was reconstruction beggining in countries like Germany'
   
   
   
  'After WWII, reconstruction in countries like Germany
   
   
   
  -or-
   
   
   
  'He then moved to New York to pursue the rest of his career in 1918'
   
   
   
  'Moved to new York in 1918 to pursue career.'

[unknownmasterofnothing]

Guide to using powerpoint= not using powerpoint. Unless its a business presentation, it's pretty boring and not useful. Presentations can be made more interesting usign other methods. As a teaching tool, I hate it when professors just make powerpoints. Especially if they have to rush through it.

[Anesthesia]

It's only going to be too many slides if you plan to put too much information on it. The thing is, you shouldn't. Just put it tidbits of information and a lot of graphics to keep it interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sit through, on average, 3 hours of powerpoint presentations every weekday and it is absolutely necessary to have lots of information in them. If they didn't then none of us would graduate.

[Faux]

 

It's only going to be too many slides if you plan to put too much information on it. The thing is, you shouldn't. Just put it tidbits of information and a lot of graphics to keep it interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sit through, on average, 3 hours of powerpoint presentations every weekday and it is absolutely necessary to have lots of information in them. If they didn't then none of us would graduate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm talking about high school presentations, obviously not university ones.

[nerdattack16]

You know, Viktor, I think I'll put in your tips. I like 'em.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

unknownmasterofnothing, yes, I know PowerPoint isn't that good to use, but I also know that my, and other high schools, require it for some presentations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Fadfdfd... no, it didn't really make sense to me. This isn't to show the "wonders of PowerPoint" but to tell what you should do while making one if you have to. I would prefer doing Flash or something else, but my teachers are all "0MG U G1V3 M3 P0W3RP01N7 PL0X OR U F41L!" :roll:

[emrea]

you see what confuses me is than you wrote professional...and then said word art, my god if you were delivering a pp presentation to a board of directors, u think they would consider it professional to see word art even once. their 5 year old sons and duaghters could do word art

[Randomnameless]

A good thing my teacher said was seven by seven. Seven lines of text down and no more than seven words across. You can see if form far away and you can read it easier closer up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My teacher uses power point to teach class. And on one slide there were twenty lines, and fifteen to twenty words per line. I could barely read it standing next to the projector.

[reck]

Great guide.. We make lots of powerpoints in school. I'll keep this guide in mind the next time I make one :wink:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ReCk! :ohnoes:

[nerdattack16]

you see what confuses me is than you wrote professional...and then said word art, my god if you were delivering a pp presentation to a board of directors, u think they would consider it professional to see word art even once. their 5 year old sons and duaghters could do word art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, when I use a WordArt, I don't do the fancy colors and shapes and stuff. It's Arial Black, straight line, with usually black or a dark color that looks nice with the background. No circles or crazy colors and shapes or that sort of stuff. Just an easier way to make the text be seen better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random, that isn't a bad idea - I tend to use seven down by ten across however. I'll put that in though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, reck!

[vmser]

Color wise:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are using a projecor: Go for a relatively DARK background with BRIGHT text.

 

 

 

Much more appealing/easier to read

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are handing out prints / working with an overhead projector: Use a BRIGHT (preferably white) background and DARK (black) text.

 

 

 

Cheaper to make the prints.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use of images

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you put the presentation online and you expect people to print it and bring along somewhere, use images that are still clear when printed in black and white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limit the filesize of the presentation by scaling down image size. Do not put 1 mb jpeg's in.. Ive reduced at 50 mb presentation to a 4 mb one without significant quality loss before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comparing options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) LIST the options you will deal with.

 

 

 

2) Deal with them, in order

 

 

 

3) Afterwards you MUST use 1/2 slides to point out the key differences between the options, and draw somewhat of a conclusion there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing more horrible then the standard black screen at the end, or even worse, the windows desktop or your folders showing. Don't go there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a final slide. Either just an empty one, a prospective about what could become of the things you've spoken about, some DECENT linking to relevant/interesting sources or heck.. Your contact details if anyone wants to contact you for further info.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Think before you start

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You should figure out the rough structure of it before you make it. For example, someone asks you to create a solution for an existion problem. A good way to go is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who you are

 

 

 

What problem was brought up

 

 

 

Several options to solve it, each with its pro's and cons (explanation + comparison so at least 2 slides per option)

 

 

 

A concluding comparison between the two

 

 

 

Perhaps a word about you own view on the options if there's one you think stands out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No point in needlessly cluttering it by typing full sentences, because you don't know where you are going. If you know that you know what points to tackle where. That'll give you a better structured and easier to follow presentation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjust your slides to your audience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talking about how a bridge is built is entirely different if you talk to a bunch of kids in class, or to a fellow contruction engineer. This has to be reflected in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Vocabulary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No point using fancy words if you don't get understood. If you cannot avoid using them, explain them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Use of pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of going into the minor details, its sometimes better to keep your audience's attention by visualising stuff. Seriously, its much more clear if you can show how the bridge is built step by step (and perhaps giving some additional info while you go), then to overload with boring details.. Once you loose the attention its hard to get it back

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember: Your slides are just a fall-back

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure, it can be usefull to indicate certain stuff on them. If you use them, you HAVE to interact with them in some way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some do's and don'ts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Refer to your slides 'as you can see in this/that graph', 'as shown in the picture above', etc...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you somehow get 'lost' during your speech, have a glance at the slides to catch up where you left. Refering to something in it can even hide the slight flaws you make.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO NOT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read from your slides. It's dead boring to watch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stand behind your computer and speak from there onwards. Go towards your audience. You are not showing a presentation, you're giving one and you'll get them to listen to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just stand there and rattle about what you have to say, talk too quick because you just learned your lines by heart and want to get it over and done with. Not good. Usually a sign of stress.

[nerdattack16]

Whoo, Vmser, that was really good. I'll point people to your post, as well!

[vmser]

Whoo, Vmser, that was really good. I'll point people to your post, as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Itd be a tad too long to quote :P

[nerdattack16]

 

Whoo, Vmser, that was really good. I'll point people to your post, as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Itd be a tad too long to quote :P

 

 

 

I'll direct them to your post then :P