Power Point Do's & Don't
If you think Power Point presentations work best with cheesy clip art and too much text to read, take a look at the possibilities with large photographs and limited use of text.
Emphasize key graphics and images and help your audience experience your presentation rather than trying to "read" it or take notes. |
Text
- Keep slides concise: 5-7 lines (not bullets) per slide and 5-7 words per line.
- For presentations, the average title font size should be 48 and the average regular font size should be 24.
- Use sans-serif fonts, like Arial, that are easy to read. Steer clear of flashy or curvy fonts.
Color
- Limit your use of color to 2-4 colors and/or shades.
- Use easy to read combinations. Dark backgrounds and light text work best.
- Stick to one color scheme and/or template.
- Avoid red text unless used for emphasis.
Images and Shapes
- Use 1-2 images per slide. Photographs often look better than animation types.
- If you are using an image as a background, use the Washout feature to fade the picture.
- Too many graphics are distracting.
- Use high-quality images. Low-quality images will appear grainy when presenting.
- Avoid cartoonish clip art when possible.
Sound and Animation
- Use sounds and animation wisely. They should emphasize a point or add to the message.
- Meaningless sounds and animations are distracting and take away from your message.
Transitions
- Typically it is best to use the same transition, or a variation of one transition, throughout your presentation.
- Flashy transitions, or using multiple transitions, can be distracting.