Seminar Techniques and Technology (HS 601)

Handout - Slide Production

A. Text

(Rules can be broken for a reason; enough leeway here to fit your style)

1. Speak on the slide being shown
2. Don't say: I will not insult your intelligence by reading you this slide, then talk about a second subject not shown
3. One idea for each slide, and one slide for each idea. Avoid having just one slide showing while you discuss many other things
4. Show the main point, use few words, expand verbally
   1. Title: 10-12 words, 1-3 lines
   2. Body: 20-25 words, 1-12 lines
   3. Tables: keep it simple, with short title, short footnote, few data points
5. Remove redundant phrases, and highlight important points
6. Avoid extraneous information or art
7. Rework tables from journal articles to simplify
8. Use series of small slides rather than one big slide
9. Use graphs, pictures, and charts rather than text

B. Legibility

1. Design originals to fit 2:3 slide format (24x36 mm)
2. Use horizontal format
3. Use simple fonts, sans serif (Helvetica rather than Times)
4. Use complementary colors
   1. Be aware of color vision limitations in audience
   2. Use color response of humans: Red = agitating, Blue = relaxing
5. Use outline format to give text "shape"
6. Be consistent from one slide to the next

C. Screen Size

1. 8H rule: Viewing distance = 8 x Image height
2. Character should be 1/50 of screen height minimum
3. Examples:
   1. 18 pt Helvetica = 5 mm height
   2. 12 pt Helvetica = 3.5 mm height
4. Room size
   1. 159 Kilgore Hall = 50' long
   2. 121 Kilgore Hall = 20' long
   3. 103 Kilgore Hall = 18' long
5. Projected height = 4'
   1. 8 x H = 32'
   2. Last 6 rows of 159 are beyond proper viewing distance