Making Effective
Presentations / Using Color
Effectively
Cynthia D. Hollingsworth
Coordinator of Instructional Design
IU School of Nursing
Copyright © 2000 Cynthia D. Hollingsworth. All rights reserved.
OBJECTIVE 1
By the end of the workshop, you
should be able to:
Thoughtfully select color schemes that
enhance your presentation display
and support your presentation content
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OBJECTIVE 2
Develop overhead transparencies and
electronic presentations such as
PowerPoint that supplement your
program content, guide your
presentation, are visually appealing,
and motivate audience participants.
3
OBJECTIVE 3
Deliver a presentation using
supplemental material such as
overheads or slide shows in an
effective manner, retaining the
audience’s attention, and using visual
display to reinforce program content.
4
WORKSHOP TOPICS
Color Basics
Page Layout & Preparation
Text & Typography
Graphics, Graphs, Tables & Charts
Presentation Techniques & Tips
5
COLOR BASICS:
Computer display vs. Printed page
Computer display
Red,
Green, Blue (RGB)
“Push” light through screen
Printed page
Cyan,
Yellow, Magenta, Black (CMYK)
Mix tones and reflect colors from white
page
6
COLOR WHEEL
Primary colors
(outside)
Magenta
Red
Blue
Secondary
colors
Green
Yellow
Print Wheel
Cyan
(inside –
combine
adjacent primary
colors)
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COLOR TEMPERATURES
Cool colors (blues, greens) – use for
background
Warm colors (reds, yellows) – use for
foreground elements
GOOD
This shows warm
foreground color
on a cool
background color
POOR
This shows cool
foreground color
on a warm
background color
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CONTRASTS
Greatest contrast – pairs of primary
colors
Least contrast – pairs of secondary
colors
GOOD
This pair of
primary colors has
good contrast
POOR
This pair of
secondary colors
has poor contrast
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COMPLIMENTARY
CONTRASTING PAIRS
Secondary color + primary color that
falls opposite on the wheel
Greatest
light/dark
contrast
Yellow / Blue
Greatest
cold/warm
contrast
Most vivid
contrast
Red / Cyan
Magenta / Green
10
CONSIDERATIONS
Greater contrast = energy, clarity &
sharpness
Too much contrast = confusing &
overwhelming
Lower contrast = soothing & subtle
Too little contrast = boring & bland
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COLOR ASSOCIATIONS &
MEANINGS
Red ….Vibrancy, energy
Green ….Growth
Blue ….Serenity
Purple ….Royalty
Brown ….Earthy
White ….Purity
National, cultural, religious, holidays implications
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PAGE LAYOUT
Landscape
Portrait
Electronic
Presentation
Transparencies
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PROMINENCE
1
Most prominent
3
Least prominent
2
Next prominent
14
POINT ORDER
This point & the title will receive the
most attention.
Subsequent points will receive lesser
attention.
Final point will receive almost as much
attention as the first point.
15
TEXT CONSIDERATIONS
Margin width: at least 1.5" all sides
Single concept per page
Concise phrases, no punctuation
7x7 Rule: < 7 words/ line; 7 lines/ page
Parallel construction of lists
SPELLING, SPELLNIG, SPELLING
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TYPOGRAPHY: Size
Body text – minimum of 24 point
(this is 32 pt)
Title text – minimum of 44 point
Hint:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Print page (this is 28 pt)
Lay it on floor
Stand on chair
See if it’s easily readable
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TYPOGRAPHY: Fonts
Face
Arial – Easy to read
MONOTYPE CORSIVA — HARDER TO READto read
Type
Sans Serif has no “feet” – easy to read
Serif has “feet” – harder to read
Attributes
Mixed Case – NO ALL CAPS, except titles
No more than two – THIS IS HARDER TO READ
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TYPOGRAPHY: General
Alignment
Left – body text and titles
Justify – nothing
Abbreviations & Acronyms
PE (Pulmonary edema? Physical
education? Pulmonary embolism?)
Punctuation –minimal or none
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GRAPHICS
Standard
Personalized
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GRAPHICS
Tired and
overworked
clipart
Fresh and
memorable
photo
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GRAPHICS
A
Too small
B
Just right
C
Options
Spidery
Visible
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GRAPHS, TABLES & CHARTS
• Clean lines
• Complementary
colors
• Sufficient color
contrast
• Explanatory
key
90
80
70
60
East
West
North
50
40
30
20
10
0
1st Qtr
2nd Qtr
3rd Qtr
4th Qtr
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GRAPHS, TABLES &
CHARTS
22%
9%
40%
29%
1st Qtr
2nd Qtr
3rd Qtr
4th Qtr
Pie charts that
build focus the
users’ attention
on key
components
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GRAPHS, TABLES &
CHARTS
Color
Red
Association
Vibrancy
Green Growth
Blue
Serenity
Purple Royalty
Brown Earthy
White
Purity
Color Association
Red
Vibrancy
Green
Growth
Blue
Serenity
Purple
Royalty
Brown
Earthy
White
Purity
• Additional space between lines
• Cleaner formatting
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POWERPOINT
PRESENTATIONS
Template choice: not busy
Transitions: left-to-right, top-to-bottom,
minimal
Timing: sufficient to read
Backup: plan for technology glitches
Black screen: focus attention
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TIPS & TECHNIQUES:
Finishing presentation preparation
Number transparencies
Mount transparencies in frames
Have blank transparencies & markers
Prepare handouts
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TIPS & TECHNIQUES:
At presentation location
Check equipment function & location
Sit in corners to test view
Focus projector
Locate room outlets & switches
Tape loose cords
“Square” presentation slide
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TIPS & TECHNIQUES:
During presentation
Use laser pointer / pen on overhead
Face your audience
Block future points
Dim, don’t turn off, lights
Darken lights over front of room
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CONTACTING ME
Cindy Hollingsworth
274-0752
NU 452B
http://www.iupui.edu/~webtrain
cholling@iupui.edu
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CREDITS
Kupsh, J. Presentation techniques [online]. (1997, January 3).
Sound & Vision Pro. Available: http://www.svpro.com/start.htm
(2000, January 11).
Radel, J., & Massath, C. Designing effective visuals [online].
(1997, March 19). University Kansas Medical Center. Available:
http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/Effective_visuals/VisStrt.
html (2000, January 11).
_____. Understanding Color. Hewlett Packard.
Walch, S. Step 10: Using visual aids [online]. (1997). The
Pennsylvania State University Department of Speech
Communication. Available:
http://www.la.psu.edu/speech/100a/workbook/step10.htm (2000,
January 11).
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