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Visual Presentation

Technical Information

Visual Presentation Requirements and Suggestions during Videoconferencing

Keep the learner’s focus on the content, not the design.

Avoid distracting design templates or animated transitions in PowerPoint.

  • Do not use busy, cluttered backgrounds or other unreadable visuals
  • Do not use lines or “cute” ornamentals around or along the sides of slides.

Use a “sans serif” type font.

  • Arial, Comis Sans MS, Lucida Sans, Tahoma, or Trebuchet MS are good font choices.
  • Make titles at 40 pt., text at 32 pt. and subtext at 28 pt. (but, no smaller than 20 pt.)
  • The MS default font Calibri (12 pt.) is 25% smaller than others (so, as rule use the next point size larger with “Calibri” (14 pt.), but no smaller than 22 pt.)
  • For contrast, use lighter text with darker backgrounds or darker text with lighter ones.
  • Limit the rows of text per page (fewer is better; don’t exceed about 9 lines).

Do not scan small graphs or complex data charts from books.

  • If imports of text are a must, make them as big and legible as possible (think 20 pt.).
  • Use photos of high resolution (800x600 or better) and good contrast for the best effect.
  • Be sure remote sites have a handout copy of all visuals or they are posted on-line.

Recognize the limitations of television displays.

  • A videoconference uses a flat panel television set or a projector.
  • Video can have a lower image resolution than seen on a computer monitor.
    • What is legible on a computer might be difficult to see on a TV or projector.
    • Graphics may appear even smaller on TV or a screen from across a room.

Watch contrast. TV has a limited contrast ratio and color intensity values.

  • TVs display a contrast range of 30 to 1.
  • Movies display a contrast range of 100 to 1.
  • Eyes can discern a contrast range of 1000 to 1.

All modern video is a horizontal layout and a 16x9 (wide x high) aspect ratio.

  • Plan all designs with horizontal layouts.
  • Any vertical images may require two slides with an upper view and lower view.
  • All views may be balanced with supporting text to maintain horizontal design.

Get image ideas from television newscasts and commercials.

  • The impact of a strong visual idea relies on design simplicity.
  • Notice the limited number of words & concepts used to tell a story.
  • Complex images or diagrams often require more than one slide.
  • Start with a general view and use separate slides to zoom-in progressively closer for more detail.

Need Help?

Call 740.593.2467 or email street@ohio.edu