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Step 4 - Content

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Step 4 - Content

Create or collect the content. Content includes text, font, charts, pictures, music, video, graphs, etc.

Let's consider text first - although text is the most important part of any presentation, try to keep it in small doses - use direct speech, bullets, concise information, etc. Create the text outlines in a word processor - make sure that the progression of slides has a flow to it.

Now, about slide backgrounds - how they reflect on projectors or monitors - about colour combinations and corporate identities. Avoid fluorescent and very bright coloured backgrounds. Consider the type of graphs, charts and flow diagrams you require. Double-check all the figures and statistics before you create them and be sure to use colours that would suit the overall theme of your presentation.

Consider if text is readable on-screen. I usually prefer either black or white text, since both these colours look neutral. Sometimes, you may end up with backgrounds against which neither black nor white text is readable. Avoid such backgrounds - if it is unavoidable, try using gray or muted coloured shadows, or use a solid or semi-transparent rectangle behind the text. Also, blue (or yellow on dark backgrounds) text looks good on certain occasions - although never use red or orange text unless you want to highlight something.

Now, work on the other visual elements - illustrations, pictures, etc. Simple illustrations can be created in the presentation program itself - although you could extend this with readymade clipart and stock photos. A word of caution here - be sure that everything you use is free of copyright restrictions. Lots of copyright free collections are available on CD ROMs - be sure to read between the lines of the license agreements of such collections. Many free and paid online resources are available from where you can download copyright free art. Last but not the least, take a good look at dingbat fonts - many of these are freeware and have excellent line art, which can be imported into a drawing program - where it can be ungrouped, edited and recoloured - and then exported as a vector graphic or a bitmap image.

One often overlooked idea is to use scanners and digital cameras - most of us already have them. On one instance, a simple solution to my design woes was to scan leaves directly from a flatbed scanner. Digital cameras make things even more easier!

Now, let's consider sound and video - exactly in that order!

When we talk about sound, we are speaking about a start-to-finish loopable background score. Other sounds, like those associated with transitions, objects or events are discussed later.

So, what's sound? It is the difference between a successful and a failed presentation! Maybe, that's a slight exaggeration - but it's not a broad observation either, when you consider that ill-matched sounds can spoil an otherwise immaculate and killer presentation. In the same way, a well matched audio stream can enliven the whole affair! Be aware, that the sound does not have to be similar to the latest pop hit, nor does it have to be as melodious as a lullaby putting your audience to sleep! Keep in mind that the music must allow your audience to concentrate - I would suggest 'New Age' music. Lots of Indian instrumental (or other Asian) music also helps concentration. I usually import 'loops' of Indian and New Age music into a new genre of musical track programs like eJay® or Magix® and create custom background scores. Again, be sure that your scores, loops and compilations are copyright free.

Programs like SmartSound® simplify things even further - a set of dialog boxes give you a series of choices and create a custom musical score based on your selections.

At times, especially when there is a live presenter, sound can be a nuisance - thankfully, setting your volume bar to mute can resolve this problem.

Event sounds are a genre apart from background scores - activated by clicks, transitions or actions. It's best to avoid them altogether - unless it is unavoidable or integral to your production. I think it hampers concentration, but then, that's my opinion - not necessarily yours.

Narration is the third genre of sounds used in a presentation - unless you have a professional set-up or studio, this task is left best to professional recording studios - enquire rates by the hour and ask about the facilities available. If your studio can deliver the narration recordings by Audio CD, it would simplify your job further. Just get the different narration segments recorded as separate CD tracks.

Video can be classified as of two types. One is of a person speaking about something - be sure that the speech volume is higher than that of your background score - or if it would be possible for you to stop your background score temporarily. Here, there can be problems: not all presentation programs and/or sound cards allow two simultaneous audio streams, so you may have to settle for a single stream. Again, what runs great in your system may not run that well on another delivery system.

The second type of video encompasses everything else - an animation, a film cut, digitally recorded video, etc. Open it in a video editing program like Adobe® Premiere®, Ulead® MediaStudio® Pro, Ulead® VideoStudio®, etc. and delete the audio track (if required) - then, let it play synchronized with your background score.

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