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Add-ins
PowerFinish
Reviewed by Geetesh
Bajaj, June 18th 2001
See Also: The
Joye Argo Interview | PowerFinish
Templates Volume 4
Introduction
A Brand And A Site
Between Templates &...
The Templates
The Backgrounds
Sense of Design
Beyond PowerPoint
Pricing
Finally...
Introduction
A few days ago, I was communicating with Joye Argo of Studio F
Productions, Inc. - a design firm based in Sarasota, Florida. I
was already quite wowed by their range of PowerPoint products -
and when I was asked to review their PowerFinish series templates
for this site, I readily agreed.
Well, the review kept getting postponed - firstly, there was a
delay in receiving the templates, followed by Microsoft's launch
of PowerPoint 2002 - which kept me busier than I had anticipated
- updating all the content at Indezine to reflect the changes.
And now, when I've finally started the PowerFinish review, I can't
help regretting every minute I delayed. I think that sums it up
in more words than could ever be used - PowerFinish is just fantastic.
Let's look at the product in a little more detail.
Back
Brand And A Site
PowerFinish is a brand name given to a set of
PowerPoint templates and backgrounds - it's also the name of the
website from where
you access them. And the site, as you must have already guessed
by now is called powerfinish.com. You can visit the site by clicking
the following link. PowerFinish 
The website itself is comprehensive - apart from the actual backgrounds
and templates (which we'll be covering later in this review), the
site is chock-a-block of varied information including sections
on reviews, pricing, guarantee, testimonials, privacy, security,
special offers, etc.
The 'Who Uses PowerFinish' section lists an impressive array of
well known names from all over the world - many of these customers
are business houses, multinational corporations, educational institutions,
consultants, etc. of repute.
Back
Between Templates & Backgrounds
Templates are distinct in comparison to PowerFinish's other offering:
backgrounds. Whereas backgrounds add a behind-the-stage look to
a slide, templates go the whole way - in providing slide and title
masters, colour schemes, typeface recommendations, etc. Readymade
templates also make the job of creating a final presentation easier
- just use them in new or existing presentation for an instant
makeover!
Backgrounds have their advantages too: for one, you are not restricted
to using them in PowerPoint alone. Other than that, professionals
would like to use them to input their own colour schemes and typefaces.
It's great to know that PowerFinish caters to both the template
and background clientele - what's interesting to note is that there
is no duplication of designs between the both of them. Maybe, Studio
F supposes that's enough justification for you to buy them both!
Back
The Templates The template section at PowerFinish.com currently lists three
volumes of around 50 templates each. All of these can be previewed
in both thumbnail and higher resolution sizes.
 While
Volume 1 and 2 contain geometric designs patterned in muted colour
shades, Volume 3 exclusively consists of globe representations
over patterned designs. The globes themselves make interesting
observations - they are either cartographic, physical or spatial
in nature. Some are subdued, others are prominent. The entire volume
tries to convey an international existence.
Here's some input from Joye Argo:
"The templates also include the images
used in them as individual JPGs. I visualized someone wanting
to have continuity between their presentation and other marketing
materials, web design, etc. and using them (or pieces of them)
in a paint program. Or possibly opening the JPG and dropping
in their own logo or other design element to even further customize
their own template."
You can opt to buy individual volumes or a combo including all
of them - you can even opt to buy single templates. Combos, volumes
and single templates are all available for download - combos and
sets are also available on CD ROM for shipping to destinations
worldwide.
Such CD ROMs include installation routines to make the PowerFinish
templates available from within PowerPoint. And yes, the templates
work in all PowerPoint versions including PowerPoint 97, 2000 and
2002. For all practical reasons, they should work equally well
in the Macintosh versions of PowerPoint.
Back
The Backgrounds The
backgrounds are blessed with their own name - "The Essential
Background Library". It's an interesting name - and you can't
help imagining that the name itself could set very high expectations
from users. So, it's a good thing that the backgrounds do live
up to their sobriquet.
Compared to the templates, backgrounds don't metamorphose
your presentations apart from providing great backdrops. But then,
these backgrounds can be used anywhere - from 3D packages to multimedia
and presentation programs - even web pages.
However, since PowerFinish does promote the backgrounds as a PowerPoint
accessory, it's nice to note that full instructions to use these
backgrounds in templates or presentations are included in an HTML
file stored in the installed folder - what's rather unpardonable
is the fact that the installation routine creates no shortcut to
this documentation in the program group it creates in the Start
menu. All in all, this is a small neglect, and you should not be
influenced by it. In every other way, the backgrounds possibly
are the most attractive collection you'll find anywhere. And that's
definitely not an over statement.
The backgrounds come in three volumes. As in the case of the templates,
a combo of the three volumes, consisting together of a thousand
backgrounds is also available.
Back
The Sense of Design
PowerFinish's greatest asset is it's sense of design. Unlike a
few other collections, you won't find the same design replicated
in five colours - or a slight change in visualization being passed
off as a new template.
Delicate and expert alpha channel compositions are behind most
of the templates and backgrounds - and most of the designs are
universally acceptable. However, all designs follow convention
- if you're looking for something bizarre or intelligent (there's
little difference between those terms, it all depends on the eye
of the viewer!), then look elsewhere - definitely a custom template
agency. On the other hand, if all you need is a set of backdrops
that should service your presentations for a long time to come,
then PowerFinish is as right as it ever could be.
The designs themselves are abstract, and difficult to describe
- nevertheless, let me try. There are designs which suggest drapes,
light sources, geometrical shapes, contemporary definitions, etc.
For a more visual explanation, why not pop up to the PowerFinish
web site. Every single background and template is thumbnailed there.
Back
Beyond PowerPoint...
Does PowerFinish warrant an existence beyond PowerPoint? The answer
definitely boils down to the affirmative - although it is not surprising
that Studio F has downplayed this aspect. After all, the PowerPoint
related audience is huge - and 'PowerPoint backgrounds' may be
a more lucrative term to use than 'presentation backgrounds'.
Outside PowerPoint, you can use PowerFinish designs in authoring
packages like Director, Authorware, ToolBook, Illuminatus, Mediator,
Dazzler, etc. You can also use them as backgrounds in applications
like Lotus Freelance, Corel Presentations, Astound, Harvard Graphics,
Scala iPlay, etc. Indeed, you can also use them to wallpaper your
Windows or Macintosh desktop!
Instances of usage in different arenas does not undermine the
status of PowerFinish as a PowerPoint tool - rather it definitely
increases your ROI (return on investment) and creative flair.
Back
Pricing
PowerFinish's pricing structure is definitely more palatable to
those who want volumes and combos. For the cost of three templates,
you could have bought a whole volume of fifty. And for the cost
of two volumes, you could have bought a combo of three.
Unless, you really need only one single design today or in the
near future, you might as well go in for a volume. A combo is a
different thing - price differences between volumes and combos
are anyway not that varied.
Back
Finally...
Yes, finally we approach the end of this review - this is the
part when a product or service receives either a thumbs up or down.
And I do know that among you readers are a wide variegation of
mankind - professional designers, business consultants, educators,
students, social workers and the like.
The verdict would be to use PowerFinish - as templates for business
users, and as backgrounds for professionals. Of course, you could
always get both! To get you started, PowerFinish gives you a free
template for just registering at their site. Why not get through
that straightaway!
Studio F is also introducing a few new products for PowerPoint
users - if the PowerFinish range is any indication of what we can
expect from them, then they certainly have to match it up in the
follow-up!
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