- \r\n \t
- Place the visual as close as possible to its related text.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Give each visual a number and a clear descriptive title.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Refer to the number\/title within the body text when discussing the visual\u2019s content.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Surround the visual with enough white space to emphasize the image and enhance its readability.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Visuals on Slides<\/h2>\r\nPowerpoint or other similar presentation tools are built for images and, as you've read, visual images are key to audience engagement, retention, and acceptance of information.\u00a0 To place visuals effectively on slides, consider the following tips:\r\n
Less is more<\/h3>\r\nTry to keep one main image per slide, in keeping with the concept of one main idea per slide.\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4022\/2019\/02\/11190109\/131-300x167.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nOnly include more than one image if the concept logically supports more than one image.\u00a0 If using more than one image, make sure the images are consistent. Note that the slide below uses three images to enhance the idea that many students benefit from prior learning assessment.\u00a0 All of the faces in the images are approximately the same size.\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4022\/2019\/02\/11192803\/83-300x168.jpg\")
\r\n\r\n \r\nFormatting Visuals<\/h3>\r\nAlthough you may not want to use standard powerpoint or other templates that create a very structured look for your presentation, you may want to use design ideas (e.g., under the design tab in powerpoint) for other layout options for particular slides.\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4022\/2019\/02\/11192700\/102-300x169.jpg\")
\r\nVisual to Enhance Text \/ Text to Enhance Visual<\/h3>\r\nAll of the sample slides so far have used visuals to enhance text.\u00a0 Many presenters use a large image and then insert text to provide the key points that the image presents.\u00a0 Decide which approach makes sense for your particular slides, with the understanding that you do not have to apply one approach consistently throughout the presentation.\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4022\/2019\/02\/11192153\/121-300x177.jpg\")
\r\nPlacement of Visuals<\/h3>\r\nNote that when you are composing a powerpoint slide, you see faint lines and boxes to help you align your information and visuals.\u00a0 These lines provide good guidelines.\u00a0 Although you can manipulate and over-ride these suggestions, be careful about placing visuals or text too far right, left, top, or bottom, if you want your audience to be able to absorb the slide's information easily.\r\n
Color - An Important Visual Element<\/h3>\r\nNote that color creates an impact on your slides, as it can provide emphasis, foster understanding, and imply feeling.\u00a0 Follow these color tips:\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Black text on a white background is usually very easy to absorb, as long as the text is large enough.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Texts other than black need to contrast carefully with their backgrounds for maximum readability.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Use complementary colors and contrasting colors.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Do not use colors indiscriminately; choose an overall color palette and maintain that throughout.\u00a0 Too many colors make your slides \"busy\" and therefore more difficult to comprehend.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nConsult Purdue University's handout on Color Presentation Theory<\/a> for fuller information and examples of how color can visually enhance or detract from your slides.\u00a0 The following video also provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the concept of color.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_2LLXnUdUIc\r\n\r\nCompare the following slide with the same slide under the \"Less is More\" sub-heading.\u00a0 Note how the use of color for the title changes the emphasis of information on the slide.\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4022\/2019\/02\/11192741\/9-300x168.jpg\")
<\/h3>\r\nSlide Layout<\/h3>\r\nThe following video offers useful information about key aspects of slide (and document) layout:\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Proximity<\/li>\r\n \t
- White Space<\/li>\r\n \t
- Alignment<\/li>\r\n \t
- Contrast<\/li>\r\n \t
- Repetition<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=a5KYlHNKQB8\r\n\r\nThe next video offers some interesting observations about slide layout, some of which go against information you've been reading in this text - you can see that immediately with the use of a cursive font on the main image below.\u00a0 Understand that there are no penultimate rules for all slides, except the overall expectation that their information can be easily absorbed and understood. Your purpose, audience, context, and other communication variables dictate your approach each time, for each presentation.\u00a0 (Note that the actual tips in the video start around the 4:00 minute mark.)\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6bSOAl1i8bw\r\n
Visuals on Web Pages<\/h2>\r\nEven though web pages are visual media, and pictures and colors are important and interesting, they may be less important than content on a web page. Users should not get confused when they enter a website. They should know where they need to click and understand what will come from that click, and images should enhance that understanding. So images on web pages should not be too large or too plentiful.\u00a0 They should be used to support the content's importance, and not overwhelm the page.\r\n\r\nThat said, images play the same role on web pages as they do on slides.\u00a0 They can enhance the content, help cut down on content by presenting key concepts visually, and help create an overall feeling for the page. Many of the aspects related to using visuals in documents and on slides can be applied to using visuals on web pages.\u00a0 Visuals on web pages should:\r\n
- \r\n \t
- \"fit\" on the page, either within a web page column format or grid format<\/li>\r\n \t
- be positioned next to their accompanying text<\/li>\r\n \t
- be clear, consistent in type, and illustrative of main ideas in the text<\/li>\r\n \t
- exist in sufficient white space<\/li>\r\n \t
- be small enough so that the page loads quickly on all types of connections (e.g., usually with a limit of no more than 5 to 10 KB)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nLook at a few sample websites which use visuals to good effect (there are many, many more):\r\n
- \r\n \t
- The Nature Conservancy<\/a> - The main page uses one main background visual with words overlaying it to offer a compelling story via the visual.\u00a0 As the user scrolls down, there are additional photos balanced with accompanying text to highlight their mission and feature story.<\/li>\r\n \t
- The Sierra Club<\/a> - The visual behind the main heading coordinates with that heading; their combined intent is to stimulate action. As the user scrolls down, there are additional photos that introduce different articles.<\/li>\r\n \t
- The Environmental Protection Agency's Report on the Environment<\/a> - The initial visuals exist in a slide show, with slide images related to the organization's mission.\u00a0 As the user scrolls down, there are different images related to various parts of the report, and each of those images is retained as a header when the user is within that particular part of the report.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Summary - Effective Visual Layout<\/h2>\r\nLook at Canva's web page entitled 10 rules of composition all designers live by<\/a> for a good overview of visual layout.\r\n\r\n ","rendered":"
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4022\/2019\/02\/11174357\/52-300x199.jpg\")
<\/p>\nKnowing what constitutes an effective visual is important, but equally important is the way in which you place visuals on a document page, slide, or webpage.<\/p>\n
Visuals on Document Pages<\/h2>\n
Consult the page on Incorporating Visuals into Reports & Proposals for fuller information on placing visuals into longer text documents, applying strategies which include the following:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Place the visual as close as possible to its related text.<\/li>\n
- Give each visual a number and a clear descriptive title.<\/li>\n
- Refer to the number\/title within the body text when discussing the visual\u2019s content.<\/li>\n
- Surround the visual with enough white space to emphasize the image and enhance its readability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Visuals on Slides<\/h2>\n
Powerpoint or other similar presentation tools are built for images and, as you’ve read, visual images are key to audience engagement, retention, and acceptance of information.\u00a0 To place visuals effectively on slides, consider the following tips:<\/p>\n
Less is more<\/h3>\n
Try to keep one main image per slide, in keeping with the concept of one main idea per slide.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nOnly include more than one image if the concept logically supports more than one image.\u00a0 If using more than one image, make sure the images are consistent. Note that the slide below uses three images to enhance the idea that many students benefit from prior learning assessment.\u00a0 All of the faces in the images are approximately the same size.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Formatting Visuals<\/h3>\n
Although you may not want to use standard powerpoint or other templates that create a very structured look for your presentation, you may want to use design ideas (e.g., under the design tab in powerpoint) for other layout options for particular slides.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nVisual to Enhance Text \/ Text to Enhance Visual<\/h3>\n
All of the sample slides so far have used visuals to enhance text.\u00a0 Many presenters use a large image and then insert text to provide the key points that the image presents.\u00a0 Decide which approach makes sense for your particular slides, with the understanding that you do not have to apply one approach consistently throughout the presentation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nPlacement of Visuals<\/h3>\n
Note that when you are composing a powerpoint slide, you see faint lines and boxes to help you align your information and visuals.\u00a0 These lines provide good guidelines.\u00a0 Although you can manipulate and over-ride these suggestions, be careful about placing visuals or text too far right, left, top, or bottom, if you want your audience to be able to absorb the slide’s information easily.<\/p>\n
Color – An Important Visual Element<\/h3>\n
Note that color creates an impact on your slides, as it can provide emphasis, foster understanding, and imply feeling.\u00a0 Follow these color tips:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Black text on a white background is usually very easy to absorb, as long as the text is large enough.<\/li>\n
- Texts other than black need to contrast carefully with their backgrounds for maximum readability.<\/li>\n
- Use complementary colors and contrasting colors.<\/li>\n
- Do not use colors indiscriminately; choose an overall color palette and maintain that throughout.\u00a0 Too many colors make your slides “busy” and therefore more difficult to comprehend.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Consult Purdue University’s handout on Color Presentation Theory<\/a> for fuller information and examples of how color can visually enhance or detract from your slides.\u00a0 The following video also provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the concept of color.<\/p>\n
- The Sierra Club<\/a> - The visual behind the main heading coordinates with that heading; their combined intent is to stimulate action. As the user scrolls down, there are additional photos that introduce different articles.<\/li>\r\n \t
- The Nature Conservancy<\/a> - The main page uses one main background visual with words overlaying it to offer a compelling story via the visual.\u00a0 As the user scrolls down, there are additional photos balanced with accompanying text to highlight their mission and feature story.<\/li>\r\n \t