PowerPoint and Presenting Stuff

Learn PowerPoint 2010 for Windows: Insert Picture

Adding pictures to a PowerPoint slide is a great way to add some visual detail. There are two ways to insert a picture on your slide in PowerPoint: You use a layout that includes a content placeholder, or you insert a picture within a slide irrespective of its layout. Whichever option you choose depends upon your choice — we cover both of them in the following steps.

Learn how to insert a picture on a slide in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2010
Tagged as: Photos, Pictures, PowerPoint 2010, Tutorials

Learn PowerPoint 2011 for Mac: Bevel (3-D Format) Options

Bevel options for shapes in PowerPoint 2011 are aplenty. Most of the time, the Bevel preset effects may work for you as explored in our Apply Bevel Effects to Shapes in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac tutorial. Yet, those presets are merely the tip of the iceberg — PowerPoint’s advanced Bevel effect options provide customizations for contour, contour color, depth, depth color, and materials used in the Bevel effects. And if all that 3-D terminology had you in a dizzy, don’t worry — this simple tutorial explains every option within the 3-D gamut as far as Bevels are concerned. Do note that advanced Bevel options are available in the 3-D Format area within PowerPoint — so for reasons of sanity, just imagine that Bevel and 3-D Format are the same attribute with two different names — we use both terms interchangeably in this tutorial!

Explore the advanced Bevel (3-D Format) options available for shapes in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2011
Tagged as: Effects, Office for Mac, PowerPoint 2011, Tutorials

Pictures in Slides: Conversation with Hermann Narez

Hermann Narez is a graphic designer for PhotoSpin, Inc., a royalty-free stock photo company. He currently heads up the Design Services department, develops and designs print, web, and e-marketing campaigns, and maintains brand consistency across multiple print, web, and e-marketing channels.

In this conversation, Hermann discusses the importance of using pictures in slides.

Geetesh: Using a large picture along with a great slide title seems more common these days as presenters want to include less text on their slides – almost like Steve Jobs’ presentations. What do you think about this approach?

Hermann: The phrase “less is more” is often associated with the architect and furniture designer Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe. In graphic design it’s typically referred to as “white space”.

I’m glad to see that this approach is being used in screen presentations because by using white space in design, we create space, balance, emphasis on what’s important, and a feeling of easiness that we cannot achieve with a more cramped space.

Picture: Ben Miller, vide Flickr Creative Commons

Geetesh: Do you have any guidelines to share on finding the perfect picture for a slide in PowerPoint, Keynote, or any of the slide apps?

Hermann: “A picture is worth a thousand words” is what I think about when searching for the right image for a screen presentation. I look for a photo or an illustration that contains white space/copy space. It could be an isolated object or maybe even a simple illustration with a monochromatic pattern.

Note from Geetesh: The sample pictures shown above illustrate the concept of white space or copy space that Hermann explained in this conversation. Both these pictures are from the PhotoSpin collection, and are used with their permission.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.

Filed Under: Interviews
Tagged as: Design, Graphics, Hermann Narez, Interviews, Photos, PhotoSpin, Pictures, PowerPoint

Learn PowerPoint 2010 for Windows: Reset Slide

We all are exposed to slides that can be so hazardous to our vision! One look at a horrendous slide, and it really doesn’t matter if the content is great or not — because the slide may have nothing understated about it. Such loud slides can ensure that audiences look more at the look of the slide rather than the content. You might end up with such slides even with no fault of yours, because someone else designed them for you! Fortunately, there is an easy, one-click process to restore the sanity in the slides — it’s called the Reset button. Remember, the Reset button is your friend.

Learn how to reset your slide formatting with one click in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2010
Tagged as: PowerPoint 2010, Tutorials

Learn PowerPoint 2011 for Mac: Apply Bevel Effects

While PowerPoint does provide a plethora of Shape Effects, there’s something about the Bevel effect that makes it stand apart. Once applied, the Bevel effect can make your shape look embossed, like a button, or even a pillow — the different output variations occur since there are many Bevel presets available in PowerPoint 2011 for the Mac. Play with all the presets, and some Bevel presets will make your shapes will look as if they can pop out of the slide — fortunately, there are plenty of Bevel effect presets that are more restrained and understated!

Learn how you can apply Bevel effects to selected shapes in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2011
Tagged as: Effects, Office for Mac, PowerPoint 2011, Tutorials