SlideBlog

To use layering techniques means to place objects (shapes, images, text etc.) on top of each other in a layering fashion and perhaps add some shadows to some objects. This can create a sense of depth by making some objects appear to be on top of others.

By adjusting the color and contrast of objects, it is possible to create a sense of depth on the slide. For example, on a light background, darker-colored objects appear to be in the front; meanwhile  lighter-colored  objects appear to be further into the background of the slide. The opposite is the case with a dark background:  lighter objects appear in the front, and darker objects appear in the back.

Below are a Before and After showing how to create depth by adjusting the relative scale of objects.

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Image Credit: chesnutt

Sometimes when you have a full bleed image or a background that is kind of noisy it can be difficult to make your text legible. It might be hard to get the necessary contrast for all your text and that makes it hard to read. One way to make you text stand out more is to add a stroke or text outline. This creates a nice confinement of each letter and separates it from the noisy background. It can really make the text pop out.

Below is a Before and After showing an example of how much difference adding a stroke to your text can make.

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Image Credit:  straymuse

Sometimes when using an image on your slide, the image has a natural “horizon”. By that I mean it has a natural line that divides, separates or guides in the image. The most obvious example is an actual horizon, but it could be anything.

When placing text on top of such an image it can add a nice effect and be more dramatic and powerful to align the text along this “horizon”. It can add a little more excitement to the slide and break away from the traditional and make the slide more interesting. Below is a Before and After showing the difference when applying this technique to a slide.

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Image Credit: ctechs

When illustrating or making a point on a slide about something that is big or tall or wide it can be a really powerful effect to bleed an image or text outside of the slide area to give the impression that there is not enough room to fit. It is just too big to fit.

Below is a Before and After showing an example of this with the word Big and an image of an Elephant. So this slide is trying to make a point about something being really big and you can clearly see how much more powerful and visual the After is for conveying that message.

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Image Credit: GlennPeb

When using images on your slide you can use these images to guide your viewers eyes. If you have an image with a person in it, the direction the person is looking in will guide your viewers eyes. It is important to remember when using images that they do not direct your viewers eyes away from what is important but towards it.

Below is a Before and After showing how your eyes are directed away from the text in the Before example but directed directly towards the text in the After example just by changing slightly the direction the statue is looking in. So make sure the content of your image helps to guide your viewers attention toward what’s important not away.

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Image Source: leilahh

When using a full bleed image with text written on top or just text on top of an image, it can sometimes be difficult to obtain the necessary contrast between the image and the text. This makes it difficult to read the text.

One way to increase the legibility and contrast of the text is to place a shape (rectangle, circle, triangle etc.) between the image and the text. It can really add a nice effect if you make the shape somewhat transparent. You can use any type of shape, it all depends on the point your slide is making, the style of the presentation, the content of the image and the text. Below is a before and after where adding a rounded corner shape makes a huge difference for reading/seeing the text on the slide.

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Image Source: saso

The before & after below shows how adding a drop shadow to your text can really make the text “pop out”. Adding a drop shadow to your text can many times help to add the necessary emphasis to draw the audience’s attention to the text. It makes it stand out a little bit more than without the drop shadow. It is a neat little trick and something to keep in mind. (it is a little hard to see but if you click on the images and look at the bigger version it becomes more apparent and imagine presenting on a big screen)

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Image Source: Pa1n

Many people use images in their slide presentations that are smaller than the size of the slide. Typically the images are placed underneath or away from whatever text is on the slide.

To convey your message in a much more powerful way, you can use a full bleed image. “Full bleed” means making the image bleed off the sides of the slide, taking up the whole space of the slide. Then you just put your text, making sure it has enough contrast, on top of the image as can be seen in the before and after below.

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Image Source: stadje

There is limited real estate on each slide and it is dumb to waste much of that space by using a background (or a theme with a background) that has background elements that reduces the effective area of the slide.

The effective area is the area that can be used for actual content. It is better to just use a simple background with perhaps just a single color or a subtle gradient.

The background elements not only reduce the effective space but can also be distracting to the audience and draw attention away from the real message. Background elements should only be used if the background elements serve an important purpose for conveying your message. That they are an integral part of your design strategy.

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