Presentation Zen [44]
I do not suggest you limit your image searches to iStockphoto.com only. I have a shelf full of photo CDs and subscribe to other photo sites as well, but iStockphoto is the best. They have over two million images from which to choose and are adding thousands of images every week; they just keep getting better and better. iStockphoto has a “free image of the week” so you may want to check back from time to time to see what’s new (and free). At the back of this book, you will find a special code just for you that entitles you to 10 free credits on the iStockphoto Web site (and a discount for current members). So take your free credits and download a few images from iStockphoto.com.
My personal favorite photo site
• iStockphoto (www.istockphoto.com)
Here are some other places to get low-cost images
• Dreams Time (www.dreamstime.com)
• Fotolia (www.fotolia.com)
• Japanese Streets (www.japanesestreets.com)
• Shutter Stock (www.shutterstock.com)
• Shutter Map (www.shuttermap.com)
Here are a few sites that offer free images
• Morgue File (www.morguefile.com)
• Flickr Creative Commons Pool (www.flickr.com/creativecommons)
• Image After (www.imageafter.com)
• Stock.xchng (www.sxc.hu)
• Everystockphoto search engine (www.everystockphoto.com)
Quote This
While long bullet points are not very effective as a “visual enhancer,” displaying quotations in your presentation slides can be a very powerful technique. Depending on the presentation, I often use quite a few quotes from various fields to support my points. The trick is not to use them too much and to make sure they are short and legible.
When I first saw Tom Peters live a few years ago while I was working in Silicon Valley, I was happy to see that he used a good deal of quotes from various experts, authors, and industry leaders. Using quotes in his presentation visuals is a big deal for Tom. In fact, it is number 18 on his “Presentation Excellence 56” article on his Web site.
Commenting on why he uses so many PowerPoint slides containing quotes, Tom says:
“…my conclusions are much more credible when I back them up with Great Sources. I say pretty radical stuff. I say ‘Get radical!’ That’s one thing. But then I show a quote from Jack Welch, who, after all, ran a $150 billion company (I didn’t): ‘You can’t behave in a calm, rational manner; you’ve got to be out there on the lunatic fringe.’ Suddenly my radicalism is “’certified” by a “real operator.” Also, I find that people like to get beyond the spoken word, and see a SIMPLE reminder of what I’m saying.”
Quotes can indeed add credibility to your story. A simple quote is a good springboard from which you can launch your next topic or weave into your narrative to support your point. Remember, quotes should be short, in most cases, since it can become quite tedious when a presenter reads a paragraph from a screen.
Text within Images
I almost always get my quotes straight from material I have read directly or from personal interviews. My books, for example, are filled with sticky-notes and pages full of my comments and highlighter marks. I sketch a star and write a note to myself next to great passages for future reference. It’s kind of messy, but it works for me when I put the presentation together later.
When I use a quote I sometimes use a graphic element that targets people’s emotions, ads more visual interest, and enhances the effect of the slide. But rather than using a small photo or other element, consider placing the text within a larger photo. To do this you will want to use an image at least as large as your slide dimensions (e.g., 800x600) for your background. Look for an image that supports the point you are making with the quotation. The image should have plenty of empty space so that your text can fit comfortably in the slide with good contrast.
Below you can see two slides displaying a quotation