Guidelines for Preparing Slides

Create A Title Slide To Introduce Your Presentation

Outline Formats Are Easier To Follow

Do not try to cover too many topics—this may strain the audience’s

attention or cause confusion.

No More Than One Topic Per Slide

Maintain A Consistent Layout

A consistent layout and color scheme will create

continuity and cohesiveness.

Use Bullets, Not Numbers

• Bullet points replace complete sentences.

• Bullets imply no significant order.• Use numbers only to show rank of

sequence.

Use The 6 x 6 Rule6 lines of text

6 words per line

(Sometimes 7 X 7 Rule)

Keep Slides Easy To Read And Uncluttered

Allow plenty of room around borders and

illustrations.

Select Readable Type Size

• 36 point for titles—minimum.

• 24 point for body text—

minimum.

45 Point40 Point35 Point30 Point25 Point20 Point

15 Point10 Point

Use A Readable Typeface And Font

• Use Sans serif (no curly feet) such as Arial or universal for body text.

• Use Serif (curly feet) such as Times New Roman or Courier for body text.

• No more than two fonts per slide.

Typeface Examples

• Typeface Examples

• Typeface Examples

• Typeface Examples• Typeface

Examples• Typeface

Examples

• Comic Sans MS• Universal• Times New Roman• Arial• Century

Schoolbook

Adjust Lettering To Discriminate Or

Emphasize• Make titles a larger type size than

body elements.• Emphasize important statements

or words with bold, italic, larger size, color, or different fonts.

Choose Color CarefullyUse the same color consistently

throughout the presentation.Use light letters on a dark background

and dark letters on a light background.Do not let color overpower the words.Use color to communicate, not

decorate.

Use Solid Colors Instead Of Fill Patterns

On Charts• Patterns on bars

or pie slices cause confusion.

• Solid colors convey a clear bold message.

020406080

100

1stQtr

3rdQtr

EastWestNorth

Use Simple Tables to Present Numbers

Use Tables

For Your Numbers

But, Not Too Many

This Row .06 .04 1

This Row 10 90 100

That Row 5 5 10

Enhancing the Presentation

• Add Clipart, Pictures, Bitmaps, Animation, Video Clips, and Sound where appropriate.

• If ever.

Enhancing The Presentation

• Transitions– The most natural movement is from left to

right.– If making a special point, text could move

from the right to left.– Too many things flying around the screen

detracts from the presentation.– Not every slide needs to be animated.

Enhancing the Presentation

• Keep everything in alignment.• Don’t go outside the default title and

text block.• Use handouts to show more detail than

will project well on a slide.

Your Slides Are Not Your Presentation

• Slides draw attention to presentation.

• Focus interest on what is important.• Audience must finish reading before

you start talking.• Do not read slides.

Summary Slide

Always use at least one but no more than two summary/conclusion slides.

Finish Slide

• “Thank You For Your Attention” or other appropriate finish slide.

• Include 2 or 3 copies of finish slide to avoid inadvertent mouse “clicks”.