In this Issue:

PowerPoint: Color Party!

  PowerPoint Tip

Visual Tool: Facial Expressions (II)      

  Drawing Lesson

  Application  

  Related Resources

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Issue 4

Thanks for subscribing to the newsletter of Diverse Solutions, your resource for clear and visual communication.  Visit our site at www.divers-e.com to see how we can help you design effective PowerPoint® presentations, logos, workshops and meetings using the power of image.  

PowerPoint:  A Color Party!

In the last issue, we introduced three important aspects of effective slide design:  color, graphics and white space.  This issue will continue the discussion of the basics of color beginning with a general recommendation that you keep the number of colors in your presentation to a minimum.  The reason:  the fewer the colors, the more elegant the design.  If you are not convinced of this, start paying attention to how higher-priced products are marketed in magazines, billboards, and product packaging.  Note that frequently, they are done in simple black/white or sepia tones for high impact.  Then consider the number of colors used for coupon insert in the Sunday newspaper . . . Which approach do you think will do more for your presentation?  You guessed it!

So how do you choose colors?  Colors are like people -- they have distinct personalities/energy that can appear to change depending on the other colors around them.  For example, if you were hosting a party, you might invite a variety of people --  some who are quiet and subdued, others who are are sociable, and still others who are a little wild. A little of each type will keep the gathering interesting.  Think the same way when you select colors for your presentation:  you want different types of colors for the background, text and accents.

Background

The role of a background color, like the quiet types at your party, is to be a subtle yet substantial backdrop for the presentation.  A good background flatters the elements that come in front of it, and are often dark (dark blues and dark greens -- even a very dark burgundy or black can work.  I prefer dark colors, but there may be occasions when you want to use a light color for a background.  This is fine, just make sure it is soft and subdued.  The general rule here: stay away from bright colors for your background!

Text

Your text is like the talkative social people at your party, i.e., the communicators.  What you want more than anything from your text color is enough contrast with your background to be legible.  If you are using a dark blue background, your text might look good in a pale yellow (if you were using a soft light color for a background, choose black or other dark color for the text).  You may choose to make your title text a variation on your text bullet colors -- I personally like a rich gold against a dark blue background.

Accents

These are the characters that spice up your party!  You've got to have them, but too many can make your party a little wilder than your neighbors will appreciate . . . If the background is blue with soft yellow text, you might choose a shade of orange, red, hot pink, or lime green to liven things up a bit.  Use them sparingly and strategically to draw your audience's attention where you want it to go.  Beware of using too many colors at once -- unless your aim is to irritate!.

To summarize, think of your presentation as a party, the chemistry of which depends on the colors you invite!  Your homework:  Evaluate one of your presentations and consider if the background, text and accent colors do what they are designed to do.  If not, experiment with different combinations and see which ones fit your style and personality -- or that of your audience.  

Next time, get ready to learn more about color personalities and principles that will help your presentations come alive!

PowerPoint® Tip

You've created an circle shape in your presentation, with color, line thickness, shadow and everything else just as you want it.  Now you want to create a square on another slide that matches the properties of the circle.  How can you do this quickly and not have to go through all those steps all over again?  Format Painter to the rescue!   Here's how:

1.   Put Format Painter icon on your toolbar:  

• Click on the menu Tools>Customize.

• Select the Commands tab.  

• Choose Edit category and then scroll down the Commands window until you see the paintbrush icon that says "Format Painter".  

• Click and drag it to your toolbar.

2.  Click on the circle that has the attributes you want .

3.  Click on Format Painter icon.

4.  Click on the square where you are applying the attributes. Done!

5.  (Smile at how easy that was!)

Visual Tool:  Facial Expressions (I) 

In the last issue we covered how to draw some basic facial expressions (pleased, angry, uncertain) to give your characters some personality.  To build on that drawing lesson we will add elements to emphasize those expressions and make them infatuated, furious, and nervous. 

Drawing Lesson  

NOTE:  If you need a refresher on drawing the basic face, go to Issue 3 of the newsletter.

Pleased . . .  Infatuated!

Angry . . . Furious!

Uncertain . . . Nervous!

For more variations:

• Move the pupils around in other directions -- or make them cross-eyed!  
• Raise or lower the eye position on the face.  
• Add a thought balloon containing another image or some words.  
• Vary the shape of the head into a longer oval, a squarish shape or whatever you like.

Remember there is no right or wrong with faces.  Have fun with these -- and look for more people figures in future issues!

Application

Again, here are ways you can use these expressive characters:

• Mood-ometer:  Instead of (or in addition to) a DO NOT DISTURB sign on your door, how about adding a face that tells would-be visitors why they should not disturb you?  Both inform and humor!

• Beckon . . .: How far will a post-it note with a smitten face get you?  Find out!

• Humorous apology:  Maybe you're not the verbal type, but you really are sorry for something you did to someone you care about.  Write something like, e.g., "how I feel about what I said earlier." with an arrow pointing to the embarassed (uncertain) face.   I can't guarantee forgiveness, but you might at least bring a little levity to the situation! 

Related Resources 

Put visual thinking to work in setting goals for your life or your business, visualizing the life you want.  It’s not enough to say it and write it –  you must be able to “see it” in order to “get it.”  However you choose to do this, make it graphic and post it where it is visible daily to keep the vision “fresh.”

A partner in this process, a coach, a mentor, or anyone else you trust, is invaluable for supporting your vision.  Partners at the top of my list include:

• Blue Sage Group:  To those entrepreneurs who are challenged by visioning their business brand, I suggest visiting www.bluesagegroup.com.   Through BlueSage, you may attend free teleclasses on the topic of branding hosted by Genece Hamby, the brand sage!

• Career Aspirations:  Are you ready to go to the next level of achievement in your work or personal life?  Then contact Deb Weiler, at coach@careeraspirations.com, executive and sports coach for individuals facing the next challenge on the horizon.  

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