178 CHAPTER 13^ Presentation Aids
the colors that are bright on your computer will look faded on the screen. Experiment
until you come up with a combination that works in the specific context. To avoid a clut-
tered look, use a maximum of three colors on all of your visuals.^36
The most pleasing visuals follow principles of good design. They should be sim-
ple and balanced with fonts that create readability and repeated colors that emphasize
important points. Overall, remember that your aids are just that—aids. They aren’t your
message, and they aren’t a display of your personal artistic or computer skills.General Guidelines for Using
Presentation Aids
As noted throughout this chapter, each type of presentation aid comes with specific
guidelines, but the following general principles apply pretty much across the board:
• Whatever type of aid you choose, make sure everyone can hear or see it.
• Display visuals only when you discuss them. For example, use a cover sheet on post-
ers when they’re not in use, or press the “B” key on your computer to bring up a
blank screen between slides.
• Talk to your audience, not to your visual.
• Rehearse using your aids. If you can’t use the actual equipment, at least visualize
yourself using it—think about where you’ll stand, how you’ll point out specific fea-
tures, what you’ll do when you’re not discussing content on the visual.
• Whenever machines are involved, have a Plan B. What will you do if the equipment
fails? An alternate plan, often in the form of a handout, can save your speech. In the
big picture, demonstrating your composure in case of equipment failure enhances
your credibility.^37© 2014 Cengage Learning®/Microsoft ImageFigure 13.6
PowerPoint slide on nuclear
fusion. How would you
evaluate this text-based
visual?
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