Communicate with Confidence/Project Report

              transparency to the underside of the frame. On flip
frames, your transparency fits into a clear plastic enve­lope.
An o p a q u e pieatlc frame folds inward; they're also
punched for easy storage in three ring binders.
" Writing On Overheads Can Be Effective
Preparation
" Hand- made" transparencies are inexpensive and
you c a n make them at the last minute. Use any of the
above markers on a clear or colored acetate suitable
for direct transfer. Place graph paper under acetate
for neat freehand lettering.
Avoid putting material closer than one cm from the
frame. A rectangle with a height- to- width ratio of 4 to
5 is best.
Limit each transparency to one topic or concept
Keep visuals as simple as possible. Elaborate dia­grams
compete with your message. Use a maximum
of six lines of text on each transparency, with six
words to the line.
Always test marker and transparency combinations
for maximum projection quality.
Letters should be a minimum of six mm (% inch) in
height. Typewritten copy is usually too small and too
crowded for your audience to see.
Use a combination of upper and lower case letters.
Position material in the upper portion of the transpar­ency.
Use a horizontal format for maximum visibility.
Make use of color by using colored adhesive, rain­bow
colors, colored markers or color on clear
transparencies.
• Leave space to add things during presentation. Use a
non- permanent marker so you can re- use transpar­ency,
or use tape on clear transparency.
• Mount transparencies in cardboard frames for easy
handling and less risk of damage.
Tlpa on effective use
• Place the screen in the corner of the room. If you're
right- handed, use the corner to your right as you face
the audience. This way you'll block fewer people's
vision.
• Place the projector on a low table and project upward
at an angle onto the screen.
• Keystoning is a common problem. It occurs when
any part of the screen is farther away from the projec­tor
than any other part. Prevent horizontal keystoning
by squaring the projector with the screen or lining the
screen and the projector up in parallel positions. Ver­tical
keystoning is best eliminated by using a screen
with a built- in " keystone eliminator." This device
allows you to tip the top of the screen forward. If your
screen doesn't have this feature, put blocks under
the front of the projector.
• Try to get someone to help you find your best stand­ing
position in relation to the screen and projector. If
you see heads bobbing in the audience, you're prob­ably
blocking the screen.
• Avoid using the projector as a podium or leaning post.
Keep your hands off the projector stage.
• Resist the temptation to read from the screen. This
defeats the major advantage of an overhead, eye
c o n t a c t Check the alignment occasionally, but not
on every visual.
• Use a pointer or pencil on the projector stage to
highlight. Don't point to the screen.
• On or off? When and how often to turn the overhead
projector off as you change transparencies is hotly
debated. Consider these to decide what works best
for your presentation style:
• with no visual in place, the bright light of the projec­tor
can be blinding.
• if your breaks between transparencies are short,
cover the stage with a piece of paper.
• when you use a sequence of transparencies, place
the next acetate on top of the one you've just used
and quickly remove the old acetate from the bottom;
this prevents light glare, and switching the machine
on and off; it takes practice to look professional.
• Overlay transparencies to visually tell a story; gradu­ally
add to the message with three or four separate
transparency films. This is good for explaining com­plicated
but logical sequences. To design, make a
sketch of your total content. Decide which elements