Tips to improve text readability and effectiveness
- How much data can fit on a slide?
- How many table rows, columns, organigram boxes, and words per line
are acceptable?
- How many relevant elements can a slide have?
The amount of information that can be packed on a slide is limited by
the requirements for readability and easy comprehension.
A presentation which is difficult to read will not only loose in
audience comprehension but will also increase the chances that the
audience will be distracted and annoyed.
Testing all slides on a projector and standing back at the same
distance that the audience will be is essential not only for correcting
font size and styles, but also to see how the colors used are effected
when projected.
Remember not to take the monitor as an example of how the presentation
will finally look. If worse comes to worse, squeeze your eyes and stand
back about ½ a meter from the monitor to have a close idea of what your
most distant viewers will see.
Below are some key points to remember:
- Font sizes should be at least ½ cm for every two meters distance the
audience is viewing from.
- Line spacing should be at least 1 to 1½ times the height of the font
used.
- The width of the projected image should be at least 1/6 of the
distance between the screen and the last person at the back of the room.
- The height of the projected image should be a little higher than that
of the audience so to remain visible should the room become crowded or if
people are standing.
Titles & Text:
Max title lines: 2
Max bulleted items: 5-6
Max words per lines: 6-8
Max reference elements: 2-3
Spreadsheets:
Max rows: 7
Max columns: 7
Organigrams:
Max elements: 14-18 cells
Tables:
Max rows: 7
Max columns: 7
Overall Relevant Items:
Max number: 7
You can read this article in the original issue of MasterView.
