• Think about what information to use. Be selective.
• Organize the material into its main points.
• Put text or graphics on a visual aid to enhance what you say in your presentation and to help guide the audience through your major points.

• All slides, transparencies, posters, or Web pages in one presentation must have the same graphic elements (e.g., font, color scheme, and background art).
• Changing design or style during a presentation causes a jarring effect upon the viewers.

Text size

• Readability is the key.
• Letters should be huge. Make type 26, 36 or even 48 point type.

Text font

• Use one font per visual aid.
• Use a plain, easy to read font. Helvetica, Univers, & Arial are recommended.
• Software programs provide many fonts, but very few of them are readable on a visual aid. Don’t use them just because they are available!
• Sans serif fonts (those without the little lines at the end of the letters) are generally easier to read on visual aids.

Text style

• Use italic type for titles of complete works only.
• Never underline text. On Web pages, text hyperlinks are automatically underlined, so underlining any other text causes confusion.
• Avoid using all CAPS. You are not screaming at your audience.
• Use boldface type or a different color type or to indicate emphasis.

Amount of text on one visual aid

• Fewer than 25 words per visual aid
• The rule of thumb is 4 to 6 lines of text per visual aid.
• Use 4 to 6 words per line.
• The text must be large enough to read from the back of the room.
• Avoid putting so much information on your visual aid that your audience is busy reading your poster or transparency and not listening to you speak.
• Maintain wide margins. Text or graphics very close to the bottom of the visual aid may not be visible from the back of the room.

Graphics, colors and animations

• Contrast is vital. Use dark text on a light background or vice versa.
• Choose colors that coordinate and compliment each other.
• Add appropriate background texture or design.
• Do not use more than 2 graphics on one visual aid.
• Make sure graphics and colors are appropriate to the topic.
• If using animation make sure it is appropriate. Too much animation is distracting and diminish the effectiveness of the presentation..

Proofreading and editing

• Make bulleted text parallel in structure (e.g., all bullets start with verbs or all bullets are subject-verb).
• Be consistent with verb tenses (e.g., all in present or all in past).
• Use consistent punctuation.
• Double-check data