Enhancing Screen Readability

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Enhancing Screen Readability

• Michael Heavener, ABC
• heavener_at_heavenr.com

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Golden Rule
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The goal is readability.

• That means
• Instant comprehension
• Immediate recognition
• Improved response

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Anything that causes

• The eye to slow down
• Or the information stream
• To the brain to waver
• Will reduce readability
• By increasing eyestrain
• Or mental fatigue.

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Bottom line

• Participation
• Understanding
• Appreciation
• Enjoyment
• Will decline
• Thats a money back guarantee!

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Rule No. 1
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Reading

• On a computer screen
• Or a display projection
• Is different than reading on paper.

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The way the eye reacts to

• Colors
• Speed
• Technology
• Is different
• The screen has less contrast
• So the eye responds slower

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Rule No. 2
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Dont be fancy

• If the text is song lyrics
• The goal is so people can sing along.
• Anything fancy
• WILL detract from readability.
• When showing lyrics
• Keep their eyes moving at the same rate
• Or slightly faster
• Than the song's rhythm.

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Heres a demonstration

• For the rest of this rules demo, you need to
  display some fonts that may not be on your
  computer
• Please click each of these font links
• Allegro BT Amazone BT Symbol
• NOTE When you see a dialog like the following,
  click OK
• A display window will open for each
• Minimize these font windows but leave them open
• Then proceed to the next three slides

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Read this text quickly

• If the text is song lyrics
• The goal is so people can sing along.
• Anything fancy
• WILL detract from readability.
• When showing lyrics
• Keep their eyes moving at the same rate
• Or slightly faster
• Than the song's rhythm.

If the words above look like this line, please go
back and open the sample fonts.
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Perhaps this reads faster

• If the text is song lyrics
• The goal is so people can sing along.
• Anything fancy
• WILL detract from readability.
• When showing lyrics
• Keep their eyes moving at the same rate
• Or slightly faster
• Than the song's rhythm.

If the words above look like this line, please go
back and open the sample fonts.
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It might as well be Greek

• If the text is song lyrics
• The goal is so people can sing along.
• Anything fancy
• WILL detract from readability.
• When showing lyrics
• Keep their eyes moving at the same rate
• Or slightly faster
• Than the song's rhythm.

If the words above look like this line, please go
back and open the sample fonts.
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Thanks

• You can close those three font windows now.

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Rule No. 3
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Background must

• Take back seat to text
• If the content is important, people didn't come
  to admire pictures.

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Rule No. 3

• In fact, if the background/text design is done
  correctly
• They won't even remember seeing it
• Or ... not seeing it

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But they will

• Remember the presentation.

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Is this easier to read?

• If the content is important, people didn't come
  to admire pictures
• In fact, if the background/text design is done
  correctly, they won't even remember seeing
  pictures
• Or not seeing pictures
• But theyll remember the presentation

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Or this ?

• If the content is important, people didn't come
  to admire pictures
• In fact, if the background/text design is done
  correctly, they won't even remember seeing
  pictures
• Or not seeing pictures
• But theyll remember the presentation

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Rule No. 4
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It is NOT always necessary

• To use a background.
• Variety and pacing are key elements to any good
  production
• Change up will give the eyes
• A chance to relax
• From one visually intense sequence
• Before starting another

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Rule No. 5
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Light or dark

• If using a very dark background
• Switch to light or white type
• If using a very light background
• Switch to dark or black type

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Can you even read this?

• If using a very dark background
• Switch to light or white type
• If using a very light background
• Switch to dark or black type
• Even boldfacing doesnt completely fix the
  problem

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Black type on light image

• If using a very dark background
• Switch to light or white type
• If using a very light background
• Switch to dark or black type
• Note how the boldfacing works better

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White type on dark image

• If using a very dark background
• Switch to light or white type
• If using a very light background
• Switch to dark or black type
• Again, boldface as needed

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It was the same text

• Different visual treatment based on background
• Dark type on light background
• Light type on dark background
• Which do YOU remember?

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Rule No. 6
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Text should be san serif

• Depending on
• Viewing angle of screen
• Amount of light in room
• And darkness of background
• Serifs have been known to disappear
• Rendering the type ...
• Unreadable

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Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Lucida Sans

• The san serif type can be any of those
• Arial is best if you move the slide show from one
  computer to another
• It will always be there for you.
• If you use a font that isnt on the other
  computer
• The text could show up as Courier New
• ... like this
• Or as Times New Roman
• ... like this

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Thats why

• You opened those fonts for the Rule 3 demo
• If you MUST use a font not installed by Windows
• Make sure you send the font with the slide show
  file.
• And ... remember to open the font before the show

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Font FYI

• Fonts are located in C\windows\fonts
• Only use a font that has a .TTF extensions
• Always COPY the font, never move it
• Youll hose up the originating computer
• Its always best to use Arial
• Unless you can guarantee
• They have Verdana, Tahoma, or Lucida Sans
• Call me if you have any questions

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Rule No. 7
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Consistency is the goal

• If more than one slide is needed for content
  (like a song)
• It is okay to leave the title off subsequent
  slides.

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However ...

• The top left edge of the first line of lyrics
• Should remain the same
• Across all the song's slides

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Any use of

• Type
• Backgrounds
• Images
• Photographs
• Should also remain consistent
• Throughout the entire song

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Think about your reaction

• For the next two pairs of slides
• Jump back and forth quickly
• Using the UP and DOWN arrow keys

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Amazing Grace

• Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a
  wretch like me!
• I once was lost, but now am found was blind,
  but now I see.

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• Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and
  grace my fears relieved
• How precious did that grace appear the hour I
  first believed.

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If youre like me ...

• You noticed the vertical shift
• Some will wonder why
• Some people will give up
• And find other more interesting things in the
  sanctuary
• Teens will say the song is ... boring
• The slide drew attention to itself
• And away from the lyrics

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Now

• See how the next pair of slides look
• When you arrow UP and DOWN

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Amazing Grace

• Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a
  wretch like me!
• I once was lost, but now am found was blind,
  but now I see.

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• Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and
  grace my fears relieved
• How precious did that grace appear the hour I
  first believed.

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Time out

• Take a deep breath
• Were halfway there

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Rule No. 8
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There are legitimate times

• When you can center items
• Everything on slide is one line
• Everything on slide has same emphasis
• Only one item is on slide
• Visual background elements are strongly centered

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Collection of one-line items

• Tithing means ...
• Time
• Talent
• Treasure

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Equal emphasis

• But turn off bulleting when you center
• Be sure ...
• What is being said
• Doesnt impede comprehension
• And is the same type size

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Only one line

• Like a sermon title slide
• Even a multi-line
• sermon title should
• be done this way

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There are times

• When you should avoid centering items
• Items follow a progression
• Like lyrics of a song
• Lists
• Different items
• Have different emphasis
• Or ranking is important
• Text is a paragraph
• Like scriptures or Lords Prayer

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Song lyric

• Beautiful
• Beautiful, beautiful, Jesus is beautiful,
• And Jesus makes beautiful things of my life.
• Carefully touching me, causing my eyes to see,
• Jesus makes beautiful things of my life.

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Ranking is important

• Dont center text
• In a list
• Left flush works best
• Turn on bullets
• In a list
• With multiple items
• Indent
• In a list
• To show significance

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Paragraph text with no bullets

• The Lords Prayer
• Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your
  kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is
  in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive
  us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
  debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
  deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the
  kingdom, and the glory, and the power, forever
  and ever. Amen.

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When centering doesnt work

• It is hard to read centered text when a lot is
  included and you expect people to read it at a
  rapid pace, like in a song.
• Or when several long lines of text are together
  on a slide.
• Or when the content is significant
• Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
  your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as
  it is in heaven.

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Trying that one again

• It is hard to read centered text when a lot is
  included and you expect people to read it at a
  rapid pace, like in a song.
• Or when several long lines of text are together
  on a slide.
• Or when the content is significant
• Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
  your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as
  it is in heaven.

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Rule No. 9
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Always break lines

• In front of prepositions ...
• to, as, for, if, of, about, upon
• Preposition should always be at the start of the
  second/subsequent line
• Viewer's eye will look for it there even when it
  isn't

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Always break lines

• In front of conjunctions ...
• and, or, but
• Nobody, but nobody I mean nobody, can break or
  disregard this rule

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Always break lines

• In front of articles ...
• the, a
• Always think of your slides as poetry and use
  the same grammatical rules.

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Which is preferable?

• If I ever had a chance to really dream of you as
  my friend dear one, I would and that would make
  me quite content.
• If I ever had a chance to really dreamof you as
  my friend dear one, I wouldand that would make
  me quite content.

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Heres how

• Use soft return to force lines to indent
  properly
• Insert your cursor in front of the preposition
  or conjunction
• Hold down SHIFT key and press ENTER key
• That way you dont mess up any line spacing

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Rule No. 10
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Make text large

• Especially lyrics should be as large as the
  screen will allow
• Don't be afraid to use more than one slide when
  necessary
• If a lot of text MUST appear on one slide, slow
  down the show's timing to give the eye time to
  digest it all

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Can you read this in 5 seconds?

• Make text, especially lyrics, as large as the
  screen will allow. Don't be afraid to use more
  than one slide when appropriate. If a lot of text
  MUST appear on one slide, slow down the show's
  timing to give the eye time to digest it all.
  Make text, especially lyrics, as large as the
  screen will allow. Don't be afraid to use more
  than one slide when appropriate. If a lot of text
  MUST appear on one slide, slow down the show's
  timing to give the eye time to digest it all.
  Make text, especially lyrics, as large as the
  screen will allow. Where does it repeat itself?
  Don't be afraid to use more than one slide when
  appropriate. If a lot of text MUST appear on one
  slide, slow down the show's timing to give the
  eye time to digest it all.

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Can you read this in 5 seconds?

• Make text, especially lyrics, as large as the
  screen will allow.
• Don't be afraid to use more than one slide when
  appropriate.
• If a lot of text MUST appear on one slide, slow
  down the show's timing to give the eye time to
  digest it all.

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Did you find the hidden question?

• In the first slide with all the mass of text ...
• Theres a question embedded in the text
• You probably didnt see it, did you?
• Your eyes were too tired to recognize it.

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Okay, here it is ...

• Make text, especially lyrics, as large as the
  screen will allow. Don't be afraid to use more
  than one slide when appropriate. If a lot of text
  MUST appear on one slide, slow down the show's
  timing to give the eye time to digest it all.
  Make text, especially lyrics, as large as the
  screen will allow. Don't be afraid to use more
  than one slide when appropriate. If a lot of text
  MUST appear on one slide, slow down the show's
  timing to give the eye time to digest it all.
  Make text, especially lyrics, as large as the
  screen will allow. Where does it repeat itself?
  Don't be afraid to use more than one slide when
  appropriate. If a lot of text MUST appear on one
  slide, slow down the show's timing to give the
  eye time to digest it all.

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Rule No. 11
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Always spell everything out

• For example Repeat 2x is hard to digest
  instantly.
• This induces eyestrain and mental fatigue.
• If the line repeats, spell out repeated lines
  even if it requires additional slides.

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How ... would kids sing this?

• Jesus loves me, this I know.
• Repeat 2x
• For the Bible tells me so.

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How ... would kids sing this?

• They would say the Repeat 2x part just like it
  was written
• Believe it or not, so would most adults,
  especially when they are trying to keep up with
  a fast-paced song

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Wouldnt this be better?

• Jesus loves me, this I know.
• Jesus loves me, this I know.
• Jesus loves me, this I know.
• For the Bible tells me so.

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Rule No. 12
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Type must contrast with background

• Use a light background if using colored type
• Use a light background if using colored type
• ... Or no background
• Use a light background if using colored type
• Use a light background if using colored type
• ... Or no background

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Type must contrast with background

• Or a solid black background if using pastel type
• Or a solid black background if using pastel type
• ... Or no background
• Or a solid black background if using pastel type
• Or a solid black background if using pastel type
• ... Or no background

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Rule No. 13
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Always create duplicate slides

• Repeat the chorus at the appropriate places in
  the song
• So the slide progression goes forward
• In the heat of worship service, you won't always
  have time to hunt the chorus down
• Dont leave ANYTHING to chance ...
• Remember, Murphys waiting for you

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Use the Slide Sorter view

• Select slide to be duplicated
• Press CTRL key
• Hold down left buttonon mouse
• Drag slide to new location
• Release mousebutton
• Verify that slidehas been duplicated

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Questions?

• heavener_at_heavenr.com
• 425 208-5130 or 425 885-0961

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