What I am doing for the rest of the day

[tree_and_leaf]

Aside from trying to find a birthday present for Gran: she has requested a pack of 'pretty' patience cards, as she believes that German ones are nicer. As the only deck of patience cards I've found so far was a dead boring set from Ravensburg, this might be tricky.

ETA: the pale yellow option was chosen because I've sometimes heard the theory advanced that black-on-pale-yellow is easier on the eyes than black on white. Anyone have any thoughts as to whether this is true?

[Poll #1150845]

Comments

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Black / yellow stands out more than black / white. But it's only really noticeable in very low light levels, or eg with small type. If your text is big enough (and please don't try to cram 18 lines of 10-point type onto each slide), then you shouldn't have any problems with black on white.

[tree_and_leaf]

Don't worry, I'm not going to try to get the whole paper on there! Thanks for your input, though I think I'm going with a pale yellow-brown background.

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

Black on pale yellow is good is part of my LJ theme...

...and if I wasn't going to a production of Pratchett's Mort, I'd probably be going to a St Matthew Passion this evening, so go!

[tree_and_leaf]

Am just about to do so! Enjoy Mort, too.

[didiusjulianus.livejournal.com]

We did loads about this when I was a teacher-trainee.

Pale writing on dark blue (or pale on dark generally) is considered to be better than dark on pale, dark on white being the worst of those (although rainbow and other dreadful wild colourschemes are even worse than that of course).

You will note that a lot of accessible versions of websites employ, say, yellow on navy, for similar reasons. If you don't fancy that, then dark on pastel or yellow will indeed be better than white.

Notable schemes I used that looked ok were a yellow on dark purple, and also a dark navy on paleish graduated turquoise, which didn't follow the dark on pale rule, but was fairly easy on the eye and not too dazzling in bright light with enough definition.

I'd experiment on an actual big screen/whiteboard/smartboard if you can, and get a few friends/colleagues to have a look, maybe make your slide in 2 schemes if you are not sure.

Apart from where it contradicts the above, I agree with what wellinghall wrote too.

And hello, this is first time I have posted on your journal I think, hope my thoughts were useful.

[tree_and_leaf]

Nice to meet you and thanks - that was useful.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

As both a long-time teacher and a tech-in-education specialist, with a long history of HATING powerpoint when used badly, but one who uses it frequently (well, I hope), I concur with both of the above posters, except wellinghall's recommendation of black on white, which is a) boring and b) hard on the eyes.

Also avoid bullet points as much as possible. Particularly cute ones. Don't be tempted by clever fades and animation. I like the idea of the semi-tranparent manuscript on the title slide and dark letters on pale yellow, or even sepia, to pick up the ms theme. I voted for judicious use of pictures. Remember that a ppt presentation should supplement and give key words for your presentation, not summarize it.

(sorry if I sound too teacherly - sometimes it just comes over me and I can't help myself!!)

[intertext.livejournal.com]

Oh, and GO Matthew Passion!!!!! I yearn for the opportunity to see a live performance.

[tree_and_leaf]

Am just dashing out to see it! I suspect I'll be behind a pillar (it's in the Minster), but it should be excellent none the less. And hopefully less crippling than the St John Passion in the Sheldonian, which was musically excellent, but the seats are so uncomfortable that I quite literally struggled to walk afterwards.

[tree_and_leaf]

Thanks - that's very helpful!