I write about professional development issues (in HDFS and other areas), and occasionally sexuality research or other work-related topics.
Enter your email address:
Delivered by FeedBurner
Unfortunately, there isn't a simple answer to this common question. The best choice for font size should depend on the size and ratio of the monitor you are presenting with and its distance from the viewer. There are many factors that impact readability. Focus, attention, and visual acuity are all elements that either aid in or detract from sending the desired message. This is the inquiry plaguing many presenters.
While the answer can vary from project to project, here are some thoughts from DeckRobot to guide you.
The Formula
A quick search of the Internet will tell you that the minimum size is from 18 to 36 pt. Admit it - that's quite a range!#nbsp; Figuring that out is more complicated. Dave Paradi created a formula for font size based on the standard for US road signs, which allows for average eyesight to see what’s written. Here are the tables that he created based on this purpose.
4:3 ratio screen distance for viewing font size
16:9 ratio screen distance for viewing font size
But let's be real. How often do we know these variables or have the time to measure them? Without knowing the exact size and ratio of the screen or the layout of the court/mediation location you easily can mess up your presentation with the wrong size choice.
Always consider your audience. Try to visit the place where you will be presenting beforehand. Check the space in which you will be presenting your deck. If presenting in person, how deep is the room, and how far back might the farthest person be? Will your screen be viewed on a computer or a smartphone potentially? Take the time to view your presentation from the farthest seats. While 20/20 vision is perfect, not everyone in your audience will be able to see what’s written on your slides. A good place to start is crafting your slides so that anyone can see each word clearly.
The Contrast
If you want your audience to be able to see what you have on the slide, there needs to be a lot of contrast between the text color and the background color. Dark background with light text is the best option. Some prefer a light background and dark letters, which will also work well - which you choose will depend on personal preference. Don’t think that just because the text looks fine on your computer screen that it will look fine when projected. Most projectors make colors duller than they appear on a screen, and you should check how your colors look when projected to make sure there is still enough contrast.
Visuals VS Text
The latest survey confirms that audiences are more fed up than ever with the overload of text on slides (see the latest survey results here ). Instead of using slides that only contain text, use visuals such as graphs, diagrams, photos and media clips to engage the audience.
More Advice
What should you be thinking of after you select the correct font size for your slides?
What font-face should you use? Read our article about “8 Best Fonts to Use for PowerPoint Presentations in 2021”
Make sure that the message of your presentation is clear for your audience.
Why you should select visuals instead of slides full of text or spreadsheets? Read our article about “Why Presentation Visuals Are So Important”
Simply stated, if you are wondering if the text size is too small—it probably is. But more importantly, keep the text on each slide to a minimum! Find a way to balance the weight of the other visual elements of your slide to increase the text size. Better yet, find a way to visually show what you are talking about instead of relying on text.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. You can take this simple truism to far-reaching business parameters.
Business presentations are often the first things that make people aware of problems, conditions, or needs. Unfortunately, too often, authors slave over the content of a presentation, assuming that it can just be “poured” into the slides via a software application.
Presentations, however, are much more than a bunch of words squeezed into a rectangular format. Like a display headline, slides must be able to read quickly and easily. Some slides must act like a brochure and show product, or concept, features and benefits. At times, they must also provide information, much the same as a directory or parts list.
What is the best kind of font to use in powerpoint or keynote.
Most of what slides are about is typography. Illustrations and information graphics are clearly important but presentation graphics are, for the most part, made up of words set in type. And some fonts are better than others for the creation of slides. The best typeface for presentation graphics is a sans serif (because it is more legible than a serif design), bold weight (to enable high levels of visibility), of condensed proportions (when you need to get the maximum number of words in a small space).
These fonts are a safe bet, and we’ve identified some of the best of these fonts from the over 270,000 available from MyFonts If you want to take a walk on the typographic wild side, serif faces provide a much wider variety of typographic choices. Pick faces that are not too decorative, have sturdy serifs, and not too much contrast in stroke thickness. We’ve also identified several of these that will produce commanding presentations. Never, ever, set slides in a script typeface. Period.
Limit headlines to three or four words. Much more and the reader will begin to lose interest. Headlines in presentation graphics should do one of three things:
Bullet-point copy should be 5 to 7 words in length. The words in slides should punctuate what the presenter says, not echo it. Copy should be crisp, accurate – and never cute. Cute rarely works in a business environment.
Restrict the amount of information you include on one slide. Confine typography to four or five lines. Too much information will confuse to the reader and mean that the slide will be on the screen for a long time. (Audiences tend to become bored easily.) If you have a lot of information that must be remembered, consider a hardcopy handout to accompany the presentation.
Use rules and bullets only when they add to the understanding. Rules can help to separate headlines from sub-points, and bullets are an aid to referencing information in series; but these are also strong graphic elements that can detract from the process of information transfer. If they begin to look too dominant, tone down bullets in size or color. Use single hairline rules instead of the bold or double variety.
Bold type, size and font changes work fine for typographic emphasizers. Italics with underlines, bold type with drop shadows, and outline fonts with internal textures make presentation graphics look more like circus posters than business communication.
Type style and weight changes should be obvious. Subtleties tend to get lost in presentations. With some type families, you will have to pick font weights that are more than one level away from one another (book and bold, rather than book and medium) to achieve a strong typographic contrast. Font style changes should also be obvious. The rule of not combining two different sans serif designs clearly holds true in presentations. And, as far as serif typefaces are concerned, the subtleties of mixing two different styles are usually lost in presentations. Unless it runs counter to corporate style, stick with the basics: mix sans serif typefaces with serif designs.
Use colors that are obviously different from one another. Use dark colors for the background and warm, bright colors for the type. Avoid cool colors, like light blue and green, which reduce the vitality of your presentation.
Sans Serif fonts are the safest choice for presentations. Each of the following families also contain condensed designs, for when economy of space is an issue.
ITC Avant Garde Gothic®
ITC Avant Garde Gothic is a minimalist geometric design that is highly legible and ideal for presentations that instill a sense of clarity and forward thinking. Its seminal geometric sans serif characters are available in five weights of roman, italic and condensed typefaces – a palette of designs rich enough to take on virtually any presentation demands.
Avenir® Next
The letters in Avenir are based on simple geometric shapes, softened with subtle calligraphic overtones. It’s business-like without being harsh, and easy to read from a distance. It has the straight-forward directness and simplicity of other sans serif designs, but also enjoys a little humanistic softening.
Helvetica® Now
Helvetica Now is the newest Helvetica design. A vast improvement over previous designs, it is a classic, recreated for the 21 st Century – and only available from MyFonts, and its family of font providers. A solid communicator, easy on the eyes and remarkably legible, Helvetica Now is guaranteed to make PowerPoint presentations that are commanding – and memorable.
Gotham®
Gotham is known for its clean, modern aesthetic and a wide range of weights and styles, making it ideal for powerful presentations. With 66 fonts in the family, there’s little beyond the range of Gotham’s capabilities.
Knockout® (Set in No. 32 Cruiserweight)
Knockout features a unique blend of vintage and contemporary design elements – in addition to a wide range of styles and widths – making it ideal for creating impactful presentations with a bold, distinctive and inviting demeanor.
Neue Frutiger®
Neue Frutiger is newest version of the Frutiger typeface family, and has been revised and improved over its predecessor. The design combines the clear structure of a sans serif, enhanced with calligraphic overtones. This makes Neue Frutiger highly legible and welcoming – a perfect combination for presentations.
Archer ® (Set in Bold weight)
Archer combines elegance and readability. It was designed to hit just the right notes of forthrightness, credibility, and charm. Archer’s distinctive and refined shapes make it ideal for presentations. It’s eleven weights, each with a complementary cursive italic, give the family exceptional depth.
Aptifer™ Slab (Set in Medium weight)
Aptifer Slab’s generous x-height, large counters, sturdy serifs and open apertures make it an excellent which make it a clear, legible, and a powerful communicator in slide presentations. When combined with Aptifer Sans, it can take on the most complex of projects.
ITC Century® (Set in Book weight)
ITC Century is a classic, elegant design that features a balanced mix of traditional and modern letterforms. With its timeless appeal and legibility, ITC Century is an excellent choice for PowerPoint and Keynote presentations. It’s conservative, without being stuffy, and commanding without being inelegant.
PMN Caecilia® (Set in 55 Roman)
PMN Caecilia has sturdy slab serifs that give the design an honest straight-forward vibe. Their softened corners also create a sense of affability. In addition, PMN Caecilia’s proportionally large lowercase letters, also make it easy to read. The result is a solid and stylish typeface for slide presentations.
Neue Swift® (Set in Medium weight)
Neue Swift can be used just about anywhere maximum legibility is a requirement. It’s also a striking design, making it both distinctive and easy on the eyes. Swift’s round forms are relatively flat on the and bottom. This combined with long strong serifs produces a strong horizontal stress that guides the eye along a line of copy.
Sabon® Next (Set in Regular weight)
Sabon Next is patterned after classic Renaissance typefaces. The design is viewer friendly, while maintaining all the grace and elegance of some of the earliest printing typefaces. It makes a statement, without calling attention to itself. Sabon benefits from the relatively large and soft serifs which aid the reading process and give the design a friendly demeanor.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Presentation font size: Dos and don'ts
Think Outside the Slide has a great font cheat sheets for a number of different screen sizes. 7. Turn Off Animations. Don't let all those PowerPoint tricks suck you in. Moving text, zooming words, letters that fly in from the side of the screen - they are all difficult to read. And really distracting.
Minimum Font Size: A Rule of Thumb. As a general rule, the minimum font size for readability in presentations should be 24 points. This size ensures that your text is legible for most in-person and large-screen virtual presentations. However, this can vary based on several factors discussed below.
What Are the Best Fonts to Use in PowerPoint PPT ...
Selecting the correct font size
Tips for creating and delivering an effective presentation
Keep this from happening by embedding your font in PowerPoint using these easy steps: Click the "File" tab. Move down to the lower-lefthand corner of the window and click "Options.". Click "Save" on the left side of the screen. Scroll down to the section titled "Preserve fidelity when sharing this presentation:".
Calibri. The default champ for a reason! Calibri is friendly and easy on the eyes, making it a solid pick for lengthy presentations where you don't want to tire out your audience. Tahoma. Tahoma's like Arial's more laid-back sibling. It's simple, clear, and does the job well, especially in smaller sizes. Verdana.
How to choose the best fonts for PowerPoint Presentations
Most presentation experts recommend these size ranges. The thumb rule — a larger font size with less text on screen is always good. The default slide in PowerPoint starts with 60pts for section headers and 24pts for body font. Header Font: Between 26 and 42 point. Body Font: Between 18 and 24 point.
Content. Choose easy-to-read fonts. Limit the number of typographies selected. Avoid using similar fonts. Create a visual hierarchy. Be careful when choosing colors. Combine different text weights. Maintain harmony with the design, theme, and audience. Choose easy-to-read fonts.
Step-3: Click on the "Font Size" box. Now you have to click on the "Home" tab in the menu ribbon. In the "Font" group of the "Home" menu, click on the "Font Size" box to type in your preferred font size. You can also select a font size from the dropdown list. Step-4: Click on the "Close Master View" option.
This font can help you create strong titles and distinguishable headings as well as keep your body text looking neat and organized for the most beautiful presentations. 7. Maine: Book Antiqua. Moving on to presentation fonts, here's a clean and modern font based on the roman typeface, Book Antiqua.
Consistent alignment and spacing throughout your presentation contribute to a cohesive and polished look. By paying attention to these details, you can improve the aesthetic appeal of your presentation and enhance the overall user experience, making your message more impactful and engaging. 6. Pair Fonts Together.
The fonts you select play a significant role in conveying your message, setting the tone, and enhancing the overall aesthetics of your presentation. Here are ten tips to guide you in choosing the best PowerPoint presentation fonts: 1. Readability is Key. Prioritize readability above all else. Choose fonts that are easy to read, even from a ...
Here are ten secrets based on years of experience in developing and using presentation slides that will help you move from being technically proficient to using PowerPoint effectively. 1. Start by creating an outline. The most important part of any presentation is the content, not the graphical appeal. That is why you should develop your ...
Don't use fonts that are too small or hard to read: Font size plays an important role in legibility, especially in presentations where the audience may be viewing your slides from a distance ...
Open your PowerPoint presentation. Click on the "View" tab and select "Slide Master". Select the slide master thumbnail at the top of the sidebar. Set the desired font size and style in the Font group on the Home tab. Close the Master View to apply these defaults to all slides.
The size of fonts to use in a presentation depends on the visual acuity of the audience. Perfect vision is 20/20. According to Dave Paradi, font size should be 36 to 44 points for titles, and 24 to 32 points for normal text. That is if we assume that most people in the audience will have a 20/40 visual equity.
Change font size on all slides in PowerPoint
While the answer can vary from project to project, here are some thoughts from DeckRobot to guide you. The Formula. A quick search of the Internet will tell you that the minimum size is from 18 to 36 pt. Admit it - that's quite a range!#nbsp; Figuring that out is more complicated. Dave Paradi created a formula for font size based on the ...
Bold type, size and font changes work fine for typographic emphasizers. Italics with underlines, bold type with drop shadows, and outline fonts with internal textures make presentation graphics look more like circus posters than business communication. How to Create Hierarchy in a PowerPoint or Keynote Slide