POWER POINT POINTERS
Using an existing PowerPoint presentation as an element in a video production.
by Jim Zura

In most cases, for quality reasons, it is better to re-create the material in our edit suite, using software and equipment that is native to the TV / video environment.  PowerPoint is made for computer display, and has to be processed in order to be imported into a video edit session.  Many PowerPoint slides transfer very well, some do not.  We recommend importing the individual slides, and not the PowerPoint transitions.   The many transitions we have available in the Editing System are far superior.
THE BASICS:
  • FONTS:  Do not use anything smaller than a 28-point font.
  • COLORS:  Use only muted / earth-tone colors, no bright primary colors.
  • OBJECTS:  Keep all objects and lines as thick as possible.
  • BACKGROUNDS: Again, no primary or vibrant colors.  White is fine, as are light pastels, either solid or gradients.
  • GENERAL:  Don't try to pack too much information on one slide.   Instead, spread it out over two or more slides, keeping the same heading (if approproate).
Here's some actual examples:
Problems and Solutions: Examples of Power Point Slides:
PROBLEMS: Too much information, and the font size is too small.  The contents of this slide will not be legible by the time it is transferred to VHS video tape. Too much info! Fonts too small!
SOLUTIONS: Break the information down and spread it over several slides.  Increase the font size (never use anything smaller than a 28-point font). Use the common header for all.  Also, it's not a bad idea to use a light pastel for your background. Much better!
PROBLEMS: Saturated primary colors can "bleed" when transferred to video and played back on projection screen.  The thin, wispy font on the title will also lose resolution.  The one-pixel-thick lines on the graph will "buzz" in the TV environment. Needs some adjustments
SOLUTIONS: Use only non-primary colors, and sans-serif, thick-stemmed fonts, such as Arial.  Keep objects (such as chart elements) thick.  Avoid using any lines that are one pixel thick. Much better!
Another common problem occurs when text or graphics extend too close to the edge of the slide.  In TV/video, we always stay within the "Safe Title Area".  TV's and monitors in the real world frequently crop the image to a varying degree.  Keep all the important information at least five percent inside each edge.  Keep your text within the lines!
PROBLEMS:  This is a classic worst-case scenario.  By the time it is viewed on a TV monitor or projection screen, nothing will be legible.  The problem is, this is a Form, and the viewer needs to see the whole thing to be familiar with it. Not good!
SOLUTIONS: Go ahead and use the slide of the whole form, to establish familiarity.  Then crop,  enlarge, and highlight pertinent sections on subsequent slides.  This may require re-scanning, if the resolution of the enlargements is not crisp enough. Enlarged and highlighted!
HOW WE IMPORT POWER POINT INTO THE VIDEO ENVIRONMENT
There are three viable methods to do this, depending on the nature of the slides and the desired outcome. 1. PowerPoint has a "Save As" function that converts the individual slides to either .jpg, .gif, or .png graphics file formats.  We can then process them for importing into the editing system.
2. We have software that converts the entire slide show into a Quick-Time Movie (.mov) file, which can include the transitions created in PowerPoint.  This is a good compatible format to bring into the edit system.  The drawback is that you do not have dynamic control over the slide timings, and often requires tweaking in the edit session. 3. If it is desired to just create a video / DVD of the entire presentation as-is (assuming all the Problems/Solutions listed above have been addressed), then it may be recommended to play the show back in real-time through a Scan Converter, while capturing the output into the edit system.  
NOTE:  it is not recommended to use the S-Video or RCA output port on a consumer computer to use as a source for transferring to video.  The conversion algorithm in this process may produce inferior results.
POWER POINT SHOWS WITH FLASH:  Some PPT presentations have Flash video segments embedded.  We use special software that can convert these .swf and .flv files into video.

(Disclaimer:  Power Point is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.   The contents of this page are for educational purposes.  No endorsement by Microsoft is implied.)

All material contained herein Copyright 2001 and 2007 by James A. Zura. All Rights Reserved.

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