Clip Art and Overhead Transparencies

How To Design Visuals

Information/Instructional Purposes

1. Use visuals whenever possible to illustrate ideas.
2. Present a single concept in each visual. Break down complex visuals into simpler ones or build them up step-by-step.
3. Minimize text on each visual; maximum of six words per line and six lines per visual.

Graphic/Picture Elements

1. Use visuals that are not too abstract or too realistic.
2. Use scale or common object to indicate size of unfamiliar objects.
3. Eliminate distracting backgrounds.
4. If feeling of depth is important, use another object to create the foreground.
5. Avoid splitting visual exactly in half with a horizontal line.
6. Use graphs to present data.
7. Use bold (thick), plain typefaces.

Text/Lettering Elements

1. Avoid using many different typefaces (styles of letters) on the same visual.
2. Use italics, boldface, underlining, or color for emphasis.
3. Use lowercase lettering, adding capitals only when normally required.
4. Center title at top of visual.
5. Use short, concise, meaningful, descriptive titles that contain key words.
6. Spacing between lines should be 1.5 times word height.

Color

1. Use brightest and lightest color to focus attention on important elements.
2. Use lettering and visuals that contrast with background color.
3. Use consistent background colors in a series of visuals.
4. Limit the number of colors on a visual.

Layout

1. Make visuals as simple as possible; avoid excessive detail.
2. Make sure your visual appears balanced.
3. Use a horizontal format for overhead transparencies and slides.
4. Make visual legible; if audience can't read it, don't use it.
5. Use pleasing layout (balanced, orderly, left-justified).

Copy Machines and Overhead Projectors

Objectives

1. Use a plain paper copier to prepare copies, enlargements, and reductions.
2. Use a plain paper (or thermal) copier to make overhead transparencies.
3. Use both permanent and temporary color markers for transparencies.

How to Make a Transparency

1. Get an original. Obtain a non-photographic illustration (political cartoon, comic strip, editorial map, chart or table) from the daily paper, a magazine or journal, or from coursework.
2. Make a paper master. Find a plain paper copier with a zoom or step size control and make an enlarged copy of your illustrations.
3. Use a plain paper or thermal copier to make an overhead transparency.
4. Use a permanent marker to add your name and date, a title and legends or other suitable text or graphics.
5. Use audiovisual color markers to temporarily enhance or add to the graphics and text on your transparency.

How to Include Clip Art

1. Locate a computer application program that works with clip-art. Feel free to use any sort of graphics program you may already have access to. Note that many word processors now have a graphics capability. Some popular programs useful for this work include: Print Shop, PC Paint, MacPaint, Persuasion, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Works.
2. Prepare a meaningful computer graphic, such as a letter-size poster for use on a school bulletin board.

• Plain paper copiers and laser printers use the same type of materials at a temperature of about 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Allowing for slight margin adjustments, these materials may be used interchangeably.

• Thermal or infra-red copiers use materials at a temperature of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). These will melt in the above equipment.

• Some clear transparency films are only for writing on, not for making copies.