Tips for using images effectively in presentations

Establish a connection.

Ensure that visuals or images on your slides serve a dual purpose: first, they should support the content, and second, they should contribute to the slide’s aesthetic appeal. While it’s true that images can be used to fill white space, their relevance to the slide’s content and theme must always be maintained.

Note the Image Size and Quality

Ensure that the visuals are of high quality and clarity, strategically laid out to be visible to everyone in the audience, considering the audience’s strength and the size of the room during presentation design.

Focused Images

To effectively convey the key message, a presenter should utilize images that are centered on a specific area, as an image with numerous details can lead to confusion among the audience and detract from their focus on the main message.

Ensure that you Use Copyright Images and Credit the Source of the Images

The utmost consideration while selecting images from the internet is to ensure proper licensing from the companies before downloading and incorporating them into your presentations. Equally important is crediting the source of the images to adhere to copyright regulations.

Avoid Clipart

To achieve a clean and professional look for your deck, it’s best to steer clear of using Clipart. This is because Clipart often has a cartoonish appearance and may not align well with the conveyance of essential business messages.

Avoid Unnatural Images

For an impactful presentation, opt for natural and authentic images, avoiding those that appear staged or taken in a studio. Utilize images depicting real-life scenarios, such as business people working in an office, as they serve as trendsetters in visually communicating your slides’ message.

Avoid Photo Clutter

When adding photos to your PowerPoint, present them one at a time or use a minimal number to retain focus; excessive photos can lead to clutter and distractions. Remember, the photo should not overpower the presentation; its role is to support your statements and imbue emotional resonance to your messages.

Stay Legal

Google Images is commonly used to swiftly find images for presentations, but it’s crucial to note that you may not have the necessary permissions to use these images. To ensure proper usage rights, consider purchasing images from reputable stock collections such as Bigstock or Shutterstock. Alternatively, if you are on a tight budget, opt for photos licensed under Creative Commons, as they are generally more permissive and often allow for commercial use with proper attribution to the original author.

Keep them Simple

The slide layout should prioritize easy readability, ensuring that pictures and visual elements are neatly arranged without clutter. As one of our experts emphasizes, a mishmash of content on a slide puts an additional burden on the presenter, requiring them to explain both the concept and the clutter. Presenting information in a graphical manner enhances viewers’ ability to remember and recall ideas or reports effortlessly. Simple yet powerful images greatly support a presentation; however, choosing the wrong image can lead to miscommunication with the audience.

Tips for using Visuals effectively in presentations

Keep it simple.

Ensure that your slides enhance your verbal message rather than distracting with unnecessary visual clutter. In most cases, students should be able to grasp the content of your slides within a second or two, allowing them to focus on you, the presenter.

Limit bullet points and text.

Remember that your slides should not serve as your personal teleprompter; they are intended for the benefit of your students. If your slides contain almost everything you say, it can lead to confusion for your students, unsure of where to direct their attention—toward you or the slides.

Use high-quality visuals

Avoid using blurry, overexposed, or pixelated photos, as they can be highly distracting and negatively impact your audience’s perception. Low-quality images can have adverse effects on SEO strategies for web pages, leading to increased bounce rates. Whether it’s for a blog article, social media post, or presentation, bad images can deter your target audience. To maintain a positive reputation and engage your audience effectively, opt for high-quality images. When expanding photos to fit the screen, be mindful of preserving image quality and aspect ratio. Utilize images with visual cues, such as people or arrows pointing in specific directions, to direct your audience’s focus to the relevant body text.