We encountered a strange situation recently with the font Arial Black in PowerPoint: all instances of the font suddenly turned italic. Nothing we could think to do removed the italic formatting. And even odder, this problem only occurred on certain workstations. After some sleuthing on Google, we discovered that the Windows Service Pack 3 upgrade apparently installs […]
Author: Bluewave
PowerPoint — PC/MAC Version Compatibility
Bluewave performed general tests for PowerPoint version compatibility on both Mac and PC platforms. Here’s what we learned: Opening PC PowerPoint 2003 files in Mac PowerPoint 2004 or 2008 Fonts can be a problem. While easily fixed, it’s best to check each slide carefully. PowerPoint gradients become separate lines of color instead of a solid […]
The Collaborative Process in Brief
Needs Analysis Review project briefs or outlines Clarify the message Identify the target audience Determine the optimal media/platform Proposal Development Statement of work — Includes a description of the project and list of deliverables. Budget — Each budget is project-based. We keep our customers continuously updated on budget as we proceed through design and production. Schedule — […]
The First Quarter Inch — Developing Project Guidelines
Life is like a yardstick. In some ways, the easy part is the last 11¾ inches. The hard part is often the first quarter inch: getting organized and defining goals. Don’t cut corners on that first quarter inch, for it often moves the project from good to great. Many of our clients have clearly defined […]
Cut Costs on All Your Creative Projects with These Six Rules
Rule #1 — Allow plenty of time. Not enough time is the most common problem any design firm faces. Too often, the client is expecting a fast turnaround at a low price. Rule #2 — Respect the design team. Respect their creativity, judgment and effort. They are professionals and deserve to be treated as such. […]
How a Design Firm Works
All a design firm has to sell is time — time to create artwork. Clients don’t always understand the full scope of the design process. All parts of the project must be billed. Here is a list of billable items in a typical presentation project, in timeline order: Discuss the project. Often free, but it […]
What's the Difference Between Vector and Bitmap Graphics?
There are two types of computer graphics: vector and bitmap (also known as raster). Vector graphics use mathematical statements to describe a series of points to be connected along a path, forming an image composed of shapes and lines. Vector graphics are typically detailed illustrations, fonts, logos, line art and page layouts. A vector graphic appears […]
Basic Steps in the Design Process
A few years ago, Dave Nix outlined the basic steps Bluewave follows in taking a presentation design project from start to finish. Format existing graphics Format all slides to the guidelines established in the template Implement a consistent layout throughout different sections Format all charts, graphs and tables for consistency and style Check and fix […]
Reduce File Size in PowerPoint 2003 — Compress Pictures
Here is another quick fix for PowerPoint files that may have grown too large and sluggish due to all the snazzy imported images and graphics. The change in file size can be dramatic, depending on the images. Right-click any picture in your presentation and select Format picture from the drop-down menu. Under the Picture tab, […]
Reduce File Size in PowerPoint 2003 — Turn Off Fast Save
So. You’ve created a megawatt, massive presentation in PowerPoint 2003 and find it’s grown just a tad too big now that the impressive grahics and Flash files are embedded. There are a number of steps you can take to reduce file size in PowerPoint 2003. First, try this quick fix: On the Tools menu, select Options […]