TIMING

D

Doug Sloan

I keep seeing questions about timing music to a
presentation. Here is what I do:

* ABSOLUTE - NO EXCEPTION: BEFORE you put the music in the
presentation, put the presentation and music files in the
same directory.

* name the directory something like 1PPT so it appears at
the top of the directory.

* if you have Photoshop; make sure your images have the
correct size (7.5" maximum vertical x 10" maximum width)
and a resolution of approximately 120dpi or less. For
example, some high-resolution cameras are generating
images of 230 dpi. I'll change the resolution to 115. I
recommend using an inverse power of 2 (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, ...
So a 600dpi image will be reduced to 150dpi or even
75dpi.). The result is an image that loads faster and on
most projectors and screens there is no degradation of
image quality.

* ABSOLUTE: aways set your timings using the PPS version
to which you have a shortcut on your desktop.

* ABSOLUTE: aways set your timings using the presentation
screen resolution. I develop using 1600x1200x32, but I
present at 1024x768x32. If your projector maxs at
800x600x32, then use that resolution for your timings.

* ABSOLUTE: for your final timing, first do a complete
disk clean and defrag.

* ABSOLUTE: (if possible) load the presentation from CD to
the local harddrive. Do NOT run a multimedia presentation
from a CD.

* ABSOLUTE: (if possible) Before timing and presenting -
turn off every other program that you can (get permission
first on a non-personal computer.) Especially virus
checkers, email notification and screen savers.

* ABSOLUTE: (if possible) before your presentation, do a
complete defrag. (Do NOT, on a non-personal computer, run
Disk Clean. I have seen people store important files in
the Recycle Bin and in temp directories.)

* ABSOLUTE: (especially from a laptop) set video to
transmit ONLY to the external monitor/projector (NOT both
the laptop and external.)
 
T

TAJ Simmons

Doug,

You are spot on with your recommendations (someone who gets the 'pixel
thing').

I'd add one more....
* If you are trying to time how long a presentation will take to
automatically show all it's slides.

Run thru the presentation once. Then time it when you run thru it again. As
the 2nd time it runs...it's been cached somewhat. So it runs more reliably
and consistently.

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
free sample templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc
http://www.powerpointbackgrounds.com
 

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