The wow intro

Bombastic animated introductions are often used to promote movies, and some people might think they make spectacular product presentations. However, I think that a 3D animated product name with loud music does not make a good connection with the audience.

LiveSurface 2

A few days ago I wrote about LiveSurface and their set of stock images with blank surfaces to put your own artwork on. On the site, I signed up for their new product: LiveSurface Context (request an invite here). It is a small program that takes care of the 3D manipulation of your artwork in order to fit it on the surface.

The experience is much better than the vanishing point filter in PhotoShop. No more guesswork to draw the guidelines, no more fiddling and copying/pasting to move your artwork. Everything is ultra-precise and with total control for the designer.



A few drawbacks though for the casual designer. You need to have a version of Adobe Illustrator installed on your machine (and more importantly, know the basics of how to work with it). Secondly, the service charges a subscription model that works if you need to use a lot of these compositions, but is not economical for infrequent use. And finally, the library of surface images is smaller than you would find on regular stock image sites.

All in all a good service, and as a professional designer, I might give it a try.

LiveSurface

Putting objects on realistic 3D image surfaces requires a good eye to find an image on a stock photo site and some skill in PhotoShop. LiveSurface aims to make life a little bit easier, if focusses just on these types of images and the file you buy has everything you need (layers, filters). Still, you need to know what to do in PhotoShop though and you pay for the extra work through a higher image price.



The above was created from an iStockPhoto image that has increased in price since I purchased it a number of years ago (see earlier post)

Maintain one vanishing point when rotating 3D PowerPoint objects

3D effects can add impact to a PowerPoint slide if used at the appropriate occasion.

• 3D for the sake of 3D adds complexity: the slide becomes harder to understand, the only thing you showed is that you know where to find advanced formating buttons of PowerPoint. 3D data charts are a good example of this
• 3D adds value if you need to convey distance: I use 3D for what it actually is, a way to add a third dimension to your slide, to show depth.. (Notice in the previous post I linked to that you often do not need to use sophisticated 3D effects to create depth, colors or differences in size can do the trick equally well).

Here is an important thing to remember when using 3D rotations in PowerPoint: rotate a composition of objects as a group, rather than a collection of individual objects. Grouping them preserves one vanishing point in your slide composition. An example:

The trash keeps on coming - extending 3D objects

Depth of field is an under-used technique in PowerPoint. Here is an idea for a slide I used for a client that has a powerful solution against spam. Repeating and object many times can give dramatic effects.

More 3D tricks here.

Drawing 3D boxes in PowerPoint

A while ago I discussed making translucent balls. Here is a similar trick for boxes that does not use the old PowerPoint shape with a simple cavalier perspective.

How to make a 3D translucent ball in PowerPoint

Here is how you make 3D balls used in these images, or these images. Click on the chart for a larger picture.

You should experiment with the "top height" and "top width" to find a value that best fits the size of the object you are working on.

3D smoke 'n mirrors - making things disappear from an image in PowerPoint

Stretching part of a picture cannot only be used to create white space, you can also let things disappear pretty much like David Copperfield does:

I used this concept to show how a new technology solution of one of my clients can save a lot of server costs. The zapped servers live on in the reflection in their opposite neighbours though...

More 3D in PowerPoint - obstacle course!

I am continuing to experiment with 3D effects. Here is an alternative idea to visualize a number of obstacles on the road ahead. The last image (click it for a larger picture) contains some explanations on how I did it. If things are not clear feel free to as in the comments.

Does anyone know how to add a smooth moving animation to this, motion paths and re-sizing of objects do not go together?

(Apologies for the image quality as I converted to JPG instead of PNG to improve load times)

I am starting to understand when to use 3D in PowerPoint

A user of PowerPoint 2007 has an enormous amount of 3D tools at his/her disposal. It is only after a year or so of working with this software that I start to understand how 3D could help get your message across.

Many 3D effects are NOT useful. Three dimensional graphs make it harder to match the data to the value axes. Adding "random" bevels, reflections and shadows to a PowerPoint object does not make it an elegant graphical element. The fact that PowerPoint can do it, does not mean you have to use it.

Why don't we use 3D for what it can do best: show distance? The example below shows a time line that we expect to last forever. 

Adding some 3D effects will make it much more powerful:

Other examples could be a landscape scattered with competitors battling for market share. Or a quadruple layer of defenses that can protect the intellectual property of a startup. 

Notice that you actually do not need any of the PowerPoint 2007 effects to create a 3D effect. It is all about positioning shapes, and reducing the size of objects and fonts as you come closer to the imaginary horizon.

Use 3D when you think two dimensions are not enough to tell your story.

More 3D: positioning text with a reflection in PowerPoint

On today's SlideShare front page is a nice presentation by Martin Pure:

Marketers See Think Wonder

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: marketing change)

Following on yesterday's post on 3D objects, you can see that "something is wrong" with the alignment of the objects. The use of a reflection (a "Web 2.0" effect that I only use very rarely) implies a 3D setting.

You can apply the same guide lines thought to correct things. In addition, you can change the size of the font to emphasize the feel of a 3D environment.

My comments were all about positioning of text. Do not misunderstand me, I like this presentation.

How to position 3D objects in PowerPoint slides

I am not a big fan of heavy 3D graphics in PowerPoint. Similar to animations, or 3D bar/column charts: the fact that PowerPoint enables you to do it, does not mean you have to use it.

• It is tricky to get things to look realistic: PowerPoint is not a 3D design tool. A failed 3D chart looks very amateurish
• 3D charts make it almost impossible to work with images. If given a choice, I would use an image rather than 3D objects. You can't have them both.
• 3D is hardly ever required to make a point: less is more in good PowerPoint design. Exceptions to this rule could be things emerging at the horizon, long-term outlooks, etc.
• Text becomes harder to read

If you do want to use a 3D composition, use guide lines and an imaginative vanishing point to make sure your objects are aligned properly.

UPDATE: more on positioning text (with reflection) in 3D in PowerPoint in a folow up post to this one.