Background Tone

[Kath]

Hi,

I have read that for overhead presentations, using a light background is
optimal. I have also read that for on-screen and 35-mm-slide presentations,
using a dark background is optimal.

What is optimal for a presentation on a computer that will be connected to
an LCD projector and thus viewed on a screen on a wall?

I look forward to your response. Thanks.

 

[Echo S]

I prefer a darker background for projected presentations, but many prefer
lighter backgrounds. It really has mostly to do with the room and the
equipment. I think that dark blue backgrounds with light text are generally
considered easy to read, but I say test it if you can, and then just go with
what looks good. As long as you have lots of contrast, you should be
okay.

I do know that I often struggle to find enough colors that contrast well
with a white background. So many of my clients seem to want to use
variations of the same color in a presentation, and when you lighten a
color, it usually ends up washing out on the white background --
*especially* when projected. (I do medical presentations, so I end up with
lots of charts. Line graphs can be especially tough when it comes to colors
showing up.) And it seems that every projector I go to use has *both* its
contrast and brightness bumped way up, which washes stuff out even more!

For that matter, be careful with blue backgrounds, especially if they're a
medium blue, as white text will sometimes wash out on that. Red bullets will
get lost on many shades of blue, too. It might look okay on your computer
monitor, but it won't necessarily project well.

You might find this interesting.
http://hubel.sfasu.edu/research/survreslts.html