Displaying on a 1025 x 768 (16:9) Plasma Panel

[John Smith]

I will be showing a looping presentation on a plasma panel in our booth
during a tradeshow. The panel's resolution is 1025 x 768. However, as far as
I can tell, PowerPoint only allows for a 4:3 screen. My thought is that if I
design this presentation using the default display settings I am going to
get a fair amount of distortion in the text and graphics when I go to show
it at the tradeshow. I do not have access to a 16:9 display before the show,
but would be happy with a way to view a 16:9 show (letterboxed) on my
standard 4:3 monitors.

Can anyone supply input on how to accomplish this? I cannot seem to find any
options in PowerPoint to change screen resolution/dimensions.

Thanks in advance,
Nick.

 

[TAJ Simmons]

Nick / John,

1024 x 768 is 4:3

Are the pixels not square?

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

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

 

[John Smith]

TAJ,

This has since been brought to my attention. I am awaiting specs on the unit
to see if the resolution is, in fact, 1025x768, or is it a 16:9 display of
some other dimensions. I guess my next question would be; if it is using
rectangular pixels, aren't I going to get distortion if I'm designing on a
square pixel display?

Thanks for you help on this, guys,

Nick.

 

[Austin Myers]

Nick/John,

The problem isn't PPT, it's your video card. It's output is 4:3. Some
video cards do have the option of switching to 16:9 but do NOT do this while
tied to a standard monitor, unless you want to see it go up in smoke that
is.

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

 

[Mike M.]

John, we use the following Page Setup values like Adam said. Just set these
page sizes then design your presentation. You also have to take into
account what Austin said about the graphics card supporting a 16:9 aspect
ratio. We use special cards in the computers connected to the plasmas that
provide good 16:9 support. I test my presentations on regular monitors and
they do look letter boxed. Many of the smaller (cheaper) plasmas (42") have
lower native resolutions (852x480). One I am testing on now looked horrible
at that resolution so I had to use the graphics card setting of 848x480 and
it looked fine. Go figure. It is a shame you can't get hold of the plasma
before hand.

42" plasma in landscape mode: Height 20.40, width 36.31
50" plasma in landscape orientation: Height 24.40, width 43.20

Good luck.

 

[John Smith]

Thanks for all the help guys. I think I'll be able to piece it together.

I have also downloaded a software program called Powerstrip that is supposed
to be able to help standard video cards handle non standard resolutions.
I'll be running the presentation from my IBM laptop so I'm not sure how well
it's going to handle it. We'll see. Another person in another forum
suggested taking my laptop down to Best Buy. I may resort to that yet.

Thanks again,
Nick.

 

[Mike M.]

I don't think they will buy it from you. They mostly sell things. <g>

Thanks for all the help guys. I think I'll be able to piece it together.

Another person in another forum