There are a number of visual effects you can use to enhance your presentation slides/visual aids, including the use of colour, images, and graphics within the design process. Whilst presentation software and other programmes allow for endless, creative possibilities, it is worth noting that less is usually more and one of the best pieces of advice is to keep it simple!
Colour
Use colour purposefully to add to the visual appeal of your poster. Consider using one or two accent colours (such as for shadows or or thin lines separating columns) or using a pale background colour, keeping in mind that using too many, or intense colours can be distracting. Use either black or dark-coloured text.
With regard to utilising colour and contrast features throughout your poster, consider the following checklist to ensure more effective results:
Font
Choose a font that is easy to read at a distance. Most of the standard fonts are fine for this (e.g. Helvetica, Palatino, Times). Avoid mixing too many fonts as this can look messy. Two is often ideal; one for the headings and one for the main text.
Diagrams
Displaying information on a poster gives you an opportunity to represent your data in an interesting and eye-catching way. Think about how your display can be enhanced through the use of illustrations, tables, charts or photographs. The inclusion of one carefully chosen image can be a very powerful way of drawing people’s attention to your poster.
Images
When using images in your poster, make sure you chose a high resolution image with an appropriate ratio, so that, when printed and presented, the image is clear.