One of the great features of Keynote ‘08 is the option to create your presentation in a widescreen format (16×9) as opposed to the regular format (4×3). There are a number of benefits I can see in doing your presentation in widescreen.

Firstly, it looks better! The ratio of length to height in the widescreen format is more pleasing to the eye. Why does it look better? Well, the ratio of the widescreen format is quite close to what’s known as the ‘Golden Ratio’ which is the proportioning that artists have observed in many of the most beautiful elements of God’s good creation.

Secondly, the widescreen gives you more visual space to work with. Space is very highly rated - especially when it comes to Sydney real estate - No less in design. The widescreen format gives you a minimum of 15% more visual space to play with than with the regular 4×3 format.

Lastly, the widescreen format means that in Keynote you can export graphics to import into your widescreen videos that you are producing.

As far as I can tell PowerPoint does not allow you to create widescreen format presentations. That’s a pity for PC users.

Cameron Blair

In my research for my Death by PowerPoint seminar I read that PowerPoint was blamed for causing the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster in 2003. It makes you think twice about using it!

Cameron Blair