Presentations 2001 Conference and Expo, Atlanta, Georgia - (March 5, 2001) - CrystalGraphics Inc., the leading developer and publisher of add-on products for Microsoft PowerPoint, today introduced Slides That Win! - the world's first interactive guide devoted exclusively to effective presentation design. The product focuses on the principles of slide layout, content organization, and design, and includes many before-and-after examples to illustrate its key points. Although it is not a PowerPoint tutorial, Slides That Win! does include numerous valuable PowerPoint tips and tricks from authors Claudyne Wilder and Jennifer Rotondo, professional presenters with over 20 years collective experience in creating and delivering effective presentations - and teaching others to do the same.

Slides That Win! covers a range of topics important to any successful presentation, including a variety of ways to reduce text, improve comprehension, and increase the aesthetic quality in the slides you create. Plus, it reveals how easy it is to enhance PowerPoint presentations with high-quality graphics and animated effects.

Over 300 "before-and-after" PowerPoint examples demonstrate design, layout, and presentation concepts. Comprised of six PowerPoint presentation shows Slides That Win! is easy to use and provides just the information presenters need, when they need it. The six interactive shows are entitled: Slide Master, Colors and Design, Content, Sentences, Animations, and PowerPlugs. Clicking on a "Notes" icon will provide the user with special hints from the authors, the kind of information you would get if the experts were sitting beside you. For PowerPoint-specific tips and techniques, users may click on a convenient "PowerPoint Tip" icon. For a full screen view of the "after" examples, users just click on a magnifying glass icon.

Presenters who only want a quick overview can skip all these hints and very quickly breeze through the CD. For those who want the details, hundreds of tips and guidelines are available in printable format to keep the experts' advice for later use. To make this interactive CD give presentation creators exactly what they need to truly create effective slides, additional PowerPoint files are included which provide the "after" example slides in a usable form. These designs can then be easily be copied and used. No need to start from scratch! Helpful quizzes with slide reference numbers allow users to check their grasp of the key concepts and techniques in that show. Also included is a show of effective examples and tips on the effective use of CrystalGraphics' PowerPlugs products -an innovative suite of PowerPoint plug-ins and add-ons that add TV-style graphics and effects to presentations. A resource folder of the authors' previously published Before and After columns on presentation design is included for reference as well. Slides That Win! works with PowerPoint 97 and above on any Windows PC and is the newest addition to CrystalGraphics' product lineup.

"In the past 24 months CrystalGraphics has released an impressive parade of 15 unique and innovative new PowerPoint add-ons" reflects Dennis E. Ricks, CrystalGraphics founder and CEO. "You could say that Slides That Win! brings it all together with professional design tips that teach the user not only how to design, including content hints, professional-looking presentations, but also how to take advantage of the capabilities of our add-ons in a tasteful and sophisticated way."

CrystalGraphics is the leading developer and publisher of add-on products for Microsoft PowerPoint. It is perhaps best known for its award-winning "PowerPlugs" product family, which brings the power and excitement of TV-style graphics and effects to Microsoft PowerPoint. Products in the PowerPlugs line create eye-catching 3D transition effects with synchronized sounds, animated 3D title slides, beautiful backgrounds and templates, sophisticated 3D charts, stylized slide headings, animated arrows and photo effects, business photographs and more.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, CrystalGraphics also develops and markets 3D animation software and backgrounds that enhance websites and videos. More information on CrystalGraphics' rapidly expanding product line can be found on the World Wide Web at www.crystalgraphics.com or by calling (408) 496-6175.

CrystalGraphics, Slides That Win!, PowerPlugs, Transitions, 3D Titles, Charts, Backgrounds, Photos, Headings, PhotoActive FX, and SuperShapes are trademarks of CrystalGraphics, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
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Below are a few topics covered in the six shows of Slides That Win! that help presenters create polished, effective slides and presentations:

Slide Master:

• Which fonts and font sizes are easiest to read, so audiences won't search for words and numbers
• How to set the look of your slides and speed later changes
• How to copy and paste from model slides to minimize your own work
• How to present and scale company logos, and adjust those taken from websites.
• How to use different layouts for slide variety

Color and Design:

• How to use color scheme to appeal to audiences and clarify your message
• How to use complementary colors for contrast and avoid competing colors that distract
• What colors to avoid, including hints for color blindness
• How to make or choose backgrounds that reinforce your company's image
• How to import or customize backgrounds with colors, gradients, textures, pictures, and more
• Guidelines on the best image size, resolution, and format for backgrounds

Content:

• How to organize content before creating slides
• How to tailor content to your audience and highlight benefits
• How to avoid "buffet" slides that overwhelm viewers with too much info and too many choices
• How to weave information about your company into your presentation as it develops
• How to use images to highlight stages and processes
• How to create a one-slide overview for an executive summary
• How to use certain slides layouts to compare products and ideas

Sentences:

• How to phrase text for maximum impact in a presentation
• How to translate words into benefits How to set up the phrases for maximum comprehension
• How to reduce the words on a slide
• How and when to use tables, timelines, photos, and images instead of text for variety
  and increased retention

Animations:

• When to use and not use transitions and animations
• How to use transitions and animation to focus attention, tell a story, or clarify a point
• How to match animation to your message
• How to animate titles, charts, symbols, clipart, pictures, movies, and text boxes
• Which transitions and animations are best and easiest on the eyes
• Which types of animations to avoid, especially when presenting steps and plans

PowerPlugs:

• Using PowerPlugs: Backgrounds to create a state-of-the art look
• How to make a photo look more alive and interesting with PowerPlugs: PhotoActive FX
• How to use the animated photo effects to really make a point with PowerPlugs: PhotoActive FX
• How to put in a graphical shape to visually show the message with PowerPlugs: SuperShapes
• When to use an animated graphical shape with PowerPlugs: SuperShapes
• How to make titles 3D to change the pace of the talk with PowerPlugs: 3D Titles
• How to increase surprise with 3D slide transitions using PowerPlugs: Transitions