Onigrama

10 free image banks to use in your slideshows

Onigrama — Sun, 29 May 2022 18:05:02 +0000

You plan, research, write, prepare. You make quality content for your audience, thinking about every detail of the presentation. Then it’s time to create your slides or your graphic material… And you don’t know where to find free, quality images.

Difficult, isn’t it? And also, more common than you might think. Even seasoned professionals can struggle to find a good free stock image.
To make our projects more and more attractive, we, at Onigrama Presentations, relentlessly search for the best image banks – both free and paid. They are sites that bring together photos of different styles and facilitate our search for cool photos.

And of course, we want to share these tips with you. In this post, we are going to list the 10 best free image banks in the world, used by the most respected professionals in the field of visual production. Use WITHOUT moderation and make your projects, your posts and your slides amazing!

P.S.: Most sites offer Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license images. This means that you can copy, modify, distribute and use these images freely, including for commercial purposes, without asking for permission. But remember: it is always important to value the work of photographers. So, if you can, attribute the authorship of the chosen photos.
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#1 Pexels

This image bank (and also videos!) is the darling of designers, advertisers, bloggers and developers. Pexels brings together professional images from photographers from around the world. In it, you will find fantastic and high-resolution photos for your project.

The good news? All photos are free for personal and commercial use, and no credit is required. Navigating the site is also very simple: just enter what you are looking for in the search bar or, still at the home page, check out the most popular photos on the site.

Also, you can filter images by orientation, size and color. As for the videos, they are classified by orientation and size, according to your demand.

#2 Visual Hunt

Colors, lots of colors! Visual Hunt is another amazing free stock image with millions of free photos for your project. And the main thing: most of them are in high resolution.

The creators of the project hit the nail on the head. After a lot of research, they found the best free images from many sources online and organized them all in one place.

Just like Pexels, on the homepage you will find the most popular images on the site, one more beautiful than the other. By searching for one or more words, you can sort the results by color or by license type.

Most of the photos have a CC0 license (the one that allows you to do whatever you want with the image, including using it in commercial projects, without asking for permission). To check this information, just click on the photo that catches your attention and see the type of license, just above the technical details.

#3 Refe – Real Life Photos

If you are looking for photos with natural poses, Refe is the perfect image bank!

It offers hundreds of free photos (and has paid options too!), many of them of people interacting with technology. On its homepage, Refe makes clear its objective: to help organizations and people create ideas for life in a memorable way.

To find the right image for your project, you can select only the free ones or browse through the categories in this database. Among them are “lifestyle”, “nature”, “travel” and other options to make your slides even more attractive.

#4 Barn Images

Is this just another free photography website, with the same photos you find in so many other image banks? No! The idea of Barn Images is exclusivity. On this site, the photos are very different from those in the repetitive files of the most famous image banks.

Barn was created in 2015 by two European photographers looking to publish images of their own or well-known photographers they respect. A quick look at the most recent images is enough to show the differential of this free image bank. The style of the photos is completely different from what you’ve seen on other sites of the genre.

#5 Gratisography

A refined, laid-back and charming look. These are the characteristics of the work of Ryan McGuire, the photographer who created Gratisography. All the images available in this image bank are by McGuire, and the style is unmistakable.

The categories are diverse: they range from images of animals and nature to urban and object photographs. New high-resolution photos are added to the site daily. And, like the images of most banks mentioned in this post, you can use them however you want.

#6 Jay Mantri

This image bank already states its purpose on the homepage: free pics. do anything (CC0). make magic. That is, free images for you to do magic in your projects.

Photos with a refined and tasteful look: these are the images on the Jay Mantri website. From color to black and white, the photographer constantly varies the style of his images, but always exploring the lines and curves of landscapes and objects.
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#7 Magdeleine

Every day, a new free high-resolution image is added to Magdeleine. As the website says, each photograph is handpicked to be part of this image bank.

Created in 2014, Magdeleine brings together photos from several foreign photographers. Among the categories, you will find sensational images of nature, people, architecture, technology, among other themes to transform the looks of your slides.
In addition to categories, you can filter photos by license (CC0 or attribution required), color and popular tags. Amazing, isn’t it? Explore this universe and have fun.

#8 Move Ast

Moveast was the space created by Portuguese designer João Pacheco to gather photos from his travels around the world. In addition to sharing his photographs with people, the purpose of the site is to encourage them to have their own experiences and travels.

In the photos, you find colors and cultures, foods and sights, landscapes and people. A wide range of options to use in your projects and – who knows? – get the courage to see the world with your own eyes.

#9 Travel Coffe Book

Want more world travel logs? In addition to Moveast, we have another option for you: the Travel Coffee Book.

This completely free image bank was created by a group of photographers to share travel photos. Japan, China, Austria, Netherlands, Croatia, Chile – the Travel Coffee Book has images from all continents for you to share a little bit of the world with your audience.

All photos are listed under CC0 license. This means, as we already know, that you can do whatever you want with them. And, if you want to help photographers, you can “buy a cup of coffee” and help keep the image bank active.

#10 The British Library

The British Library’s Flickr account report shows more than a million illustrations, drawings and works taken from books from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. All these works are released under CC0 license and can be used anywhere without restrictions.

So, did you like our tips?

Now you know the best options for free stock images to turn your presentations into unforgettable experiences for your audience.

If you want professional assistance, we can help too. Check out our portfolio and contact us!

Tips on how to improve your slides

Onigrama — Sun, 29 May 2022 17:55:43 +0000

“The great strength of a presentation is the personal relationship between speaker and audience,” says the official TED Talks guide to public speaking. And good slides strengthen this bond by enriching the speaker’s speech.

The human mind is a system: it works in an integrated way, combining different types of information. So, like the content, the aesthetic appeal of your slides is part of the message you want to convey to viewers.

Through them, you can show what is difficult to describe in words. Or you can show and describe in words, offering the audience new perspectives on what is being presented. Explore, innovate, take advantage of this resource in the best way possible.

Do you know what differentiates a bland, forgettable presentation from a memorable one? How are your slides? Critically analyze this: do they fit into the first or second category? If it’s the first case, do you want to know how to improve them?

Here is the right place for it. In this post, we’re going to teach you some simple but fundamental tips to make your slides look amazing and capture your audience’s attention once and for all. Check it out!

#1 – Do not use the themes offered by your presentation editing software.
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Using your software’s slide themes (Powerpoint or Keynote) is like declaring the death of your presentation. They are, for the most part, of poor visual quality and end up limiting the creation of the slide instead of adding value.

It’s critical to create cleaner presentations so your audience better understands the idea or story you intend to defend or tell. Remember: your presentation must be visually consistent with the theme it presents!

#2 – Use less text!

Whenever you develop a script for your presentation, put yourself in the shoes of your audience. What do you expect when you attend a lecture or sales report presentation, for example? Surely the slides are not boring and full of textual content, correct?

The idea is to always let the presenter talk about the slide. This shows the audience that he dominates the content, as well as providing more security and credibility. In your presentation, as you speak, the audience will pay attention to you, not the slides. Use them to complement your ideas or to get the audience involved in what you intend to say.

#3 – Avoid bullet points/markers

A valuable tip: try to use only one idea per slide. Your audience won’t remember ten or more topics or number bullets on a single slide.

The solution is to split each idea into a different slide. Consider each slide as a call to action for what you are saying. That way, you get your message across more clearly, and your audience remembers it more easily.

#4 – Don’t abuse the number of images

Images help (and a lot!) in building a presentation that is easier to remember. Making the slide more visual “sells” your idea better, captivates and excites your audience.

But don’t get carried away with the number of images per slide, of course. Don’t make each of them a photo album! Look for an image that represents the idea or concept of that slide.

#5 – Use font sizes properly

You are probably developing your presentation on a notebook, right? So be careful: the size of this screen is very different from the screen size of a projector.

When sizing your fonts, don’t just think about the viewers in the front row. The text must be large enough to be read by people at the back of the room. Ideally, you should test your presentation before showing it to the public. If this is not possible, we suggest texts always larger than 30pt or 35pt, depending on the font.

The most used presentation techniques by Steve Jobs

Onigrama — Sun, 29 May 2022 16:57:09 +0000

Discover the main presentation techniques most used by Steve Jobs and learn how to emotionally connect to your audience,

“Steve Jobs is already the most captivating communicator on the current world stage.
Nobody surpasses him. A presentation by Jobs releases doses of dopamine into the brains of his listeners. Some people travel great distances to attend these lectures. They spend nights in long lines to ensure they have the best seats in the auditorium.”

That’s how communicator Carmine Gallo defined Apple’s co-founder in his book Do Like Steve Jobs, published in 2010. The way Jobs mobilized crowds highlights a fact: presentations mentally and emotionally connect speakers to their audience.

In addition, Steve Jobs was also a great example of the impact that good communication has on the careers of executives. A survey by the company Distinction confirms: of the executives interviewed, 89% say that clear and confident communication influences their careers and their earnings.

The charisma and enthusiasm, characteristic of Jobs’ presentations, caused a real euphoria in the public at each product launch. These elements made the entrepreneur one of the most extraordinary Speakers of his time. While most presenters simply present information, Steve Jobs inspired – and still does.

But, after all, what were the techniques most used by Jobs in his presentations? And how can you apply them? Next, we will talk a little about each one in a brief and direct way. We hope they will also serve as inspiration for your upcoming performances.

Technique 1:

Use keywords

Whether presenting an iPod, a notebook or an iPhone, Jobs emphasized the themes of his presentations by using keywords. For example:

“Today, Apple will reinvent the phone.”

Release of the 1st iPhone

“Today, we have something extraordinary to show. Something special is in the air.”

Introducing the ultra-thin Macbook Air laptop.

Notice: In addition to an impressive start, Jobs’ chosen keywords (“reinvent the phone”, “extraordinary”) serve as the main driver of the presentation until the last minute. Once you’ve identified the topic, make sure it’s clear and consistent throughout your talk.

How to apply?

Imagine that you are the CEO of a company and you are going to introduce new sales management software to your salespeople. Typically, you could start directly:

“Today, I’m going to present to you the new sales management software, which will make your daily lives easier…”

Now, if you’re inspired, you can give a speech like this:

“I know you guys are going to be really excited about what I have to show you. Starting today, the simplicity you always wanted to achieve your goals will be a reality.”

That’s the key sentence: “the simplicity you’ve always wanted”. Impact phrases like this make it easier to memorize, make the beginning of your presentation memorable and arouse the audience’s curiosity.
Another element worth noting is the suspense. When you take a quick break before introducing the product or main idea, it creates suspense and holds people’s attention. Think about it!

Technique 2:

Summarize the topics

Another way Jobs found to start his presentations was to summarize the message in bullet points. For example:

“I want to say four things today. Let’s start with…”.

How to apply?

Use this technique at the beginning of your presentation to assure the audience exactly what topics will be covered.

Technique 3:

Make the numbers meaningful

Jobs didn’t sell hardware or software. He sold experiences. And when he talked about numbers, these values had meaning, they were concrete:

“iPod. A thousand songs in your pocket.”

How to apply?

When presenting data, make sure it means something. And when you can, make analogies to make them more attractive. Numbers alone don’t say much unless they are placed in context. For example, when speaking:

“I worked at a company that sells 256GB flash drives.”

Depending on your audience, 256GB is an abstract value, which doesn’t have much meaning. However, if you put it in context, you can strengthen its relevance and make it more concrete. Look:

“I worked at a company that sold 256 GB flash drives, enough memory for you to listen to music 24 hours a day for 44 days, without interruption.”

Now 256 GB has become a concrete value. In addition, context carries meaning. Make the numbers say something meaningful and connect the information to consolidate your message.

Technique 4:

Express your passion

Jobs was clearly passionate about his product, and he conveyed that enthusiasm to his audience with words and actions. In addition to infecting the audience, it aroused their interest and held their attention.

How to apply?

Many speakers end up presenting a serious and formal image without any charisma. Remember: the goal is to engage those who are watching your presentation. Get the audience excited enough to have fun while you talk about your company, product or service.

If you yourself aren’t enthusiastic, your audience certainly won’t be.

Technique 5:

Create concise and simple-designed slides

What were the most effective aspects of Steve Jobs’ communication? Simple-to-understand presentations with a strong, easy-to-read visual element.

In other words, while most presenters fill their presentations with complex charts, huge texts and endless speeches, Jobs did just the opposite. He used few texts and featured images in his slides.

How to apply?

Treat your slides in a simplified way, without excess of information, to facilitate comprehension. Inspiring presentations are concise and have many visual elements.

Technique 6:

Create a villain

By introducing the iPhone in 2007, Jobs created a story with villains: cell phones existing until then. And try to guess: who was the hero?

“Regular cell phones aren’t that smart and aren’t that easy to use. Smartphones are a little smarter, but more difficult to use. They’re really complicated… We want to make a product smarter than any mobile device has ever been and super easy to use. This is what the iPhone is.”

How to apply?

Create a villain for your product or your idea to fight with. Introduce it initially to contextualize your message. Finally, explain the reasons that make your idea or product the real hero.

Technique 7:

Face your presentation as a spectacle

Instead of simply passing on information, treat your presentation like a real spectacle.

Jobs used videos, demos, and even guests to strengthen his connection with the public. In addition, of course, to resorting to suspense as a resource to make some moments memorable – for example, at the Macbook Air presentation, when he took the notebook out of an A4 envelope.

How to apply?

Present your content in a more dynamic way, shifting from slides to videos and/or demonstrations and back. This will make your presentation more attractive.

Technique 8:

Opt for the rule of three

Jobs instinctively understood that the number 3 is powerful in communications. Listing three things is more interesting than naming two and much easier to memorize than twenty.

Jobs divided the iPhone presentation into three sections:

1) Talked about the iPod functions of the new iPhone.

2) Featured the phone itself.

3) Explained the internet connection.

“Today, we are introducing three revolutionary products. The first, a widescreen iPod with touch controls. The second is a revolutionary cell phone. And the third is an innovative internet communication device.”

Finally, he revealed that they were not three different products, but all the functionality in one product: the iPhone.

How to apply?

Choose the three essential elements of your idea to strengthen your argument and make it memorable. We know it’s hard to choose only three, but this decision can make your message easier to remember.

Technique 9:

Create a memorable moment

In Jobs’s greatest presentations, there was one memorable, high-impact moment. Such moments were thought to strengthen the main message of the product..

How to apply?

Think: what main message do you want to convey about your idea or product? From it, reflect: how can I create a memorable moment to strengthen it? Plan carefully so that this moment really surprises the audience.

Technique 10:

Rehearse, rehearse and rehearse

Finally, rehearse, rehearse and rehearse until you feel safe to face your audience.

Jobs makes everything look simple because he spent hours rehearsing his presentation. It’s impossible to present so much detail with Jobs’ precision without good practice. The result of good rehearsals is a presentation with perfect synchronization between oratory, body communication and slides.

But be careful not to memorize your speech. Practice so that the presentation flows naturally! When you memorize the speech, the presentation can become artificial.

Oh, and one more thing!

At the end of the presentation, Jobs always added the jargon: “… oh, and one more thing…”. After that, it displayed a new product feature or even a band, making the audience feel that they received something more.

In summary: Jobs delivered an impactful introduction, then moved on to product demos during his speech, and ended with a strong conclusion, plus a final bonus.

Try applying these techniques! You will surely realize how valuable they are. When done well, they have the potential to make your presentation memorable. If you want to enhance your presentation, find out how to get your audience’s attention.

Content inspired and adapted from:

bloomberg.com, youtube.com e forbes.com

Want to know more?

To Read

To Watch

Steve Jobs introduces first iPhone

Steve Jobs presents Macbook Air

10 free fonts that will make your presentation deck fantastic!

Onigrama — Fri, 27 May 2022 11:44:30 +0000

After hours – sometimes days! – researching, preparing quality content for your presentation, it’s time to make the slides. You have chosen the layout, selected photos, finished the text… and you can’t find a nice font on your computer.

Who has never been through this situation, right? This happens because most computers come with default fonts installed. And these fonts are hardly ideal for composing cool layouts in a slideshow.

But the solution to this problem is very simple, you just have to know where to start looking. That’s why we’ve compiled 10 fonts for you to download for free and make your presentation awesome!

Do you want to know the meanings and ways of applying each of them? Keep reading this post and check out our tips!

OBS.: If you need to make your presentation on a computer that is not yours, or if you want to send it by e-mail to someone, also send the fonts. It is not enough to use them in the slides: they must be installed on the computer that will open them.
Find below the sources and explanation of their best practices.

Open Sans
Oranienbaum
Hamster
Raleway
Streamster
Ailerons
Barbaro
BlowBrush
Cast Iron
Sunn

1 – Open Sans

Ideal font for headlines/headings and paragraphs.

Open Sans features a humanistic sans serif style. This font is designed with vertical tension, open shapes, and a friendly look. It has also been optimized for printing, web and mobile interfaces and has excellent readability characteristics in each letter.

The available version contains a set of 897 characters.

Download the font

2 – Oranienbaum

Ideal font for headlines/headings and paragraphs.

This is a modern, well-defined font. Its architecture was based on features of ancient fonts from the 20th century (but nowadays it is considered a contemporary fountain).

Its straight lines with fluid contrasts makes it elegant and excellent for application – both for titles and running texts. However, be careful when using it: depending on the set, there may be little contrast or low visibility for your audience.

Download the font

3 – Hamster

Ideal font for headlines/headings and paragraphs.

Hamster is a cursive font, that is, inspired by the handwriting style. Suitable for brands/logos, apparel, signs, headlines, posters, and other applications.

This font has been carefully crafted to balance its dynamic flow and readability. The coolest? It’s completely free and perfect for making your projects even more attractive.

Download the font

4 – Raleway

Ideal font for headlines/headings and paragraphs.

Raleway is an elegant, sans serif font. It has 9 variations ranging from thin to thick – or from thin to black, as the expression is known in the graphics area. This font also has excellent applicability for titles: when it is necessary to emphasize a word or title, its Black and Black Italic variations are excellent.

With the exception of paragraphs (running text), the use of the font, in its variations, is also well accepted. The reading is excellent when Raleway is applied in the correct proportion.

Go wild! Use and explore to make your slides unique and attractive!

Download the font