More 3D: positioning text with a reflection in PowerPoint

On today’s SlideShare front page is a nice presentation by Martin Pure:

Following on yesterday’s post on 3D objects, you can see that “something is wrong” with the alignment of the objects. The use of a reflection (a “Web 2.0” effect that I only use very rarely) implies a 3D setting.

You can apply the same guide lines thought to correct things. In addition, you can change the size of the font to emphasize the feel of a 3D environment.

My comments were all about positioning of text. Do not misunderstand me, I like this presentation.

2 comments

Mike2008-12-16 16:21:00

What you did is absolutely in the right direction. However, it still looks forced and unnatural in a way. It was bugging me, but not as much as the original. Thinking it about it some, I see the issue is the surface. That's one element that I think many of us forget when using reflections. If you can see the text and you have a reflection, you have a light source. If you have a light source, then unless you have perfectly uniform lighting that makes the entire surface look perfectly uniform (not happening), then you'll need a surface that looks like there's some light shining on it from somewhere.

A good example of what I'm talking about is at With the application of the right gradient, it can look like you have a surface that is receiving the same amount of light as the objects on the slide (your text).

Jan Schultink2008-12-16 18:33:00

Mike, I agree with you that

1) it is very hard to re-create a realistic 3d composition (objects, lighting)
2) reflections are PowerPoint gimmicks that do not always add to the message of a chart

Having said that, many of the world's greatest painters have totally ignored the rules of realistic 3D proportions, so there might me a use for deviating from reality in presentations as well. I have not come across presentations that reach this ambition level though... :-)