Hide output on projection screen

[Best]

I am currently using a projection machine / screen to show my presentation
on the wall.
Is there a way to have this "hidden" while I set up my presentation? Also,
at various times, I would like it to be black, while I call up other
presentations, go back to review slides, search for slides etc.

 

[Rick Altman]

This is why I think that the most important factor in buying a projector is
the Freeze button, which makes an image permanent on the projector while you
then prep your slides in privacy and comfort. And the older I get, the more
I appreciate the projectors that design their remotes with a nice large
Freeze button that stands out from the rest.

I won't quite say that I have made buying decisions based solely on this
feature, but I have rejected projectors in favor of others because they
*haven't* had one.

 

[Best]

This is why I think that the most important factor in buying a projector
is the Freeze button, which makes an image permanent on the projector
while you then prep your slides in privacy and comfort. And the older I
get, the more I appreciate the projectors that design their remotes with a
nice large Freeze button that stands out from the rest.

I won't quite say that I have made buying decisions based solely on this
feature, but I have rejected projectors in favor of others because they
*haven't* had one.

Thanks Rick. So you're saying there is no setting or method in Powerpoint to
do this?

 

[LVTravel]

Thanks Rick. So you're saying there is no setting or method in Powerpoint
to do this?

There is no method in Windows or any of the programs that may be running on
it other than when PowerPoint is projecting the slide show (black screen or
white screen). If you are out of the slide show, whatever you put on the
computer's screen will show on the projector. The simple reason for this is
that the video system of the computer is always sending information to the
screen(s) at all times. The black or white screen that PPT can send is
simply another "slide" of no or full information. To be able to blank the
projector it has to come from a control on the projector itself. The
projector I use most often has a "black" feature which dims the bulb which I
prefer over the freeze feature written about by Rick. My other projector
(Sharp personally owned) has the freeze feature.

 

[Lucy Thomson]

Hi

You can make the screen go black by pressing 'b' while in slide show mode -
pressing 'b' again will being the screen back. Or you can use 'w' for white.
(You can find out other in-show shortcuts by pressing F1 when in slide show
mode).

As for when setting up, I usually send my laptop image to the screen once
early on to check it's working then cycle back to 'just on laptop' while I
get set up - it only takes the press of a button (OK two buttons - Fn+F8 in
my case) and saves everyone seeing backstage as it were. I also have my logo
as my desktop images and don't have any shortcuts/files on my desktop so it
look (reasonably) professional if it does get seen

Lucy

--
Lucy Thomson
PowerPoint MVP
MOS Master Instructor
www.aneasiertomorrow.com.au

 

[Bill Dilworth]

Good Afternoon Best,

I'm going to share a very important, sneaky trick I use all the time. I
routinely change between presentations without freezing the slides or hiding
the output from the projector. Most mosquito repellants do not actually
repel mosquitoes, they simply hide your scent from the little buggers.
(There is a connection, trust me.)

First, I use the dual monitor set-up. This means that what shows on my
laptop (PowerPoint in edit mode) is not what shows on the projector
(PowerPoint in Show mode). The projector is like an extension of my laptop
display. This link will show you more about how to set up dual monitors ...
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00231.htm

Second, I change my pretty desktop image (insipid green hill and blue sky)
to a solid black color and make sure that all my desktop icons are on the
laptop screen and not on the projector screen. This is the trick. You see
there is no difference between projecting a solid black desktop and a solid
black slide. Therefore, when I am between presentations the projector is
blank (desktop), then I start my next presentation, where I have a beginning
black slide.

The effect is a seamless presentation transfer thru a "black slide" from one
presentation to another without seeing the normal desktop. I suppose you
could change your desktop to any image you wanted to show between the shows,
I just prefer nothing.

PowerPoint is about appearance, it cares little about reality. So instead
of trying to keep the desktop from showing, just make your desktop not look
like anything. (See, I told you there was a connection.)

Bill Dilworth

 

[Best]

Good Afternoon Best,

I'm going to share a very important, sneaky trick I use all the time. I
routinely change between presentations without freezing the slides or
hiding the output from the projector. Most mosquito repellants do not
actually repel mosquitoes, they simply hide your scent from the little
buggers. (There is a connection, trust me.)

First, I use the dual monitor set-up. This means that what shows on my
laptop (PowerPoint in edit mode) is not what shows on the projector
(PowerPoint in Show mode). The projector is like an extension of my
laptop display. This link will show you more about how to set up dual
monitors ... http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00231.htm

Second, I change my pretty desktop image (insipid green hill and blue sky)
to a solid black color and make sure that all my desktop icons are on the
laptop screen and not on the projector screen. This is the trick. You
see there is no difference between projecting a solid black desktop and a
solid black slide. Therefore, when I am between presentations the
projector is blank (desktop), then I start my next presentation, where I
have a beginning black slide.

The effect is a seamless presentation transfer thru a "black slide" from
one presentation to another without seeing the normal desktop. I suppose
you could change your desktop to any image you wanted to show between the
shows, I just prefer nothing.

PowerPoint is about appearance, it cares little about reality. So instead
of trying to keep the desktop from showing, just make your desktop not
look like anything. (See, I told you there was a connection.)

*What a great idea!!!!! I will try that this week, and see if I can make it
work. I know the dual monitor setup works fine from Visa (I have it here,
and am using it now) but not sure if it works from XP or a Mac, which is
what is run on the other two laptops I use. Any thoughts? Thanks again, this
seems to solve a big problem for me.

 

[Bill Dilworth]

*What a great idea!!!!! I will try that this week, and see if I can make
it work. I know the dual monitor setup works fine from Visa (I have it
here, and am using it now) but not sure if it works from XP or a Mac,
which is what is run on the other two laptops I use. Any thoughts? Thanks
again, this seems to solve a big problem for me.

Dual monitor works very well on XP.

Bill