PowerPoint Backgrounds - dark or light?

[Kevin]

Hi all,

Do you see any trends in background colors used in PowerPoint presentations? I'm curious if any of you have seen any research about the effectiveness of light backgrounds with dark text versus dark backgrounds with light text?

I have heard some opinions to match the darkness of the background to the lighting in the room (light room, light background) -- but that is often too unpredictable.

Thoughts? Thank you!
-Kevin

 

[Sandy]

OK - this is what I've heard (but don't necessarily follow) - light
background when not projecting, dark when projecting. My experience tells me
this: white background provide more flexibility vs dark. For example, if you
are using a dark background and you cannot control the lighting in the room
in which you are presenting (too bright of light) the slide washes out.

I prefer light background but the key, whether you use light or dard, is
this - make sure you have sufficient contrast between you background and text
(and other graphics). Colors that are close to each other on the color wheel
do not contrast well.

Here are a couple more opinions:
http://www.symplebyte.com/microsoft_office/powerpoint/background_color.html
http://www.protocol-online.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php?t8759.html

 

[Kevin]

Thank you, Sandy. I'm glad I'm not the only one wondering about this stuff!

 

[Linda Adams]

Size of the screen can also make a difference. We have an auditorium-sized
projector, and pretty much all the colors wash out, even the dark ones.