How to Create a Multimedia Presentation


190,422
19
Filed under -
PowerPoint , ,

Multimedia presentation

A multimedia presentation differs from a normal presentation in that it contains some form of animation or media. Typically a multimedia presentation contains at least one of the following elements:

  • Video or movie clip
  • Animation
  • Sound (this could be a voice-over, background music or sound clips)
  • Navigation structure

Choice of multimedia presentation technology

The first – and hardest – part is to choose the technology for your presentation. The choice comes down to two main contenders, Adobe Flash or Microsoft PowerPoint.

Adobe Flash

Flash allows you to create presentations where you can build in powerful animation. It also has very good video compression technology.

Perhaps the best part of Flash is that it also allows you to put presentations directly onto your web site.

The biggest problem though is that Flash is a difficult system to get to use. I have been on a training class and also have access to a couple of graphic designers for help and still find it difficult to put together a presentation in Flash.

or an example of a Flash presentation that includes a voice-over and animation click on the picture on the right.

Life has become a lot easier in the recent versions (Flash 8 and Flash CS3). With these versions there is a new feature called Flash Slide Presentation. Rather than the conventional time-line it allows you to build and add in slides a bit like the slide sorter in PowerPoint.

It is also very expensive. Checking on Amazon the latest version of Flash (CS3) will set you back £515 ($629.99). You will probably have to factor in around £400 for a decent Flash training class.

There is a low cost alternative to Flash called Swish. They make it easy to build a Flash presentation without the need for detailed programming knowledge. For a free trial of the software you can visit the Swish website at www.swishzone.com

Microsoft PowerPoint

sequence showing how a taxi can be animatedThe easiest way to create a multimedia presentation is in Microsoft PowerPoint. You can add in video, a soundtrack and also a reasonable degree of animation.

By far the the biggest advantage of making multimedia presentations in PowerPoint is that it is easy for anyone to be able to edit the presentation.

An example of how you can introduce multimedia effects in a presentation is shown in the taxi sequence on the right. It starts with a line drawing being made on the screen and is then followed up with a taxi fading in.

The sequence is part of one of our PowerPoint templates. You can see the effect in action by downloading the taxi animated template from the download page. Make sure that you view the sequence in PowerPoint show mode.

We have a number of tutorials on the Presentation Helper web site that make it easier to put together a multimedia presentation.

How to add video clips into a PowerPoint presentation

How to add music into PowerPoint

Simple menus in PowerPoint

How to animate your slides

If you put together a number of these elements you will have a way to create a multimedia presentation in PowerPoint.

 

Published On: 3rd Sep 2007

Read more about -
PowerPoint , ,

19 Comments
  1. DirectorMX is another presentation program.
    Its similar to flash but it runs off your desktop rather than a browser and you can use a projector to display it like powerpoint.

    You can add neat effects and transitions that you could never do in Powerpoint.

    There’s also Keynote if you have a Mac, don’t think you can get it for PC.

    Peter Hume 5 Sep at 4:32 pm
  2. Just like music 😉 Well, a very nice article to support better presentations, thank you for this. My Statement:”Multi-Media effected” Presentations are a nice Tool but use with care, the animations, sounds… shoudn’t divert from the presentator himself. Last but not least a compilent on your free stuff like the downloads and the good tipps, might help me in my study
    Coming back for more, with greets from germany

    Alexander Thelen 5 Sep at 6:30 pm
  3. Hi Alex.
    Yes you have to be careful to not get carried away, when it comes to multimedia.
    Best to use it to enhance not to dominate a presentation.
    Tanks for the thumbs up.

    jonathanball 6 Sep at 2:06 pm
  4. good

    sadini 4 Apr at 9:16 am
  5. I think this website is awsome i never thought it would be possible form me create anything like this on the web.

    Shavaughn Plater 28 Jul at 11:09 pm
  6. good job

    easha 25 Feb at 11:14 pm
  7. i like it

    Anonymous 7 Sep at 8:53 am
  8. good

    Anonymous 13 Sep at 3:33 pm
  9. good job 🙂

    BECCA 17 Oct at 1:12 pm
  10. this is very good i like it very much actually i’ve got an assignment on multemedia presentation this helps me alottttt thank u thank uuuuuuu so very much

    ainnie 2 Jan at 12:40 pm
  11. The work is good and well organize. It has helpme in one of my assignment on multimedia. Thank uuu.

    Anonymous 7 Mar at 10:20 pm
  12. A awsome page to get information. Love It!

    litzy ochen 10 Dec at 12:50 am
  13. It helped me a lot. It helped me complete a project!! 🙂

    Maria 6 Sep at 4:12 pm
  14. it helps a lot

    Anonymous 20 Mar at 12:12 pm
  15. informative content,help me in my teaching

    nisha 4 Aug at 10:39 am
  16. ilve ths web its sooooooooooo cool

    natasha 9 Sep at 8:58 pm
  17. Great

    nidzmar 4 Aug at 12:47 pm
  18. awesome text 😀

    jose 22 Sep at 2:51 pm
  19. very good

    saieed 6 Sep at 11:37 pm