Projection Slides and Transparencies

Guide to Projection Slides and Transparencies

Overhead slide transparencies and 35mm projection slides enhance meetings and presentations
By Kim Finn

Projection slides and transparencies make sense when you can't use a laptop for presentations. With projection transparencies, you can still make a professional-looking presentation for any type or size of audience. Overhead slides also make a convenient tool for teachers, lecturers and trainers who want flexibility and the capability to alter or add to visual aids in the middle of a presentation. You can create them by hand or design them on your computer and print them.

Compared to buying a computer and projector for PowerPoint presentations, you can save a substantial amount of money with overhead transparencies -- all you need are overhead slides and an overhead slide projector. As you shop for 35mm projection slides and transparencies, keep the following in mind:

1. Think about how many transparencies you need and consider layering projection transparencies on top of each other for a cumulative effect.

2. Some projection transparencies do not work in copiers – you write directly on the transparency film with special felt tip markers.

3. Some copiers require sensor strips on transparency film.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Create 35mm projection slides for your presentation If you already own a slide projector, make use of it by creating a presentation using 35mm projection slides. Just about any graphics design business or photo lab will convert your pictures or presentation slides from PowerPoint into beautiful 35mm slides

I recommend:  To convert your PowerPoint presentation into 35mm slides, visit ColorSlide. If you absolutely need your slides the next day, go to Replicolor. Other options include Slide Plus and IQ Imaging.

Buy transparencies for sale that suit your needs Fortunately, you can buy transparency paper at just about any store that sells office supplies. You'll find that the most common size of projection transparency averages 8 by 11 inches; you can buy boxes of overhead slide transparencies in smaller and larger sizes, too, but remember that your projector likely has a window size approximately 10 by 10 inches.

I recommend:  If you don't make many presentations, consider buying several 50-sheet boxes of transparency film at a discount store like Target. If you'll create slides on your computer, buy the inkjet transparency film at Office Discount Club or the laser printer transparency film at Shoplet. You can also buy transparency slides that work in most all copiers, laser printers and inkjet printers like the slides at Staples.

Order your overhead transparencies from another compan If you don't have the time or the capability to make professional-looking transparency slides, hire someone else to do it. You can find companies on the Internet who will take your files or pictures and convert them into overhead transparency slides for you.

I recommend:  Let PhotoGraphic Specialties create transparencies from your files or 35mm projection slides. You can also contact Printland or Able Printing and Graphics for the same services.

Buy or rent an overhead projector to show your overhead transparencies You must have an overhead projector to show your transparencies. Either buy or rent one online, depending on how often you use projection slides.

I recommend:  Check out the reasonably priced 2700 lumens 3M projector at Worthington Direct. Go to Camcor to buy the package deal that includes a 2500 lumens projector, AV cart and two replacement bulbs. Visit Rentfusion for a quote on renting a 2800 lumens projector. If you plan to present to a large audience, rent the 4000 lumens projector from RentQuick.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Place a clean, white sheet of paper beneath each projection transparency slide for easy slide separation and so you can quickly identify the slide without confusing it with ones beneath it.
• Many people fear the dreaded slide jam when using a 35mm slide projector -- prepare yourself by duplicating your slides in overhead transparency format as a backup.