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Free online tools for different formats and file compression

Compressing videos

Some files exported from video editing applications or the One Button Studio (1BS) are too large to upload to the LMS. 

Handbrake is a useful program that creates small compressed mp4 files from larger files. It needs to be installed after downloading from the website Handbrake.fr. 

Note. It is not necessary to compress a One Button Studio File if you are uploading to YouTube.

YouTube can manage the 1BS file's variable frame rate without issue and will compress the file natively.

Compressing and resizing images

There are two ways that you can make your files ready for your digital story:

  • resizing a picture - a method to make the image dimension (width or height) smaller or larger

  • compressing a picture - a method to store the image in a smaller file size

Both these methods will make your file size smaller however resizing may also mean losing your image details and clarity. So, it all depends on your need. If you want to keep all the detail of your image, you need an image compressor, not an image resizer. But usually in a digital story you will want to shrink the image dimension first. When you have done that you can also further compress it.

A word of warning: Never, ever resize and overwrite your original file!
After sizing the image, be sure to do a Save As so you don't overwrite your original, high resolution file. You'll want to save as a JPEG or JPG file. 

Create a research poster

  1. Open Microsoft PowerPoint
  2. Select Blank Presentation
  3. Select Design Tab
  4. If you are presenting your poster at a conference, ensure you abide by the onsize screen and maximum MB guidelines that are set. As well as be aware of font sizes etc.. These guidelines are usually found on the conference website.
  5. Select Slide Size dropdown and Custom Slide Size
  6. From the pop up box, you can choose a size from the drop down, or select Custom and enter desired width and height
  7. Select Ensure Fit
  8. Once you have done so, click OK
  9. To help guide you with accurate editing, choose View Tab and select Ruler, Gridlines and Guides
  10. Click on the line of the text boxes (if there are any) within the poster and hit delete.  You now have a blank canvas to work with.
     

You can select a background for your research poster by either using Themes, or Format Background.

Themes

  1. From the Design Tab, click through the themes and select 
  2. Customize your current design theme by clicking on the arrow to the right in the Variants option
  3. From here, you can choose select Colors, Fonts, Effects and Background style

Format Background

  1. From the Design Tab, select Format Background.  A list of options will be displayed. 
  2. Select a radio button, and other options will be displayed below
  3. To import a selected background from a personal file, select Format Background, Picture fill and File to locate and enter your choice.

Watch the following Lynda.com online tutorials for comprehensive instruction:

Text size and font will depend on the desired prominence of each section of your Research Poster.  Keep in mind that there will be an approximate 2-3 meter distance between poster and audience.   McKenzie, T., Seddon, S., Hay, I., & Sefton, A. (2012, p336) make the following text size suggestions:

  • Main headings: 96-180
  • ​Secondary headings: 48-84
  • Section headings: 24-36
  • Text and captions: 14-17

Consistency is good, but if you have the graphic capabilities to combine different font types for maximum impact to best communicate your message, this is also encouraged and acceptable.

To add text to a PowerPoint, you first need to add a text box.

  1. Select Insert Tab
  2. Select Text Box and insert the text box within your PowerPoint poster by placing your cursor at the required location within your Poster - draw your text-box.  
  3. Click inside the box to add text

Watch the following Lynda.com online tutorials for comprehensive instruction:

Select a SmartArt Graphic to visually organize your information. 

  1. From the Insert Tab,select SmartArt
  2. A dialog box will appear, select a SmartArt Graphic
  3. Either enter or copy and paste text into the text box
  4. Select Change Colors to recolor SmartArt Graphics

Tips:

Right click on a text box or shape to view and select a range of choices



Watch the following Lynda.com online tutorials for comprehensive instruction:

You can insert Pictures, Online Pictures or Screenshots into your PowerPoint poster.  Please see Copyright information under Creative Commons if you intend to select images from Online Pictures

  1. Select Insert Tab
  2. Locate and select the Picture, Online Pictures or Screenshot you wish to insert from Images. 
  3. The image will appear in your document
  4. Click and move with your mouse to desired location.
  5. Right click for other options

If you are using SmartArt in your poster and wish to fill with a picture:

  1. Select the shape you wish to insert your image into by right clicking within
  2. Select format picture
  3. Click the radio button to select Picture or texture fill
  4. Insert picture from File, Clipboard or Online

Watch the following Lynda.com online tutorials for comprehensive instruction:

Inserting a table

  1. Select Insert Tab
  2. Select Tables
  3. Either select size of table from the cubed area or select insert table and manually enter the number of columns and rows
  4. Select table styles to add colour to your table
  5. To add or remove table columns or rows, hover over your table and click the right click on your mouse or touch pad.
  6. Use the insert or delete options

Watch the following Lynda.com online tutorials for comprehensive instruction: