Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
pany where your work is likely to be viewed by people
who aren't technically savvy, or who don't have the lat-
est version of your software player on the computer
they're using.
In addition, discs have a physicality that can
keep your work alive. Websites are great, but they
aren't always top of mind. Will someone who is inun-
dated with portfolios and reels recall your name and
remember to bookmark your website? Or if they did
bookmark it, will they remember why a month later? A
disc full of good work, attractively packaged, can and
will imprint itself on a visual person's mind. Rather than archive it in a box or file,
the disc may find its way to a prominent place on a desk—ready to work its magic
when the right position opens up.
One last thing: if you decide to put your portfolio on a disc for distribution,
use some type of -R versus -RW disc. Not only are these formats generally cheaper, but
you would rather not have someone treat your portfolio as a free storage space.
A lot of houses prefer authored
DVDs because many times they'll
be watched in a conference room
with several department supervi-
sors. They won't necessarily have
a PC hooked up. It's easier to
throw a disc in a DVD player and
show it up on a screen.
—Terrence Masson
Laptop
Besides being an elegant way of transporting large volumes of work, the laptop
gives you ultimate control of your presentation. You're less likely to be plagued by
technical gremlins because you've tested your environment. You never have to worry
about platform issues or care if the people you are presenting to can tell the differ-
ence between a DVD and a coaster. There are no surprises in type size or player speed.
You can show your work in an intimate setting or hook the computer to a projection
system and present it to a filled room. For all these reasons, laptops are a great way
to present to a client or prospective employer.
On the downside, walking in with a laptop also requires that you be ready to
use it to present under any circumstances. Your VGA adapter becomes a crucial tool if
a one-on-one interview suddenly turns into a department-wide command performance.
Equally important may be an alternative presentation layout if the projector has a
lower resolution than you use as a standard for presentation design. Color shifts
between your laptop and the projector can create awkward moments if they affect the
audience's ability to see crucial details.
If you present without attaching your laptop to a projector, you'll have differ-
ent challenges. You may have to dance between watching the screen and connecting
with your interviewer or client. The only way around that is to have rehearsed your
presentation so frequently that it's practically memorized—not a bad move in any
case. You also have to take the flat panel display's limitations into consideration. If
your audience is sitting at an angle from the screen they may not see the presenta-
tion well.
