iWork '09: The Missing Manual

Adding Transitions

Until you add a transition between slides, Keynote switches instantly from one slide to another—a quick change known as a hard cut to film editors. Transitions soften the hard cut, easing from one slide to another with a visual effect. Keynote offers 27 transition styles to choose from, and you owe it to yourself to try ‘em all just so you know what’s available. Be adventurous in your experimentation but judicious in what you actually choose for your final presentation. Go easy on the flash and sparkle—you’re building a presentation, after all, not a pinball machine. You don’t want your audience to walk away impressed by your fancy transitions—but unable to remember your message.

Transitions serve two very different purposes in a slideshow: They can create smooth and subtle segues from one slide to another, or they can provide dramatic punctuations that highlight the break between slides. When you choose transitions, think about whether your goal is to move smoothly to the next slide, provide a noticeable break between topics, or startle the audience with your visual derring-do.

Consider your message and your audience as you choose transitions. If your presentation is a morale booster for the cheerleading team, you can probably get away with anything. But if you own a funeral home and your presentation to the bereaved describes the various services you offer, you might want to drop the rah-rah sizzle in favor of a more reserved set of transitions. If you have any ...