One of the questions I often get asked is –“Why should I create my own PowerPoint graphics when I can download free images from the net?”
In this article, you will find 5 reasons why.
Creating graphics in PowerPoint takes some effort. Whereas sticking a picture from the net onto your slide is an instant solution.
Naturally, as humans we want to take the easy way out.
But, there are quite a few valid reasons that make creating your own graphics in PowerPoint a much smarter choice. Let me explain…
1. What you get is what you pay:
Let’s accept a simple fact. No one wants to upload top quality images for free on the net, when they can make money off them by putting them up on stock photo sites.
The free vector images you get on the net are usually not so great. Here is a vector image of a roadmap I downloaded from a public domain site:
Here is a similar graphic I constructed entirely using PowerPoint:
Can you see the difference in the quality of the roadmap graphic?
When you create a graphic on your own, you control the quality of your graphics. Whereas, the ones you get from the net may not match the level of quality you would expect for your slides.
2. Ability to customize:
When you use web graphics, you don’t have much options to customize them. For example, if you want to change the color of the road graphic, you only have a few limited options like this:
Whereas, you can fully customize the color of a graphic created in PowerPoint.
You can even use a gradient fill for the graphic as shown here:
3. Ability to Modify:
I can edit the graphic I created using PowerPoint, to get some interesting variations like the one below:
But, you can’t modify the images you get from the net, to suit your own specific requirements.
4. Limited Picture and Graphic Options
The number of options available on the net are limited. You may not get a readymade graphic that exactly matches what you have in mind. Whereas, I can create a roadmap in any way I want using PowerPoint. Here is proof:
5. No Copyright Issues
You don’t have to worry about copyright issues when you create your own graphics.
When you get an image from the net, you always have the fear of violating copyright issues attached to those images. If not, you may have to purchase the graphics from stock photo sites, and they are expensive.
When you create your own graphics in PowerPoint, you are totally in control.
So, the only reason why you wouldn’t want to create your own graphics is – you think you may not have the skill or time necessary to create them. Right?
But, the reality is…
These days, it is very easy to learn how to create these PowerPoint graphics:
Creating graphics in PowerPoint is not as tough as you might think. With a little bit of guidance, you can pick up the skill in no time.
I highly recommend you take a look at this video, which explains our ‘2D & 3D Diagrams and Effects Mastery’ section of our Ramgopal’s PowerPoint Mastery Program.
In this comprehensive PowerPoint training program for business presenters, I teach you all there is to know about creating professional quality PowerPoint graphics in a step by step way.
So, with such resources available at hand, you don’t have to settle for poor quality slides for your business presentations ever.
Already A PowerPoint Mastery Subscriber?
Continue to the section on 2D & 3D Diagrams and Effects.
If you liked this article, please leave a comment below: