Presentations with Keynote

I am one of the very last people who switched from transparencies to computer presentations. I always preferred hand writing, because it was faster, and plots were clearer. I tried PowerPoint twice, but I did not like it at all. However, after trying Keynote, I finally found what I wanted, and decided to switch.

1. Keynote

Here are the reasons why I like Keynote.

• Imported PDF images are razor sharp, even after scaling. Compare plots on Keynote and PowerPoint. Clipping plots from EPS, PS, and PDF files is extremely easy with Panther (OS X 10.3)'s Preview, or TeXShop Previewer, as described below.
• It is simple, intuitive, and stress-free.
• With alignment guides, you do not have to spend time to align things.
• You can rotate graphics easily.
• You can move multiple slides together, and group slides by indenting them.
• You can easily write tables with merged cells or divided cells.
• After all, you can concentrate more on what to show and say, instead of trying to figure out how to make slides look better, and save time for preparation.
• If you have a PowerBook, you can view memo on your computer while the audience sees slides.

2. How to import equations, plots, and graphics into Keynote slides

PDF files can be pasted in Keynote slides. The advantage of using PDF files over JPEG and others is that the quality does not degrade even after scaling. Here, I will describe how to import PDF, EPS, a part of PS files, equations, and Feynman diagrams to Keynote slides.

How the graphics, equations, and Feynman diagrams are imported to Keynote

2.0 Preparations

In order to write equations, import EPS files, and clip plots from PDF files, I suggest you install TeX, TeXShop, and Ghostscript.

• If you use Japanese
  1. Follow the instructions to install 2. pTeX and Ghostscript, and 4. TeXShop.
• If you do not use Japanese, simply follow the instructions in TeXShop home page to install TeXShop, i-Installer, and use i-Installer to install TeX Foundation, TeX Programs, Ghostscript8, Freetype2, wmf and iconv, and ImageMagick.

2.1 How to write equations

Equation Editor generates beautiful professional looking equations. [For people using Japanese Mac OS X, use the version fixed by K. Fujii.] Just write an equation in LaTeX format, press a button, and drag and drop the typeset image onto Keynote slide. You can even change colors in Equation Editor.

[One problem is that the equation is treated as a graphic image in Keynote, and it cannot be inserted in text. Therefore, if the text moves around, you have to move the equation by hand. With AppleWorks, graphics can be inserted as a character in text, so why not also with Keynote? If you agree, send a feedback to Apple.]

2.2 How to import a PDF file

If a PDF file contains only the plot you need, simply drag and drop the PDF file onto a Keynote slide.

2.3 How to import plots from EPS, PS and PDF files

You can clip a portion of an EPS, PS and PDF file, such as plots, and put it on a Keynote slide. This can be done easily with Panther (OS X 10.3)'s Preview, or TeXShop's previewer (v1.29 or later) which can copy images in PDF format. (Acrobat Reader and Apple's Previewer cannot.)

• If you have Panther:
  1. Just open the PS or PDF file with Panther's Preview.
  2. Select a dotted square on the top right corner, and drag a mouse to select the area you want.
  3. Copy it to a clipboard. (command-C)
  4. Paste it on a Keynote slide (command-V)
• If you do NOT have Panther, then :
  1. Drag and drop the PS or PDF file to TeXShop icon. This will open TeXShop's previewer.
  2. Select a dotted square on the top right corner, and drag a mouse to select the area you want.
  3. Make sure that "Preview > Copy Format" is set to "PDF".
  4. Copy it to a clipboard. (command-C)
  5. Paste it on a Keynote slide (command-V)

What could be simpler than this??? (You can drag the selection, too, but you have to be a little patient to wait until the pointer changes to an arrow with a plus sign, and then click to drop.) If you prefer, you can type commands to extract eps files, and convert them to PDF.

2.4 How to put complicated graphics

Keynote's tools for drawing graphics is sometimes too simple. The message is, "Keep the presentation slides simple!" However, if you still want to put more complicated graphics, here is how.

• Use AppleWorks's drawing environment or OmniGraffle 3 to draw what you want.
• Simply drag and drop the selected graphics items onto a Keynote slide.

2.5 How to put Feynman diagrams

Feynman diagrams are used to show interactions between elementary particles. With usual applications, it is not easy to draw wavy lines (photons) or spiral lines (gluons).

1. Install feynMF.
2. Draw a Feynman diagram using TeXShop.
3. Clip the diagram in the TeXShop's previewer, and paste it in a Keynote slide.

3. Laser pointer

When you are freed from an OHP, it is a pity to go back and forth between your laptop and the screen. After comparing several remote presentation devices, I purchased Tote-Remote from ATek. The reasons are:

• It uses radio wave rather than infrared, so you do not need to have a direct line-of-sight between you and the receiver on your laptop.
• You can advance / backspace slides, and blank / unblank the screen.
• The device is small, and yet easy to hold with the little finger (just like Japanese sword), thus allows a solid pointing.
• It is less expensive ($61.99 at amazon.com, for example) than many others.

4. Some other tips

• OmniOutliner 2 is a nice tool to plan your talk and slides. Items can be typed in, moved around, and indented so naturally, that you can concentrate on ideas. You can import the generated outline into Keynote, but even simply displaying the outline next to Keynote slides works great, too.
• For some reason, when I use Keynote, I think that I should write less, and talk to the audience, instead of reading the slides. I still don't know why Keynote makes me feel that way.

Updated Nov. 14, 2003, Taku Yamanaka (taku[at]hep.sci.osaka-u.ac.jp, replace [at] with @)