I’ve gotten this a lot:
Why do we have a style guide?
I think I got this question from volunteers and staff alike like dozen times when I introduced our style guide for all things input into ProPresenter.
Of course my immediate, knee-jerk response was:
How could we not have one?
Thankfully, that one never left my mouth. Here are my thoughts on why we need one:
The reason that we have a style guide is for consistency and readability. Some fonts just aren’t easy to read when used in small sizes even on a huge projector.
The whole reason we have taken the time (and the reason you have taken the time) to put sermon notes, scriptures and worship lyrics is so that people can engage. If they can’t read it or if it melts their brain if they try, then it is just a distraction.
In terms of consistency, I feel this is a core value of excellence. Without consistency in this area, what would stop someone from using Comic Sans or Papyrus? Only the devil would be glorified in that move.
So, I created a style guide for all text elements we display through ProPresenter and it covers everything from lower third scriptures and points to worship lyrics placement and coloring.
You can download it here as well as onScribd. Feel free to use it, change it, whatever. And all the fonts we use are available for free via FontSquirrel (links are at the bottom of the document).
If you have a style guide, let us know. Would love to see what you are using.
Brian Alexander says
i’ve needed this for a while now. thanks Blane.
Blane Young says
I’m just stoked that I can be a resource!
Holler if you need anything bro!
Brian Notess says
Great strategy (and style guide). We have one but it’s only in our minds… which doesn’t do us much good.
I have to disagree about Papyrus though. I think it is the only truly spiritual font! 😉
It would be cool if pro-present could do this for us. Generally our volunteers spend the most time in Pro Presenter and it would be cool to have a couple different templates of style guides that included list items and parent and children fonts/sizes.
Add that to a long list of Pro Presenter improvements.
Blane Young says
Our problem was that it was in several people’s heads and it was vastly different versions, if you know what i mean.
At first, I thought you were serious about Papyrus and I was going to un-subscribe to your blog.
Yeah, if ProPresenter could do this, that would be sweet!
Alas, how many times have you opened a sentence with that phrase.
But there are the best in my opinion and I have used MediaShout and EasyWorship.
Brian Notess says
Ha! Papyrus. If I were serious y ou would be justified in unsubscribing 😉
Stephen Bateman says
That’s an interesting concept. We have a graphic design guy designing everything for sermons, and the people who run Pro are very graphically minded, so it hasn’t really been an issue.
But I’ve been to other churches where the Style Guide got burned up with the tapes of Journey and Styx, I can definitely see where it would be helpful.
Blane Young says
I understand that it may not be as neccesary in your context.
For us, our Lead Graphics Designer is a volunteer who lives in another state.
So she sends the graphics packages (backgrounds, lower thirds, bulletin covers, etc.) but she doesn’t run or input any of the stuff such as notes.
Stacey says
Woo hoo! I’m glad I am NOT the only one who has done this before! Like most worship tech guys, it drives me insane when something tiny and “insignificant” is wrong on a slide, or when the slides lack continuity.
Blane Young says
Are you my brother?
I have an unhealthy addiction to perfection and when it comes to stuff on 20 foot projectors, I can get quite upset.
Stacey says
Ha! I may be, especially if you’re a Type A too. 😉