Tell me more ×
User Experience Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for user experience researchers and experts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite
1

Many blog posts are recommending wire-framing with Keynote, since you don't have to spend in buying in another tool. So while trying out this with Keynote I hit a problem.

If my page is longer like 1024 x 2048, how do I present/preview the page in actual size with Keynote? The moment I press 'Play Slideshow' the whole page will be squeezed in a single screen. Is there any trick to view the page in actual size (with scroll) other than exporting into PDF?

share|improve this question

2 Answers

up vote 1 down vote

Presentation view in Keynote (or PowerPoint, or any other slide-deck creation software) wasn't designed to support wireframes so it's natural to have such problems with it. It always scales slides to fit the screen and there's no way around it.

As for "canvas" size, you can extend the page length through the printing options but you're still dealing with paper inches not screen pixels. In other words, presentation software can't be used for even medium fidelity prototyping because the proportions will be skewed depending on the screen size.

share|improve this answer
I was wondering how the big agencies like Edenspeikerman uses keynote to design (beyond wireframes) and recommend others: edenspiekermann.com/en/blog/espi-at-work-the-power-of-keynote – Saneef Mar 28 '12 at 6:49
FWIW, you can use MS Word or Adobe InDesign for wireframe with the same success as long as you have all of the building blocks available. The difference is that tools created for print design work off inches & DPI while wireframing tools work off pixels & PPI. Translating physical distances into paddings & margins isn't simple. However, the best tool is the one you've mastered. – dnbrv Mar 28 '12 at 14:02
Yes, the best tool is the one you've mastered! I was using Axure with previous company. That is the best among the tools I have used for mockups ( others being Balsamiq, Fireworks, InDesign,...). But recently I moved to do my own design studio, so searching for low cost tools :). Almost managing with Balsamiq. But I would like to go a level up with style libraries etc. Thats when I saw the above post and asking around how to go around with these small blocks. :) – Saneef Mar 28 '12 at 17:37
up vote 1 down vote

I realise this isn't much different to exporting to PDF, but what I have done in the past is to export as PNG and then open the PNG in a web browser. It puts the wireframe into context and gives you natural scrolling ability.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.