How to make a slide show
Learn how to make a slide show with photos, videos, music, and custom settings using a slide show maker.
Learn how to make a slide show with PowerPoint
Discover how to make a slide show with photos, videos, music, and custom settings using a slide show app like PowerPoint.
What is a slide show maker?
To create a slide show, youâll want to use a slide show makerâor slide show appâwhich is a software program or online service that enables you create digital slide shows with text, photos, videos, music, and other special effects. The full range of slide show features and functionality varies from program to program.
Once youâve created a slide show, it can be published on the internet or shared with others as a video file. Additionally, you can use slide shows to create dynamic, interactive content on websites.
Slide show software can be used for a variety of purposes, such as creating presentations for work, school, and even your personal life. For instance, slide shows are often used to:
Display photos during an event
Slide shows are a great way to share photos and videos with guests at a wedding, birthday, or other special event.
Create a digital photo album
Some slide shows are created for personal reasons, such as sharing important memories with family or friends.
Highlight products or services
Businesses can use slide shows to showcase their products, promote special offers and sales, or pitch their services to potential clients.
Enhance teaching, training, and public speaking
Slide shows can also provide helpful visuals in educational settings, classroom presentations, and public speaking forums.
What you need to make a slide show
When it comes to creating a slide show, there are a few things you'll need to get started. First and foremost, you'll need a device equipped with presentation software or access to an online slide show app. Secondly, youâll need a way to display your slide show, which usually means connecting your device to a projector or big screen TV. Beyond that, youâll need some visual aids and other media to bring your slide show to life.
Explore each of these slide show requirements in more detail:
Devices and equipment âTo create a slide show, youâll use a computer or other deviceâsuch as a tablet or mobile phoneâwith PowerPoint or a similar program installed. You will also need a way to project the slides onto a screen or wall. This can be done with a projector, but if you don't have one available, you can use your TV or computer monitor. Simply connect your device to the TV or monitor using an HDMI cable and select the correct input. Your slides will now be projected onto the screen.
Media âOf course, creating a slide show requires media that adds visual and even audio elements to your presentation. This can be anything from photos and videos to music and text. You can use search engines to find copyright-free media to use in your slide show.
Another option is to purchase royalty-free stock footage, images, and audio files from online media libraries. This could be a bit more expensive, but it guarantees that you have the legal right to use the media in your presentation.
Finally, you can also use your own videos, images, and even music. While this can be a time-consuming process, it does allow you to create custom content specifically for your slide show.
Slide show creator âTo bring your slide show together, youâll need a slide show creator. The slide show software you choose will depend on your presentation requirements and preferences. There are many slide show makers on the market, with Microsoft PowerPoint being one of the most popular and widely used programs globally.
How to choose a slide show maker
When choosing slide show software, it's important to consider the features and specifications that are most important to you. Some of the questions you might ask when choosing a slide show maker include:
- How easy is the software to use?
- Is the software Mac or PC compatible?
- Can I access and edit my slide show on the cloud?
- What kind of slide shows can be created with the software?
- How many photos and/or videos can be included in a slide show?
- Can text and other elements be added to slide shows?
- Are transitions and effects available for slide shows?
- Is music accompaniment an option?
- What are the options for saving and sharing your slide show?
Building a slide show doesn't have to be difficult. With the right software, you can create an engaging presentation in no time.
Six steps for creating a slide show
1. Plan your slide show
Before getting too deep into your slide show project, itâs a good idea to select and save the photos and videos you want to use. This helps you create a slide show more efficiently and purposefully, ensuring a better outcome.
4. Import media
Start adding photos, videos, and other desired media to your slides. You can upload these from your device or online media libraries. If you planned your slide show in advance, you should have all your media saved in one place.
2. Launch your slide show app
Once youâve decided on a slide show maker, youâll want to launch the app from whatever device youâll be using to create your presentation.
5. Add text, music, and transitions
After youâve arranged the visuals in your slide show, you can provide additional information and communicate sentiment using custom text, music, and timed slide transitions.
3. Choose your theme
Most slide show software offers a variety of pre-set themes, colors, and designs. You can choose one that best suits your slide show or create a custom theme using the programâs various tools and features.
6. Record, save, and share your slide show
Now youâre ready to record your slide show, which can include a voiceover or Cameo . Once your slide show is complete, you can save it as a video to your device or to the cloud, such as OneDrive . You can access your saved slide show at any time to display at events, use in meetings, share online, or send directly to other people.
How to make a slide show with photos
Adding photos to your slide show is a great way to enliven your presentation and make it more visually interesting. Here are a few different ways you can add photos to your slide show in PowerPoint.
Add photos from your device
Whether youâre using a computer, tablet, phone, or other device, you can use photos that are saved to your device to create your slide show. In PowerPoint, simply select âInsertâ then âPicturesâ from the program menu, then choose âThis Device.â This will open your photo library and allow you to find the photos you want to use. Once youâve selected the photos that you want to import, just click on the "Insert" button and they will be added to your slide show. If youâre using a pre-made theme, you can also right-click the image in the slide show and select âChange Picture.â Again, you will choose âThis Deviceâ to access your photo library. After inserting your photo, you can reposition it on your slide or resize it however you like.
Use stock photos
Another way to add photos in PowerPoint is to follow the same process you would when adding photos from your device, but when prompted to choose your photo source, select âFrom Stock Imagesâ instead of âThis Device.â This will display a library of photos that you can use in your slide show without worrying about copyright infringement. There are thousands of stock images available in most slide show maker programs. Once the library is open, you can explore existing photo categories or use keywords to search for photos that fit your needs.
Explore online photo sources
Online photos are images you can insert into a PowerPoint slide show directly from the internet, as opposed to using those you have saved on your device. This is a convenient option if you don't have photos already prepared for your slide show, or if you canât find the right kind of photo in the stock image library. However, there are some potential risks associated with using online photos, namely that you must be careful to use royalty-free images so not to infringe on any copyrights. In PowerPoint, there is a filtering option to ensure your search results only show royalty-free photos. Inserting photos from online sources follows the same process as the previous two methods, but this time, youâll select âFrom Online Sources.â
How to add videos, music, and text
How to add videos to PowerPoint slide shows
Adding videos to your slide show involves accessing videos from your device, a stock video library, or online video sourcesâjust as you would when adding photos. In this case, however, youâll navigate to the menu in PowerPoint and select âInsert,â followed by âMedia,â then âVideo.â Once your video appears on your slide, you can resize or reposition it to fit your presentation needs. You can also set your video to play automatically in the slide show by selecting âPlaybackâ on the menu and choosing âStart Automatically.â
How to add music to PowerPoint slide shows
Much like adding videos, you can add music to individual slides in PowerPoint by navigating to âInsertâ on the menu, then âMedia,â and finally âAudio.â You can then import music from your device, or you can record your own audio directly in PowerPoint. However, if you want your audio to play across multiple slides in your presentationâfor example, as background music for a slide showâyouâll have to take a couple of extra steps. Once youâve imported your audio file, select âPlaybackâ from the menu and choose the âPlay in Backgroundâ option. Your music will now play across all slides. You can set one song to loop for the duration of the slide show, or you can add more songs to play continuously throughout the slide show.
How to add text to PowerPoint slide shows
Premade themes in PowerPoint make adding text slide shows easy. On slides that already have templated content, you can simply click on the text and begin editing. In addition to changing what the text says, you can resize, recolor, reposition, and add special effects to the text. Of course, you can also change the fontâor styleâof the text. Most of this can be done from the âHomeâ tab on the menu while certain effects, such as shadows, can be found on the âShape Formatâ tab. If youâre designing your presentation slides from scratch, or want to create additional text, find âInsertâ on the menu, then choose âText Boxâ or âWord Art,â depending on your desired text effect.
Discover custom slide show settings
Add even more effects to your PowerPoint slide show with custom settings like timing, transitions, and looping.
Set slide show timing
Adding timing to your slide show is a great way to control the pacing and flow of your presentation. To add timing in PowerPoint, go to the "Transitions" tab on the menu and find the "Advance Slide" area. Make sure the box next to âAfter:â is checked, then input the amount of time youâd like each slide to appear on-screen. The slides will automatically advance, creating a movie-like effect thatâs great for events and special occasions.
Create slide show transitions
Now that youâve added automatic timing to your slide show, you can make it more visually appealing by creating slide transitions. Transitions are special effects that allow you to animate the way your slides change from one to the next, and there are a variety of different transitions in PowerPoint that you can choose from. You can add these transitions to your slide show from the "Transitionsâ tab. From there, youâll select the transition you want to add. To preview the transition, simply click on it. You can click âApply To Allâ to automatically add the same transition to every slide in your slide show, or you can manually add different transitions to different slides.
Loop your slide show
If you want your slide show to play continuously until you choose to turn it off, you can set your PowerPoint presentation to loop. This will ensure your slide show automatically starts over from the beginning once it reaches the end. To get started, navigate to the âSlide Showâ tab on the menu and select âSet Up Slide Show.â When the settings window opens, check the box next to âLoop continuously until âESCââ and then click âOK.â When youâre ready to turn your slide show off, simply press the Esc key on your keyboard.
Slide show template and theme tips
Search themes and templates online.
With numerous slide show themes and templates available, itâs easy to find one that fits your needs.
Customize your design
If you canât find the perfect theme or template, you can change things like colors and fonts.
Build a custom template
If you want a blueprint to use with future slide shows, you can create your own template.
Add new slides
If you need more slides, you can choose a specific layout and your theme will be carried over.
Edit your slide layouts
Even when using a theme or template, you can rearrange slide content to highlight key information.
Add photos, videos, and text
Themes and templates make adding media easy since most slides have designated content areas.
Change or resize your fonts
If your themeâs font is too small, you can resize it or choose a new font to make it easy to read.
Reorder your slide show
Some themes and templates have a predefined sequence, but you can reorder slides to meet your needs.
Create your own slide show
Slide shows are a great way to engage your audience and present important information. Whether you're creating a slide show for personal or professional reasons, slide shows are an essential tool for anyone who wants to share information in a visually appealing manner.
Discover more ways to improve your slide show
What options are available to create a slide show?
Slide show makers come in many forms. Some slide show software can only be used on specific devices, while other slide show creators can be accessed via the cloud from any device at any time.
Itâs a good idea to evaluate a variety of slide show makers to ensure that you find one with all the features you need. For instance, some slide show software skews toward business use cases and others toward personal.
Microsoft PowerPoint is a popular slide show app that allows you to save presentations to your device or the cloud, and is widely used for personal, professional, and educational purposes.
Frequently asked questions
What are slide show apps and software.
Slide show apps and software are used to create and share slide shows. Slide show programs are typically used to communicate information, diagrams, plans, or processes. They can also be used to display photos and videos at events or retail stores. Usually, slide show makers have a range of built-in features and layouts, making them easy to use, regardless of technical skill levels.
What should a slide show include?
An effective slide show should be engaging, visually appealing, and informative. To achieve this, you'll want to make sure to include the following elements:
- A catchy headline or title. This will help grab your audience's attention and set the tone for the rest of your presentation.
- A variety of images. Don't just rely on textâincorporate photos, illustrations, or even video to maximize viewership.
- Bullet points or short blocks of text. Keep your slide content concise and easy to digest; too much information will only overwhelm your viewers.
How do I make a picture slide show?
There are a few different ways to make picture slide shows. You can use online programs, or you can create a slide show directly on your computer, phone, tablet, or other device using slide show software. Some programs, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, can be accessed on your personal device and on the cloud.
How long should a slide show be?
The length of your slide show will depend on several factors, such as the topic of your presentation, the audience you're presenting to, and the amount of time you have. That said, slide shows are generally between five and ten minutes long.
How can I make a slide show better?
Here are a few tips to make your slide show more engaging:
- Add images, videos, and music to bring your slide show to life.
- Use a font that is easy to read from a distance.
- Try not to use too many words on each slide.
- Use custom transitions and timing to make your slide show flow.
- Ensure a cohesive slide show by using a theme or template.
- For live presentations, practice with the Speaker Coach feature .
Follow Microsoft 365
Cloud Storage
Custom Business Email
Video and voice conferencing
Shared Calendars
Word Processing
Spreadsheets
Presentation Builder
Survey builder
Google Workspace
An integrated suit of secure, cloud-native collaboration and productivity apps powered by Google AI.
Tell impactful stories, with Google Slides
Create, present, and collaborate on online presentations in real-time and from any device.
- For my personal use
- For work or my business
Jeffery Clark
T h i s c h a r t h e l p s b r i d g i n g t h e s t o r y !
E s t i m a t e d b u d g e t
Make beautiful presentations, together
Stay in sync in your slides, with easy sharing and real-time editing. Use comments and assign action items to build your ideas together.
Present slideshows with confidence
With easy-to-use presenter view, speaker notes, and live captions, Slides makes presenting your ideas a breeze. You can even present to Google Meet video calls directly from Slides.
Seamlessly connect to your other Google apps
Slides is thoughtfully connected to other Google apps you love, saving you time. Embed charts from Google Sheets or reply to comments directly from Gmail. You can even search the web and Google Drive for relevant content and images directly from Slides.
Extend collaboration and intelligence to PowerPoint files
Easily edit Microsoft PowerPoint presentations online without converting them, and layer on Slidesâ enhanced collaborative and assistive features like comments, action items, and Smart Compose.
Work on fresh content
With Slides, everyoneâs working on the latest version of a presentation. And with edits automatically saved in version history, itâs easy to track or undo changes.
Make slides faster, with built-in intelligence
Assistive features like Smart Compose and autocorrect help you build slides faster with fewer errors.
Stay productive, even offline
You can access, create, and edit Slides even without an internet connection, helping you stay productive from anywhere.
Security, compliance, and privacy
Secure by default
We use industry-leading security measures to keep your data safe, including advanced malware protections. Slides is also cloud-native, eliminating the need for local files and minimizing risk to your devices.
Encryption in transit and at rest
All files uploaded to Google Drive or created in Slides are encrypted in transit and at rest.
Compliance to support regulatory requirements
Our products, including Slides, regularly undergo independent verification of their security, privacy, and compliance controls .
Private by design
Slides adheres to the same robust privacy commitments and data protections as the rest of Google Cloudâs enterprise services .
You control your data.
We never use your slides content for ad purposes., we never sell your personal information to third parties., find the plan thatâs right for you, google slides is a part of google workspace.
Every plan includes
Collaborate from anywhere, on any device
Access, create, and edit your presentations wherever you are â from any mobile device, tablet, or computer â even when offline.
Get a head start with templates
Choose from a variety of presentations, reports, and other professionally-designed templates to kick things off quickly..
Photo Album
Book Report
Visit the Slides Template Gallery for more.
Ready to get started?
17 PowerPoint Presentation Tips to Make More Creative Slideshows [+ Templates]
Published: August 16, 2023
Creating a great PowerPoint presentation is a skill that any professional can benefit from. The problem? Itâs really easy to get it wrong. From poor color choices to confusing slides, a bad PowerPoint slideshow can distract from the fantastic content youâre sharing with stakeholders on your team.
Thatâs why itâs so important to learn how to create a PowerPoint presentation from the ground up, starting with your slides. Even if youâre familiar with PowerPoint, a refresher will help you make a more attractive, professional slideshow. Letâs get started.
How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation
- Presentation Tips
PowerPoint Design
I like to think of Microsoft PowerPoint as a test of basic professional skills. To create a passing presentation, I need to demonstrate design skills, technical literacy, and a sense of personal style.
If the presentation has a problem (like an unintended font, a broken link, or unreadable text), then Iâve probably failed the test. Even if my spoken presentation is well rehearsed, a bad visual experience can ruin it for the audience.
Expertise means nothing without a good PowerPoint presentation to back it up. For starters, grab your collection of free PowerPoint templates below.
10 Free PowerPoint Templates
Download ten free PowerPoint templates for a better presentation.
- Creative templates.
- Data-driven templates.
- Professional templates.
You're all set!
Click this link to access this resource at any time.
Tell us a little about yourself below to gain access today.
No matter your topic, successful PowerPoints depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint's design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and your devotion to consistent style. Here are some simple tips to help you start mastering each of those factors, and don't forget to check out the additional resources at the bottom of this post.
A presentation is made up of multiple slides, let's delve deeper into PowerPoint's capabilities.
Getting Started
1. open powerpoint and click ânew.â.
If a page with templates doesnât automatically open, go to the top left pane of your screen and click New. If youâve already created a presentation, select Open then double-click the icon to open the existing file.
That said, you can still use fun and eccentric fonts â in moderation. Offsetting a fun font or large letters with something more professional can create an engaging presentation.
Above all, be sure you're consistent so your presentation looks the same throughout each slide. That way, your audience doesn't become distracted by too many disparate fonts. Check out this example from HubSpotâs company profile templates:
Interested in this presentation template? Download it for free here.
5. Make sure all of your objects are properly aligned.
Having properly aligned objects on your slide is the key to making it look polished and professional. You can manually try to line up your images ... but we all know how that typically works out. You're trying to make sure all of your objects hang out in the middle of your slide, but when you drag them there, it still doesn't look quite right. Get rid of your guessing game and let PowerPoint work its magic with this trick.
Hereâs how to align multiple objects:
- Select all objects by holding down Shift and clicking on all of them.
- Select Arrange in the top options bar, then choose Align or Distribute .
- Choose the type of alignment you'd like.
Hereâs how to align objects to the slide:
- Select Align to Slide .
- Select Arrange in the top options bar again, then choose Align or Distribute .
6. Use "Format Object" to better control your objects' designs.
Format menus allow you to do fine adjustments that otherwise seem impossible. To do this, right-click on an object and select the Format Object option. Here, you can fine-tune shadows, adjust shape measurements, create reflections, and much more. The menu that will pop up looks like this:
Although the main options can be found on PowerPointâs format toolbars, look for complete control in the format window menu. Other examples of options available include:
- Adjusting text inside a shape.
- Creating a natural perspective shadow behind an object.
- Recoloring photos manually and with automatic options.
7. Take advantage of PowerPoint's shapes.
Many users donât realize how flexible PowerPointâs shape tools have become. In combination with the expanded format options released by Microsoft, the potential for good design with shapes is readily available. PowerPoint provides the user with a bunch of great shape options beyond the traditional rectangle, oval, and rounded rectangle patterns.
Todayâs shapes include a highly functional Smart Shapes function, which enables you to create diagrams and flow charts in no time. These tools are especially valuable when you consider that PowerPoint is a visual medium. Paragraphing and bullet lists are boring â you can use shapes to help express your message more clearly.
8. Create custom shapes.
When you create a shape, right click and press Edit Points . By editing points, you can create custom shapes that fit your specific need. For instance, you can reshape arrows to fit the dimensions you like.
Another option is to combine two shapes together. To do so, select the two shapes youâd like to work with, then click Shape Format in the top ribbon. Tap Merge Shapes .
Youâll see a variety of options.
- Combine creates a custom shape that has overlapping portions of the two previous shapes cut out.
- Union makes one completely merged shape.
- Intersect builds a shape of only the overlapping sections of the two previous shapes.
- Subtract cuts out the overlapping portion of one shape from the other.
- Fragment will split your shape into different parts depending on where they overlap.
By using these tools rather than trying to edit points precisely, you can create accurately measured custom shapes.
9. Crop images into custom shapes.
Besides creating custom shapes in your presentation, you can also use PowerPoint to crop existing images into new shapes. Here's how you do that:
- Click on the image and select Picture Format in the options bar.
- Choose Crop , then Crop to Shape , and then choose your desired shape. Ta-da! Custom-shaped photos.
10. Present websites within PowerPoint.
Tradition says that if you want to show a website in a PowerPoint, you should just create a link to the page and prompt a browser to open. For PC users, thereâs a better option.
Third party software that integrates fully into PowerPointâs developer tab can be used to embed a website directly into your PowerPoint using a normal HTML iframe. One of the best tools is LiveWeb , a third-party software that you can install on your PowerPoint program.
By using LiveWeb, you donât have to interrupt your PowerPoint, and your presentation will remain fluid and natural. Whether you embed a whole webpage or just a YouTube video, this can be a high-quality third party improvement. To install the add-on, simple head to the LiveWeb website and follow the instructions.
Unfortunately, Mac users donât have a similar option. A good second choice is to take screenshots of the website, link in through a browser, or embed media (such as a YouTube video) by downloading it directly to your computer.
11. Try Using GIFs.
GIFs are looped animated images used to communicate a mood, idea, information, and much more. Users add GIFs to PowerPoints to be funny or quickly demo a process. It's easy to add GIFs to your slides. To do so, simply follow these steps:
- Download and save the GIF you want.
- Go to the slide you want the GIF on.
- Go to the Home tab, and click either Insert or Picture .
- From the Picture drop-down menu, choose Picture from File .
- Navigate to where you saved your GIF and select it. Then, choose Insert .
- It will play automatically the moment you insert it.
PowerPoint Process
12. keep it simple..
PowerPoint is an excellent tool to support your presentation with visual information, graphics, and supplemental points. This means that your PowerPoint should not be your entire presentation. Your slides â no matter how creative and beautiful â shouldn't be the star of the show. Keep your text and images clear and concise, using them only to supplement your message and authority.
If your slides have dense and cluttered information, it will both distract your audience and make it much more likely that you will lose their attention. Nothing in your slides should be superfluous! Keep your presentation persuasive by keeping it clean. There are a few ways to do this:
- Limit bullet points and text.
- Avoid paragraphs and long quotes.
- Maintain "white space" or "negative space".
- Keep percentages, graphs, and data super basic.
13. Embed your font files.
One constant problem presenters have with PowerPoint is that fonts seem to change when presenters move from one computer to another. In reality, the fonts are not changing â the presentation computer just doesnât have the same font files installed . If youâre using a PC and presenting on a PC, then there is a smooth workaround for this issue.
Hereâs the trick: When you save your PowerPoint file (only on a PC), you should click File , then Options, then open up the Save tab. Then, select the Embed fonts in the file check box under Preserve fidelity when sharing this presentation . Now, your presentation will keep the font file and your fonts will not change when you move computers.
The macOS PowerPoint version has a similar function. To embed your fonts on a Mac, do the following:
- Open up your presentation.
- On the top bar, click PowerPoint , then click Preferences .
- Under Output and Sharing , click Save .
- Under Font Embedding , click Embed fonts in the file.
14. Save your slides as a PDF file for backup purposes.
If youâre still scared of your presentation showing up differently when itâs time to present, you should create a PDF version just in case. This is a good option if youâll be presenting on a different computer. If you also run into an issue where the presenting computer doesnât have PowerPoint installed, you can also use the system viewer to open up the PDF. No laptop will ever give you trouble with this file type.
The only caveat is that your GIFs, animations, and transitions wonât transfer over. But since the PDF will only work as a backup, not as your primary copy, this should be okay.
To save your presentation as a PDF file, take the following steps:
- Go to File , then click Save as âŠ
- In the pop-up window, click File Format.
- A drop-down menu will appear. Select PDF .
- Click Export .
You can also go to File , then Export , then select PDF from the file format menu.
15. Embed multimedia.
PowerPoint allows you to either link to video/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. You should embed these files if you can, but if you use a Mac, you cannot actually embed the video (see note below). For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:
- Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows.
- Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac).
Note: macOS users of PowerPoint should be extra careful about using multimedia files.
If you use PowerPoint for Mac, then you will always need to bring the video and/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation. Itâs best to only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder. Also, if the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format. This tip gets a bit complicated, so if you want to use PowerPoint effectively, consider using the same operating system for designing and presenting, no matter what.
16. Bring your own hardware.
Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. One way to fix these problems is to make sure that you have the right hardware â so just bring along your own laptop when you're presenting.
If youâre super concerned about the different systems you might have to use, then upload your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides as a backup option. Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that will show up the same way on all operating systems. The only thing you need is an internet connection and a browser.
To import your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides, take the following steps:
- Navigate to slides.google.com . Make sure youâre signed in to a Google account, preferably your own.
- Under Start a new presentation , click the empty box with a plus sign. This will open up a blank presentation.
- Go to File , then Import slides .
- A dialog box will come up. Tap Upload , then click Select a file from your device .
- Select your presentation and click Open .
- Select the slides youâd like to import. If you want to import all of them, click All in the upper right-hand corner of the dialog box.
- Click Import slides.
When I tested this out, Google Slides imported everything perfectly, including a shape whose points I had manipulated. This is a good backup option to have if youâll be presenting across different operating systems.
17. Use Presenter View.
In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenterâs screen and the main projected display for your presentation. PowerPoint has a great tool called Presenter View, which can be found in the Slide Show tab of PowerPoint. Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer/clock, and a presentation display.
For many presenters, this tool can help unify their spoken presentation and their visual aid. You never want to make the PowerPoint seem like a stack of notes that youâre reading off of. Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.
Pro Tip: At the start of the presentation, you should also hit CTRL + H to make the cursor disappear. Hitting the "A" key will bring it back if you need it!
Your Next Great PowerPoint Presentation Starts Here
With style, design, and presentation processes under your belt, you can do a lot more with PowerPoint than just presentations for your clients. PowerPoint and similar slide applications are flexible tools that should not be forgotten. With a great template, you can be on your way to creating presentations that wow your audience.
Editor's note: This post was originally published in September 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
Don't forget to share this post!
Related articles.
How to Write an Ecommerce Business Plan [Examples & Template]
How to Create an Infographic in Under an Hour â the 2024 Guide [+ Free Templates]
20 Great Examples of PowerPoint Presentation Design [+ Templates]
Get Buyers to Do What You Want: The Power of Temptation Bundling in Sales
How to Create an Engaging 5-Minute Presentation
How to Start a Presentation [+ Examples]
120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience
How to Create the Best PowerPoint Presentations [Examples & Templates]
The Presenter's Guide to Nailing Your Next PowerPoint
How to Create a Stunning Presentation Cover Page [+ Examples]
Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments â all on one easy-to-use platform
- Great Tech Gifts for Any Occasion
- The Best Gadgets for The Beach or Pool
How to Make a Slideshow on PowerPoint
Whether for work or private, use slideshows to get your message across
- Central Washington University
In This Article
Jump to a Section
Before You Begin
- Step-by-Step: Make a Slideshow on PowerPoint
- Play Music During the Slideshow
- Set up the Slideshow
- Add Timings to Each Slide
- Edit Timings on a Slide
- Create a Video Slideshow
- Save a Slideshow to a CD or Other Removeable Media
When you're ready to present your PowerPoint slides to others, look no further than PowerPoint's slideshow feature. Use this tool for all kinds of slides, but those containing photos work best for most viewers.
Instructions in this article apply to PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 , PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, and PowerPoint for Mac.
Before you create slides for your slideshow presentation, decide how long to make the slideshow, how it should flow, and the pictures youâll use.
- Length : A slideshow can be as long or as short as you need. The length of the slideshow should be appropriate for the topic and for your audienceâs attention span.
- Outline : Itâs always smart to start with an outline; it helps you visualize your slideshow. An outline can be as simple as the list of topics you want to cover.
- Pictures : Choose photos that are clear and tell a story.
With PowerPoint's Photo Album , select the pictures and PowerPoint creates the basic slideshow. Fill your slides with informative text and harmonizing background music, then turn your collection of slides into a self-running photo slideshow with music that can play as a video or be stored on a CD.
When youâre ready to make a photo slideshow with music, PowerPoint gets you up and running quickly. To get started, select Insert > Photo Album > New Photo Album .
Hereâs how to add and format pictures for the slideshow using the Photo Album:
Add pictures
Select File/Disk and select the images you want in the picture slideshow.
Enhance photos
Place a checkmark next to the picture you want to enhance and change the orientation, contrast, and brightness. Youâll see the changes in the Preview window.
Add text boxes
To add a slide for text, select the image in the album list you want the text to follow and select New Text Box .
Rearrange slides
ï»ż Place a checkmark next to the picture you want to move and select the Move Up or Move Down arrows.
Choose a picture layout
ï»ż Select the Picture layout down arrow and choose how you want the pictures to appear in the slideshow.
Frame the pictures
ï»ż Select the Frame shape down arrow and choose a frame style. Youâll see a preview in the Album Layout area. This option will not be selectable if the picture layout Fit to slide is enabled.
Select Create when youâre finished.
Your photo slideshow is created in a new file. Add text to the slides and change the look of each slide.
How to Play Music During the Slideshow
Play music in the background during your slideshow to offer an audio counterpoint to all the visuals. The background music starts automatically with the slideshow and plays during all the slides.
To add background music to your presentation, select Insert > Audio > Audio on My PC , choose a music file, then select OK .
The audio icon appears in the middle of the current slide. To move it, drag it to a different place on the slide. When the audio icon is selected, the Playback tab appears. Select Play in Background and make changes to the audio file . Here are some suggestions.
- Preview the music : Select Play to hear what the music will sound like during your slideshow.
- Shorten the duration : Select Trim Audio to remove parts of the beginning and end of the music file.
- Adjust the volume : Select Volume to make the background music louder or softer.
How to Set up the Slideshow
Once your slides are finished, itâs time to set up the slideshow. Start by deciding whether to show the slideshow in a window or full screen.
To set up the slideshow, select Slide Show > Set Up Slide Show and choose one of the following:
- Browsed by an individual (window) : Run the slideshow automatically and inside a window. This option works best when you save the slideshow to a CD.
- Browsed at a kiosk (full screen) : Run the slideshow automatically and at full-screen size. This option works best when you convert the slideshow to a video.
Select OK when youâre finished.
How to Add Timings to Each Slide in the Slideshow
Now itâs time to decide how long each slide will appear in the slideshow. To begin, select Slide Show > Rehearse Timings . The slideshow displays in full screen with a Recording toolbar and a timer.
While timing your presentation, use the Recording toolbar to advance through the presentation.
Select Next (arrow pointing to the right) to go to the next slide when the desired timing has been reached.
Select Pause to start and stop the timing.
Select Repeat to restart recording the time for the selected slide.
When youâre finished and have set the time for the last slide, close the Recording toolbar.
Select Yes to keep the recorded slide timings.
How to Edit Timings on a Slide
If you need to increase or decrease the time for your slideshow, change how long slides appear during the slideshow.
To change the timing for a slide:
Select View > Slide Sorter .
Select Transitions .
Select a slide.
In the Advance Slide After text box, enter how long the slide should appear in the slideshow before proceeding to the next slide, then press Enter .
The new timing applies to the slide.
How to Create a PowerPoint Video Slideshow
The easiest way to distribute and play your slideshow is in video format. This way, anyone can view your slideshow no matter what computer or device they use.
To convert a slideshow into a video:
Save the file.
Select File > Export .
Select Create a Video .
To force a smaller file size, select the Full HD drop-down list and choose a lower quality.
Select Create Video .
Select the destination folder and give the video a descriptive file name.
Select Save . It may take a few minutes to process the file and create the video.
How to Save a Slideshow to a CD or Other Removeable Media
To create a presentation that can be watched on any computer and can be stored on a CD or other removable media:
Select Package Presentation for CD > Package for CD .
Type a name for the CD.
Select Copy to Folder or Copy to CD and follow the on-screen directions.
When youâre finished, select Close .
Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day
- The 8 Best Slideshow Apps of 2024
- How to Create Digital Photo Albums in PowerPoint
- How to Do a Voiceover on PowerPoint
- How to Add Music to PowerPoint
- Loop a PowerPoint Slide Show
- Adding Sounds, Music or Narration to PowerPoint Slide Shows
- Tips for Memorial PowerPoint Presentations
- How to Change a Black-and-White Picture to Color in PowerPoint
- How to Use Speaker Notes in PowerPoint
- How to Print PowerPoint Slides
- How to Hide and Unhide a Slide in PowerPoint
- Edit Music, Sound, or Other Audio Settings in PowerPoint
- Create a Wedding PowerPoint Presentation
- How to Create a Slideshow With Google Photos
- How to Add Audio to PowerPoint
- How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation
Critical PowerPoint Shortcuts –Â Claim Your FREE Training Module and Get Your Time Back!
How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step)
- PowerPoint Tutorials
- Presentation Design
- January 22, 2024
In this beginnerâs guide, you will learn step-by-step how to make a PowerPoint presentation from scratch.
While PowerPoint is designed to be intuitive and accessible, it can be overwhelming if youâve never gotten any training on it before. As you progress through this guide, you’ll will learn how to move from blank slides to PowerPoint slides that look like these.
Table of Contents
Additionally, as you create your presentation, you’ll also learn tricks for working more efficiently in PowerPoint, including how to:
- Change the slide order
- Reset your layout
- Change the slide dimensions
- Use PowerPoint Designer
- Format text
- Format objects
- Play a presentation (slide show)
With this knowledge under your belt, youâll be ready to start creating PowerPoint presentations. Moreover, youâll have taken your skills from beginner to proficient in no time at all. I will also include links to more advanced PowerPoint topics.
Ready to start learning how to make a PowerPoint presentation?
Take your PPT skills to the next level
Start with a blank presentation.
Note: Before you open PowerPoint and start creating your presentation, make sure youâve collected your thoughts. If youâre going to make your slides compelling, you need to spend some time brainstorming.
For help with this, see our article with tips for nailing your business presentation here .
The first thing youâll need to do is to open PowerPoint. When you do, you are shown the Start Menu , with the Home tab open.
This is where you can choose either a blank theme (1) or a pre-built theme (2). You can also choose to open an existing presentation (3).
For now, go ahead and click on the Blank Presentation (1)  thumbnail.
Doing so launches a brand new and blank presentation for you to work with. Before you start adding content to your presentation, let’s first familiarize ourselves with the PowerPoint interface.
The PowerPoint interface
Here is how the program is laid out:
- The Application Header
- The Ribbon (including the Ribbon tabs)
- The Quick Access Toolbar (either above or below the Ribbon)
- The Slides Pane (slide thumbnails)
The Slide Area
The notes pane.
- The Status Bar (including the View Buttons)
Each one of these areas has options for viewing certain parts of the PowerPoint environment and formatting your presentation.
Below are the important things to know about certain elements of the PowerPoint interface.
The PowerPoint Ribbon
The Ribbon is contextual. That means that it will adapt to what youâre doing in the program.
For example, the Font, Paragraph and Drawing options are greyed out until you select something that has text in it, as in the example below (A).
Furthermore, if you start manipulating certain objects, the Ribbon will display additional tabs, as seen above (B), with more commands and features to help you work with those objects. The following objects have their own additional tabs in the Ribbon which are hidden until you select them:
- Online Pictures
- Screenshots
- Screen Recording
The Slides Pane
This is where you can preview and rearrange all the slides in your presentation.
Right-clicking on a slide  in the pane gives you additional options on the slide level that you wonât find on the Ribbon, such as Duplicate Slide , Delete Slide , and Hide Slide .
In addition, you can add sections to your presentation by right-clicking anywhere in this Pane  and selecting Add Section . Sections are extremely helpful in large presentations, as they allow you to organize your slides into chunks that you can then rearrange, print or display differently from other slides.
The Slide Area (A) is where you will build out your slides. Anything within the bounds of this area will be visible when you present or print your presentation.
Anything outside of this area (B) will be hidden from view. This means that you can place things here, such as instructions for each slide, without worrying about them being shown to your audience.
The  Notes Pane  is the space beneath the Slide Area where you can type in the speaker notes for each slide. Itâs designed as a fast way to add and edit your slidesâ talking points.
To expand your knowledge and learn more about adding, printing, and exporting your PowerPoint speaker notes, read our guide here .
Your speaker notes are visible when you print your slides using the Notes Pages option and when you use the Presenter View . To expand your knowledge and learn the ins and outs of using the Presenter View , read our guide here .
You can resize the Notes Pane  by clicking on its edge and dragging it up or down (A). You can also minimize or reopen it by clicking on the Notes button in the Status Bar (B).
Note: Â Not all text formatting displays in the Notes Pane, even though it will show up when printing your speaker notes. To learn more about printing PowerPoint with notes, read our guide here .
Now that you have a basic grasp of the PowerPoint interface at your disposal, itâs time to make your presentation.
Adding Content to Your PowerPoint Presentation
Notice that in the Slide Area , there are two rectangles with dotted outlines. These are called Placeholders and theyâre set on the template in the Slide Master View .
To expand your knowledge and learn how to create a PowerPoint template of your own (which is no small task), read our guide here .
As the prompt text suggests, you can click into each placeholder and start typing text. These types of placeholder prompts are customizable too. That means that if you are using a company template, it might say something different, but the functionality is the same.
Note: Â For the purposes of this example, I will create a presentation based on the content in the Starbucks 2018 Global Social Impact Report, which is available to the public on their website.
If you type in more text than there is room for, PowerPoint will automatically reduce its font size. You can stop this behavior by clicking on the Autofit Options  icon to the left of the placeholder and selecting Stop Fitting Text to this Placeholder .
Next, you can make formatting adjustments to your text by selecting the commands in the Font area and the Paragraph area  of the Home tab of the Ribbon.
The Reset Command: Â If you make any changes to your title and decide you want to go back to how it was originally, you can use the Reset button up in the Home tab .
Insert More Slides into Your Presentation
Now that you have your title slide filled in, itâs time to add more slides. To do that, simply go up to the Home tab  and click on New Slide . This inserts a new slide in your presentation right after the one you were on.
You can alternatively hit Ctrl+M on your keyboard to insert a new blank slide in PowerPoint. To learn more about this shortcut, see my guide on using Ctrl+M in PowerPoint .
Instead of clicking the New Slide command, you can also open the New Slide dropdown to see all the slide layouts in your PowerPoint template. Depending on who created your template, your layouts in this dropdown can be radically different.
If you insert a layout and later want to change it to a different layout, you can use the Layout dropdown instead of the New Slide dropdown.
After inserting a few different slide layouts, your presentation might look like the following picture. Don’t worry that it looks blank, next we will start adding content to your presentation.
If you want to follow along exactly with me, your five slides should be as follows:
- Title Slide
- Title and Content
- Section Header
- Two Content
- Picture with Caption
Adding Content to Your Slides
Now letâs go into each slide and start adding our content. Youâll notice some new types of placeholders.
On slide 2 we have a Content Placeholder , which allows you to add any kind of content. That includes:
- A SmartArt graphic,
- A 3D object,
- A picture from the web,
- Or an icon.
To insert text, simply type it in or hit Ctrl+C to Copy  and Ctrl+V to Paste  from elsewhere. To insert any of the other objects, click on the appropriate icon and follow the steps to insert it.
For my example, Iâll simply type in some text as you can see in the picture below.
Slides 3 and 4 only have text placeholders, so Iâll go ahead and add in my text into each one.
On slide 5 we have a Picture Placeholder . That means that the only elements that can go into it are:
- A picture from the web
To insert a picture into the picture placeholder, simply:
- Click on the Picture icon
- Find a picture on your computer and select it
- Click on Insert
Alternatively, if you already have a picture open somewhere else, you can select the placeholder and paste in (shortcut: Ctrl+V ) the picture. You can also drag the picture in from a file explorer window.
If you do not like the background of the picture you inserted onto your slide, you can remove the background here in PowerPoint. To see how to do this, read my guide here .
Placeholders arenât the only way to add content to your slides. At any point, you can use the Insert tab to add elements to your slides.
You can use either the Title Only  or the Blank slide layout to create slides for content that’s different. For example, a three-layout content slide, or a single picture divider slide, as shown below.
In the first example above, Iâve inserted 6 text boxes, 3 icons, and 3 circles to create this layout. In the second example, Iâve inserted a full-sized picture and then 2 shapes and 2 text boxes.
The Reset Command:  Because these slides are built with shapes and text boxes (and not placeholders), hitting the Reset button up in the Home tab  wonât do anything.
That is a good thing if you donât want your layouts to adjust. However, it does mean that it falls on you to make sure everything is aligned and positioned correctly.
For more on how to add and manipulate the different objects in PowerPoint, check out our step-by-step articles here:
- Using graphics in PowerPoint
- Inserting icons onto slides
- Adding pictures to your PowerPoint
- How to embed a video in PowerPoint
- How to add music to your presentation
Using Designer to generate more layouts ideas
If you have Office 365, your version of PowerPoint comes with a new feature called Designer (or Design Ideas). This is a feature that generates slide layout ideas for you. The coolest thing about this feature is that it uses the content you already have.
To use Designer , simply navigate to the Design tab  in your Ribbon, and click on Design Ideas .
NOTE: If the PowerPoint Designer is not working for you (it is grey out), see my troubleshooting guide for Designer .
Change the Overall Design (optional)
When you make a PowerPoint presentation, you’ll want to think about the overall design. Now that you have some content in your presentation, you can use the Design tab to change the look and feel of your slides.
For additional help thinking through the design of your presentation, read my guide here .
A. Picking your PowerPoint slide size
If you have PowerPoint 2013 or later, when you create a blank document in PowerPoint, you automatically start with a widescreen layout with a 16:9 ratio. These dimensions are suitable for most presentations as they match the screens of most computers and projectors.
However, you do have the option to change the dimensions.
For example, your presentation might not be presented, but instead converted into a PDF or printed and distributed. In that case, you can easily switch to the standard dimensions with a 4:3 ratio by selecting from the dropdown (A).
You can also choose a custom slide size or change the slide orientation from landscape to portrait in the Custom Slide Size dialog box (B).
To learn all about the different PowerPoint slide sizes, and some of the issues you will face when changing the slide size of a non-blank presentation, read my guide here .
B. Selecting a PowerPoint theme
The next thing you can do is change the theme of your presentation to a pre-built one. For a detailed explanation of what a PowerPoint theme is, and how to best use it, read my article here .
In the beginning of this tutorial, we started with a blank presentation, which uses the default Office theme as you can see in the picture below.
That gives you the most flexibility because it has a blank background and quite simple layouts that work for most presentations. However, it also means that itâs your responsibility to enhance the design.
If youâre comfortable with this, you can stay with the default theme or create your own custom theme ( read my guide here ). But if you would rather not have to think about design, then you can choose a pre-designed theme.
Microsoft provides 46 other pre-built themes, which include slide layouts, color variants and palettes, and fonts. Each one varies quite significantly, so make sure you look through them carefully.
To select a different theme, go to the Design tab in the Ribbon, and click on the dropdown arrow  in the Themes section .
For this tutorial, letâs select the Frame theme and then choose the third Variant in the theme. Doing so changes the layout, colors, and fonts of your presentation.
Note: The theme dropdown area is also where you can import or save custom themes. To see my favorite places to find professional PowerPoint templates and themes (and recommendations for why I like them), read my guide here .
C. How to change a slide background in PowerPoint
The next thing to decide is how you want your background to look for the entire presentation. In the Variants area, you can see four background options.
For this example, we want our presentation to have a dark background, so letâs select Style 3. When you do so, youâll notice that:
- The background color automatically changes across all slides
- The color of the text on most of the slides automatically changes to white so that itâs visible on the dark background
- The colors of the objects on slides #6 and #7 also adjust, in a way we may not want (weâll likely have to make some manual adjustments to these slides)
Note: If you want to change the slide background for just that one slide, donât left-click the style. Instead, right-click it and select Apply to Selected Slides .
After you change the background for your entire presentation, you can easily adjust the background for an individual slide.
Inside the Format Background pane, you can see you have the following options:
- Gradient fill
- Picture or texture fill
- Pattern fill
- Hide background
You can explore these options to find the PowerPoint background that best fits your presentation.
D. How to change your color palette in PowerPoint
Another thing you may want to adjust in your presentation, is the color scheme. In the picture below you can see the Theme Colors we are currently using for this presentation.
Each PowerPoint theme comes with its own color palette. By default, the Office theme includes the Office color palette. This affects the colors you are presented with when you format any element within your presentation (text, shapes, SmartArt, etc.).
The good news is that the colors here are easy to change. To switch color palettes, simply:
- Go to the Design tab in the Ribbon
- In the Variants area, click on the dropdown arrow  and select Colors
- Select the color palette (or theme colors) you want
You can choose among the pre-built color palettes from Office, or you can customize them to create your own.
As you build your presentation, make sure you use the colors from your theme to format objects. That way, changing the color palette adjusts all the colors in your presentation automatically.
E. How to change your fonts in PowerPoint
Just as we changed the color palette, you can do the same for the fonts.
Each PowerPoint theme comes with its own font combination. By default, the Office theme includes the Office font pairing. This affects the fonts that are automatically assigned to all text in your presentation.
The good news is that the font pairings are easy to change. To switch your Theme Fonts, simply:
- Go to the Design tab  in the Ribbon
- Click on the dropdown arrow  in the Variants area
- Select Fonts
- Select the font pairing you want
You can choose among the pre-built fonts from Office, or you can customize them to create your own.
If you are working with PowerPoint presentations on both Mac and PC computers, make sure you choose a safe PowerPoint font. To see a list of the safest PowerPoint fonts, read our guide here .
If you receive a PowerPoint presentation and the wrong fonts were used, you can use the Replace Fonts dialog box to change the fonts across your entire presentation. For details, read our guide here .
Adding Animations & Transitions (optional)
The final step to make a PowerPoint presentation compelling, is to consider using animations and transitions. These are by no means necessary to a good presentation, but they may be helpful in your situation.
A. Adding PowerPoint animations
PowerPoint has an incredibly robust animations engine designed to power your creativity. That being said, itâs also easy to get started with basic animations.
Animations are movements that you can apply to individual objects on your slide.
To add a PowerPoint animation to an element of your slide, simply:
- Select the element
- Go to the Animations tab in the Ribbon
- Click on the dropdown arrow  to view your options
- Select the animation you want
You can add animations to multiple objects at one time by selecting them all first and then applying the animation.
B. How to preview a PowerPoint animation
There are three ways to preview a PowerPoint animation:
- Click on the Preview button in the Animations tab
- Click on the little star next to the slide
- Play the slide in Slide Show Mode
To learn other ways to run your slide show, see our guide on presenting a PowerPoint slide show with shortcuts .
To adjust the settings of your animations, explore the options in the Effect Options , Advanced Animation  and the Timing areas of the Animation tab .
Note:  To see how to make objects appear and disappear in your slides by clicking a button, read our guide here .
C. How to manage your animations in PowerPoint
The best way to manage lots of animations on your slide is with the Animation Pane . To open it, simply:
- Navigate to the Animations tab
- Select the Animation Pane
Inside the Animation Pane, you’ll see all of the different animations that have been applied to objects on your slide, with their numbers marked as pictured above.
Note: To see examples of PowerPoint animations that can use in PowerPoint, see our list of PowerPoint animation tutorials here .
D. How to add transitions to your PowerPoint presentation
PowerPoint has an incredibly robust transition engine so that you can dictate how your slides change from one to the other. It is also extremely easy to add transitions to your slides.
In PowerPoint, transitions are the movements (or effects) you see as you move between two slides.
To add a transition to a PowerPoint slide, simply:
- Select the slide
- Go to the Transitions tab in the Ribbon
- In the Transitions to This Slide area, click on the dropdown arrow  to view your options
- Select the transition you want
To adjust the settings of the transition, explore the options in the Timing area of the Transitions tab.
You can also add the same transition to multiple slides. To do that, select them in the Slides Pane  and apply the transition.
E. How to preview a transition in PowerPoint
There are three ways to preview your PowerPoint transitions (just like your animations):
- Click on the Preview button in the Transitions tab
- Click on the little star beneath the slide number in the thumbnail view
Note:  In 2016, PowerPoint added a cool new transition, called Morph. It operates a bit differently from other transitions. For a detailed tutorial on how to use the cool Morph transition, see our step-by-step article here .
Save Your PowerPoint Presentation
After you’ve built your presentation and made all the adjustments to your slides, you’ll want to save your presentation. YOu can do this several different ways.
To save a PowerPoint presentation using your Ribbon, simply:
- Navigate to the File tab
-  Select Save As  on the left
- Choose where you want to save your presentation
- Name your presentation and/or adjust your file type settings
- Click Save
You can alternatively use the Ctrl+S keyboard shortcut to save your presentation. I recommend using this shortcut frequently as you build your presentation to make sure you don’t lose any of your work.
This is the standard way to save a presentation. However, there may be a situation where you want to save your presentation as a different file type.
To learn how to save your presentation as a PDF, see our guide on converting PowerPoint to a PDF .
How to save your PowerPoint presentation as a template
Once youâve created a presentation that you like, you may want to turn it into a template. The easiest – but not technically correct – way, is to simply create a copy of your current presentation and then change the content.
But be careful! A PowerPoint template is a special type of document and it has its own parameters and behaviors.
If youâre interested in learning about how to create your own PowerPoint template from scratch, see our guide on how to create a PowerPoint template .
Printing Your PowerPoint Presentation
After finishing your PowerPoint presentation, you may want to print it out on paper. Printing your slides is relatively easy.
To open the Print dialog box, you can either:
- Hit Ctrl+P on your keyboard
- Or go to the Ribbon and click on File and then Print
Inside the Print dialog box, you can choose from the various printing settings:
- Printer: Select a printer to use (or print to PDF or OneNote)
- Slides: Choose which slides you want to print
- Layout: Determine how many slides you want per page (this is where you can print the notes, outline, and handouts)
- Collated or uncollated (learn what collated printing means here )
- Color: Choose to print in color, grayscale or black & white
There are many more options for printing your PowerPoint presentations. Here are links to more in-depth articles:
- How to print multiple slides per page
- How to print your speaker notes in PowerPoint
- How to save PowerPoint as a picture presentation
So that’s how to create a PowerPoint presentation if you are brand new to it. We’ve also included a ton of links to helpful resources to boost your PowerPoint skills further.
When you are creating your presentation, it is critical to first focus on the content (what you are trying to say) before getting lost inserting and playing with elements. The clearer you are on what you want to present, the easier it will be to build it out in PowerPoint.
If you enjoyed this article, you can learn more about our PowerPoint training courses and other presentation resources by visiting us here .
đ Unlock the PowerPoint Shortcuts Trusted by Industry Leaders KKR, American Express, HSBC, and More!
Join over 114,880 professionals from diverse fields including consulting, investment banking, advertising, marketing, sales, and business development who have supercharged their PowerPoint game with our proven methods.
â Customize compelling presentations effortlessly.
â Master time-saving techniques for faster deck creation.
â Boost your career prospects with top-notch PowerPoint skills.
Get FREE access to the Critical PowerPoint Shortcuts module of our premium training course by entering your name and email below.
DISCLAIMER: PC Users Only!
We respect your privacy and will keep your info safe and confidential.
About The Author
Popular Tutorials
- How to Strikethrough Text (l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶) in Word, Excel & PowerPoint
- How to Make Animated Fireworks in PowerPoint (Step-by-Step)
- Strikethrough Shortcut (l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶) for Word, Excel & PowerPoint
- How to Create a Flash Card Memory Game in PowerPoint (Like Jeopardy)
- Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working: Solved
PowerPoint Tutorial Categories
- Strategies & Opinions
- Shortcuts & Hacks
- Pictures, Icons, Videos, Etc.
- New Features
- Miscellaneous
- Charts & Data Viz
We help busy professionals save hours and gain peace of mind, with corporate workshops, self-paced courses and tutorials for PowerPoint and Word.
Work With Us
- Corporate Training
- Presentation & Template Design
- Courses & Downloads
- PowerPoint Articles
- Word Articles
- Productivity Resources
Find a Tutorial
- Free Training
- For Businesses
We help busy office workers save hours and gain peace of mind, with tips, training and tutorials for Microsoft PowerPoint and Word.
Master Critical PowerPoint Shortcuts â Secure Your FREE Training Module and Save Valuable Time!
â Master time-saving expert techniques.
đ„ Create powerful presentations.
đ Propel your career to new heights.
We value your privacy – we keep your info safe.
Discover PowerPoint Hacks Loved by Industry Giants - KKR, AmEx, HSBC!
Over 114,880 professionals in finance, marketing and sales have revolutionized their PPT skills with our proven methods.Â
Gain FREE access to a full module of our premium PowerPoint training program â Get started today!
We hate spam too and promise to keep your information safe.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook . To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
Join our Full-Stack Web Development Bootcamp and become a software engineer in 3 months
Great for you if you are serious about getting into the field. Perfect for getting a job, starting or transforming a business
Quantum Degrees ©
 Digital Marketing Product Launch | Physical
 Digital Marketing Product Launch | Online Live
Read Digital Marketing students’ reviews â
This works best if you want to learn specific stuff but not necessarily to get a job.
Free Resources
 Digital Marketing Course Preview
Skill Courses
 2-in-1 Paid Advertising: Google, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram Ads
 Mini Marketing Courses Pre-Launch Offer
A course made for you if you are serious about getting into the field. Perfect for getting a job, starting or transforming a business
Onsite - Full Time
Other Formats
Hone your skills if you want to give coding a try. Also great if you are learning to code for specific stuff but not necessarily to get a job
Bite-sized Skill Courses
Free resources.
Programming 101
- Upskill Your Team Digital Marketing, Coding, Data
- Hire Our Graduates Be Our Employer Partner
Get To Know Us Better!
About NEXT Academy | About our mission & commitment
The NEXT Blog |Â Get inspiration, stories & knowledge
Student Projects |Â What our students have built!
Reviews & Testimonials |Â What they say about us
We’re Hiring! |Â Join us to impact the tech ecosystem
+60 (11) 3704 7061
Mon – Fri: 10:00am – 6:30pm
+6011 3704 7061 WhatsApp Us
[email protected] Â Drop us an email anytime!
Our Location We are at TTDI, KL. Visit us soon!
How to create an amazing slideshow presentation: 6 tips and tricks
- January 19, 2022
Home - Digital Marketing - How to create an amazing slideshow presentation: 6 tips and tricks
Slideshow presentations can help you convey your thoughts effectively. Slideshow presentations are widely used in business , research, education, and many other sectors. When you couple your powerful speech with an effective slideshow presentation , you get better results.
You can back your words during a presentation via an effective slideshow. With great visuals in your slideshow, you can easily convey your thoughts to others.
Many people find it challenging to create effective slideshow presentations. Creating a slideshow presentation can become easy if you know the right process to follow. Continue reading to know some tips/tricks that can help you create effective slideshow presentations.
1. Plan the Structure of Your Slideshow Presentation đ
Split your presentation into several sections and include key points. It’s better if you plan your slideshow content before designing it. By planning your slideshow content, you can avoid any last-minute confusion or issues. A good slideshow presentation contains a catchy introduction, a body, and an effective conclusion. Here’s how you can plan the structure of your slideshow presentation effectively:
- Create an appealing introduction that can grab the attention of the audience. Tell them about what you’re going to talk about in your slideshow presentation in the opening itself. If there’s something that viewers will get to know towards the end of the presentation or after it, mention a snippet so that your viewers are intrigued about it.
- The body of your slideshow presentation should include stats, quotes, high-quality images, and other evidence to support your main points. Hit the audience with enough evidence to back your thoughts in a slideshow presentation. The body of your slideshow presentation can contain numerous slides, but don’t add too many.
- The last slide of your slideshow presentation should contain concluding thoughts . You can mention the key takeaways of your slideshow presentation in this section. You can also feature a thank you note in the last slide of your presentation.
If you plan these three important sections of your slideshow presentation, you can leave a lasting impression on your audience. A good presentation should contain no more than ten slides. You can prepare a 30-minute speech for a presentation of 10 slides to have the best impact on your audience.
You can dedicate the first slide for the introduction section and the last slide to the conclusion section. The remaining eight slides can contain information, video clips , and images to back your main points. Give the audience some time to digest the content before switching to another slide.
2. Don’t Make Your Slides Text-Heavy đ
Text is an important element of any slideshow presentation. However, too much text in a slideshow presentation will have a confusing, negative effect. If you include too much text in your slideshow, viewers will have to pay more attention to the screen than to what you’re saying.
Try to include bite-sized text in your slideshow for better results. According to scientific studies, human minds retain information better when it’s broken into bite-sized pieces. Many slideshow experts suggest that you should not include more than ten words on a single slide.
How to convey information to the audience without making your slides text-heavy? Well, you can rely on infographics, images, and graphs to share information with the audience. For example, if you want to show market trends, show them via a graph instead of text. You can also use videos in your slides, as they’re around 95% more effective than text.
3. Use a Slideshow Creator âïž
You can use a professional slideshow maker tool for creating appealing presentations in a shorter time. Any reliable video editing platform would do a great job of helping you create high-quality content for your slideshow presentation. We already know how important it is to use videos for making a presentation appealing and interesting.
Slideshow creation tools offer several pre-existing templates that enable you to create slideshow presentations within minutes. A video editing platform doesn’t only let you edit video clips; you can edit images, add stickers, include audio, and do a lot more. You can give your slideshow presentation a professional look by using such tools.
Many people rely on their smartphones and desktops to create effective slideshows. The built-in editing features of multimedia devices aren’t advanced enough to create professional slides. You need a dedicated editing tool to create professional slideshow presentations for meetings, conferences, etc.
If you’re facing budget constraints, you can choose a slideshow creator that has a free version. Choose a slideshow creator with an easy-to-use interface so you can learn quickly. The time you take to create professional slideshows can be trimmed down by using an affordable, effective editing platform.
4. Focus on the Design Aspect đïž
There’s no need to hire an expert designer every time you need to make slideshow presentations. You can include appealing designs in your slideshow via an editing tool. You can amp up the design aspect of your slideshow in the following ways:
- Choose a great colour palette for your slideshow . Instead of choosing varying colours, select matching colours that go in sync with each other. Choose 2-3 colours and use them harmoniously in each slide to look consistent.
- When choosing the design aspect for your slides, decide on the appropriate font style . Retain a single font style in all your slides to look consistent. Don’t unnecessarily switch between upper case and lower-case letters. Try to choose a font style that goes well with the overall theme of your slideshow presentation.
- You also need to focus on the backdrop of your slides . If possible, keep a uniform background for all your slides. Make sure the text and images are perfectly aligned in your slides for an even look.
5. Add Audio to Your Presentation đ
If you don’t feel like speaking alongside your slideshow presentation, you can add a voiceover. If your slideshow doesn’t involve a narrative aspect, you can go for some background music. Visuals like photos and videos go really well with background music in a slideshow presentation.
You can choose a slideshow maker to add music to your presentation. Such an editing tool can also help you add subtitles/captions in your slideshow if there is background narration. Editing tools help you add license-free sounds and music tracks to your slideshow presentation. License-free music tracks are necessary if you’re using the slideshow for commercial purposes.
6. Connect with the Audience Via Your Slideshow đ€
When you end your slideshow, allow them to ask you any questions they might have. They might forget about what you discussed unless you connect with them emotionally. Include a catchy video, phrase, or poem to connect with them emotionally. You can also use a story-based approach when creating your slideshow.
In a Nutshell
A slideshow presentation can do wonders for you if it contains the right elements. Slideshow creation tools can help you add the perfect design and background elements to your slideshow presentation. Start using a slideshow creator for your presentations right away!
- Omid https://www.nextacademy.com/author/omid/ Great Ways To Combine Print and Digital Marketing That Could Improve Your Campaigns
- Omid https://www.nextacademy.com/author/omid/ 7 social media trends that are taking center stage in 2021
Are you ready to pick up a new skill? Check out the courses we have to offer!
Follow us on social media
Coding Courses
Student's apps, digital marketing courses, next academy founder's story, also on the next blog.
Great Ways To Combine Print and Digital Marketing That Could Improve Your Campaigns
As technology continues to evolve, marketing campaigns must change with the
Content Marketing. What Is It? (And 7 Great Content Creators You Can Check Out)
Content marketing. What is it? That’s a very normal question
7 Ways to Become the Talk of the Town with Content Marketing
Content marketing is important but you want your content to help you bring your business out there for people to talk about. Here are 7 ways.
Ready to learn?
Great for you if you are serious about getting into the field. Perfect for getting a job, start or transform a business
Digital Marketing Product Launch Bootcamp | Physical
Digital Marketing Product Launch Bootcamp | Online Live
Digital Marketing | Remote
Compare the courses
Great for you if you want to learn specific stuff but not necessarily to get a job.
Digital Marketing Course Preview
Skill Courses | Remote
2-in-1 Paid Advertising: Google, Youtube, Facebook Instagram Ads
Mini Marketing Courses Pre-Launch Offer
Full Time | In-Person
Full Stack Web Development | 3-in-1
Frontend Web Development | Level 1
Advanced Frontend with ReactJS | Level 2
Backend Development with Python | Level 3
8-Week Frontend Web Development | Part Time | Level 1
2-Week Frontend Web Development | Online | Level 1
Checkout more coding courses!
Great for you if you want to give coding a try. Also great if you are learning to code for specific stuff but not necessarily to get a job.
Topic Specific Courses
3-Day HTML, CSS & Bootstrap Online Course | Level 0
Code Your Algo Trading Bot with Python
- SUGGESTED TOPICS
- The Magazine
- Newsletters
- Managing Yourself
- Managing Teams
- Work-life Balance
- The Big Idea
- Data & Visuals
- Reading Lists
- Case Selections
- HBR Learning
- Topic Feeds
- Account Settings
- Email Preferences
How to Make a âGoodâ Presentation âGreatâ
- Guy Kawasaki
Remember: Less is more.
A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.
- Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
- Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
- Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
- Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.
As an intern or early career professional, chances are that youâll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether youâre pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.
- Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.
Partner Center
Free online slideshow maker.
Combine photos and video clips with music to create a captivating slideshow in minutes. No experience required.
Template IDs
(To pull in manually curated templates if needed)
Orientation
(Horizontal/Vertical)
( Full, Std, sixcols )
(number of templates to load each pagination. Min. 5)
Most Viewed
Rare & Original
Newest to Oldest
Oldest to Newest
(still/multiple-pages/video/animated)
(true, false, all) true or false will limit to premium only or free only.
Make a photo slideshow in minutes with Adobe Express.
Share your story as a captivating slideshow for your audience with Adobe Express. Quickly and easily create a unique wedding slideshow, promote your product and business, or make a recap video of your favorite travels in minutes. Start with free slideshow templates at your fingertips, drag and drop icons and text, then choose a royalty-free Adobe Stock soundtrack that best fits the theme of your video. In no time, youâll be able to turn your vision to life with a video slideshow made in Adobe Express. No experience required.
Discover even more.
Facebook Video
Instagram Video
TikTok Video
YouTube Clip
Marketing Video
Animation Video
Outro Video
Intro Video
Promo Video
How to make a photo slideshow.
Personalize your slideshow with one-click video editing tools.
Cut, crop, & trim..
Select videos and photos to crop, cut, split, or trim in just a few taps.
Easy resize options.
Make content of any size in the same project. Use the Resize tool to adjust video dimensions anytime.
Stand out with animation.
Select any element in your project to add movement or dynamic transition effects.
Adjust video speed.
Speed videos up or slow them down in one click.
Send an edit link.
Invite other people to edit your video project directly, leave comments, or view it in real-time, from anywhere.
Share on social.
Connect your social channels to the Adobe Express Content Scheduler & share your video to your favorite platforms.
Add text to photos and videos.
Apply text to any photo or video with tons of unique font combinations to choose from.
Enhance with filters.
Try out filter effects or tweak the look and feel of your media using the Adjustments menu.
Make any kind of content from your browser.
All-in-one online content creation app..
Create slideshow videos, explainer videos, montages, and more and share to any digital destination.
Thousands of free Adobe Stock videos, images & music.
Tons of royalty-free stock music, videos, images, & design assets right in Adobe Express to add to your own content.
Free video templates for any occasion.
Find the perfect free template to start customizing with your own media.
Tons of free templates to make a video slideshow.
Whether youâre making a video slideshow to showcase your favorite memories, a how-to video, or a recap video, there are tons of stunning, free slideshow templates fit for any occasion right in Adobe Express. Itâs free, easy to use, and all skill levels can make a video slideshow in minutes.
Turn any video or photo into a dynamic viewing experience.
Add a blend of photos and video clips to a single slideshow. Drag the corners of each clip to shorten scenes or split videos in one click. To add a whole new layer of dimension, you can even apply animated transition effects to any text, icon, or graphic in your project to capture â and keep your audienceâs attention.
Frequently asked questions.
How-To Geek
How to autoplay and loop a google slides presentation.
Play your presentation without touching a thing.
Quick Links
Set up autoplay and loop when presenting, set up autoplay and loop when publishing to the web.
If you don't want to worry about clicking through your slideshow, you can set up Google Slides to play your presentation automatically. Plus, you can have the slideshow loop, so it starts over at the beginning when it ends.
You might be playing your slideshow at a kiosk, during a conference, or publishing it to the web. These are the ideal times to use AutoPlay and Loop in Google Slides . You can automatically present the show and choose the timing between slides. Then, restart the presentation at the beginning each time it ends.
If you plan to start the slideshow and then let it play, you can set up AutoPlay and Loop , or simply one or the other.
Related: How to Loop a PowerPoint Presentation
Start the presentation by clicking "Slideshow" at the top of Google Slides. You can also use the arrow to pick either "Presenter View" or "Start From Beginning" per your preference.
When the slideshow opens, display the Presenter Toolbar by hovering your cursor over the bottom left corner of the presentation.
Click the three dots on the right of the Presenter Toolbar, then move to AutoPlay. You'll see a pop-out menu that lets you select the advance timing for the slides. You can pick from every second up to every minute.
If you also want to loop the slideshow, select "Loop" at the bottom of the pop-out menu.
When you finish, click "Play" to automatically play your presentation.
To stop the slideshow, simply click on a slide. You can then resume AutoPlay from the Presenter Toolbar by selecting "Play" again.
Maybe you plan to publish your slideshow to the web or embed it on a website rather than play it locally. You can set up AutoPlay and Loop as part of the publish settings.
Related: How to Share a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides File as a Web Page
Go to File > Publish to the Web in the menu.
Choose either "Link" or "Embed" per your intent. Then use the Auto-Advance Slides drop-down box to choose the timing for the slides. Here again, you can pick from every second up to every minute.
To loop the slideshow, check the box for Restart the Slideshow After the Last Slide.
You can then mark the checkbox for Start Slideshow as Soon as the Player loads if you like, so that the viewer doesn't have to take any action to begin the presentation.
When you finish, click "Publish" and confirm to obtain the link or embed code for the slideshow.
To share a Google Slides presentation that doesn't require you to walk viewers through it, remember these steps to automatically play and loop the slideshow.
- PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
- EDIT Edit this Article
- EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
- Browse Articles
- Learn Something New
- Quizzes Hot
- This Or That Game New
- Train Your Brain
- Explore More
- Support wikiHow
- About wikiHow
- Log in / Sign up
- Education and Communications
- Presentations
How to Create a Photo Slideshow with PowerPoint
Last Updated: February 6, 2023 Fact Checked
wikiHow is a âwiki,â similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 57 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 933,775 times. Learn more...
With so many fun and accessible ways to take photos, there is no wonder why everyone is so photo-happy these days. As easy as it may be to stock up on photos, it can be a challenge to keep them organized. One great way to keep your photos in a convenient place, that is easy to access when you want to reminisce on special memories, is by uploading them into PowerPoint. By doing this, you can create a slideshow that is a fun-filled way to back up the memories in your life.
Creating Photo Slideshows for PC Computers
- Remember to save your presentation after something that will help you to remember what pictures are in the file. This will help you to locate them later on.
- Select a layout that will accommodate your image, such as a slide with a title box and an image box, a slide with just an image box, or even a blank slide.
- Double-click inside the image box (or go to Insert > Picture > From File ), then browse to the desired image.
- Click "Okay" or "Insert" to add the image. If you don't like the way it looks, select the image and click on "Picture" to change it out for a different one. You can also select the image and hit "Delete" to remove the picture.
- Locate the "Slide Sorter" button near the bottom of the image pane. Then, click and drag the slides to the desired destinations.
- To add music, click on the movies and audio icon located under the "Insert" tab. First, go to "Audio from file", and then, click on "Music" to pull up your music. When you choose the song you want, click on the song, and press "Link to file" before pressing "Insert". [9] X Research source
- You can choose if the song plays for just one slide or the entire presentation by clicking on "Format Audio" next to the "Home" button, and then, clicking on "Play Across Slides" under "Audio Options". [10] X Research source
Creating Photo Slideshows for Mac Computers
- You can scroll through your photos and choose the ones you want to add to your slideshow by double-clicking on them.
- To add music, click on the movies and audio icon located at the top of the PowerPoint screen. Then, click on "Music" and all of your music should appear. When you choose the song you want, drag and drop the file onto one of your slides.
- You can choose if the song plays for just one slide or the entire presentation by clicking on "Format Audio" next to the "Home" button, and then, clicking on "Play Across Slides" under "Audio Options".
Sample Slideshow
Community Q&A
- Choose a theme for the photo slideshow. If the photos are from a summer vacation, choose a bright yellow background or upbeat music. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
You Might Also Like
- â https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-presentation-in-powerpoint-422250f8-5721-4cea-92cc-202fa7b89617
- â https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/save-your-presentation-file-34377c9c-a1e5-44e1-9c3f-e6e72ee6c541
- â https://tsengcollege.csun.edu/sites/default/files/PDFs/forWindows/Slide_Titles_in_Microsoft_PowerPoint.pdf
- â https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-rearrange-duplicate-and-delete-slides-in-powerpoint-e35a232d-3fd0-4ee1-abee-d7d4d6da92fc
- â https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-picture-in-powerpoint-5f7368d2-ee94-4b94-a6f2-a663646a07e1
- â https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-transitions-between-slides-e89a076e-ed81-404e-9598-021a918fa1ba
- â https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=283149&p=1886370
- â https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/play-music-across-multiple-slides-in-your-slide-show-b01ded6a-28c8-473a-971a-6dfa92cc9367
- â http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/officeversion_other-powerpoint/powerpoint-how-to-add-music-throughout-the/10a366a4-9727-4f78-aa06-e9f76c8a5269
- â https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-rearrange-duplicate-and-delete-slides-in-powerpoint-e35a232d-3fd0-4ee1-abee-d7d4d6da92fc#OfficeVersion=macOS
- â https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-picture-in-powerpoint-5f7368d2-ee94-4b94-a6f2-a663646a07e1#OfficeVersion=macOS
- â https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/play-music-across-multiple-slides-in-your-slide-show-b01ded6a-28c8-473a-971a-6dfa92cc9367#OfficeVersion=macOS
About This Article
- Send fan mail to authors
Did this article help you?
Featured Articles
Trending Articles
Watch Articles
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Do Not Sell or Share My Info
- Not Selling Info
wikiHow Tech Help Pro:
Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve
Top searches
Trending searches
46 templates
suicide prevention
8 templates
18 templates
41 templates
cybersecurity
6 templates
28 templates
Create your presentation
Writing tone, number of slides.
AI presentation maker
When lack of inspiration or time constraints are something youâre worried about, itâs a good idea to seek help. Slidesgo comes to the rescue with its latest functionalityâthe AI presentation maker! With a few clicks, youâll have wonderful slideshows that suit your own needs . And itâs totally free!
Generate presentations in minutes
We humans make the world move, but we need to sleep, rest and so on. What if there were someone available 24/7 for you? Itâs time to get out of your comfort zone and ask the AI presentation maker to give you a hand. The possibilities are endless : you choose the topic, the tone and the style, and the AI will do the rest. Now weâre talking!
Customize your AI-generated presentation online
Alright, your robotic pal has generated a presentation for you. But, for the time being, AIs canât read minds, so itâs likely that youâll want to modify the slides. Please do! We didnât forget about those time constraints youâre facing, so thanks to the editing tools provided by one of our sister projects âshoutouts to Wepik â you can make changes on the fly without resorting to other programs or software. Add text, choose your own colors, rearrange elements, itâs up to you! Oh, and since we are a big family, youâll be able to access many resources from big names, that is, Freepik and Flaticon . That means having a lot of images and icons at your disposal!
How does it work?
Think of your topic.
First things first, youâll be talking about something in particular, right? A business meeting, a new medical breakthrough, the weather, your favorite songs, a basketball game, a pink elephant you saw last Sundayâyou name it. Just type it out and let the AI know what the topic is.
Choose your preferred style and tone
They say that variety is the spice of life. Thatâs why we let you choose between different design styles, including doodle, simple, abstract, geometric, and elegant . What about the tone? Several of them: fun, creative, casual, professional, and formal. Each one will give you something unique, so which way of impressing your audience will it be this time? Mix and match!
Make any desired changes
Youâve got freshly generated slides. Oh, you wish they were in a different color? That text box would look better if it were placed on the right side? Run the online editor and use the tools to have the slides exactly your way.
Download the final result for free
Yes, just as envisioned those slides deserve to be on your storage device at once! You can export the presentation in .pdf format and download it for free . Canât wait to show it to your best friend because you think they will love it? Generate a shareable link!
What is an AI-generated presentation?
Itâs exactly âwhat it says on the coverâ. AIs, or artificial intelligences, are in constant evolution, and they are now able to generate presentations in a short time, based on inputs from the user. This technology allows you to get a satisfactory presentation much faster by doing a big chunk of the work.
Can I customize the presentation generated by the AI?
Of course! Thatâs the point! Slidesgo is all for customization since day one, so youâll be able to make any changes to presentations generated by the AI. We humans are irreplaceable, after all! Thanks to the online editor, you can do whatever modifications you may need, without having to install any software. Colors, text, images, icons, placement, the final decision concerning all of the elements is up to you.
Can I add my own images?
Absolutely. Thatâs a basic function, and we made sure to have it available. Would it make sense to have a portfolio template generated by an AI without a single picture of your own work? In any case, we also offer the possibility of asking the AI to generate images for you via prompts. Additionally, you can also check out the integrated gallery of images from Freepik and use them. If making an impression is your goal, youâll have an easy time!
Is this new functionality free? As in âfree of chargeâ? Do you mean it?
Yes, it is, and we mean it. We even asked our buddies at Wepik, who are the ones hosting this AI presentation maker, and they told us âyup, itâs on the houseâ.
Are there more presentation designs available?
From time to time, weâll be adding more designs. The cool thing is that youâll have at your disposal a lot of content from Freepik and Flaticon when using the AI presentation maker. Oh, and just as a reminder, if you feel like you want to do things yourself and donât want to rely on an AI, youâre on Slidesgo, the leading website when it comes to presentation templates. We have thousands of them, and counting!.
How can I download my presentation?
The easiest way is to click on âDownloadâ to get your presentation in .pdf format. But there are other options! You can click on âPresentâ to enter the presenter view and start presenting right away! Thereâs also the âShareâ option, which gives you a shareable link. This way, any friend, relative, colleagueâanyone, reallyâwill be able to access your presentation in a moment.
Discover more content
This is just the beginning! Slidesgo has thousands of customizable templates for Google Slides and PowerPoint. Our designers have created them with much care and love, and the variety of topics, themes and styles is, how to put it, immense! We also have a blog, in which we post articles for those who want to find inspiration or need to learn a bit more about Google Slides or PowerPoint. Do you have kids? Weâve got a section dedicated to printable coloring pages! Have a look around and make the most of our site!
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Six steps for creating a slide show. 1. Plan your slide show. Before getting too deep into your slide show project, it's a good idea to select and save the photos and videos you want to use. This helps you create a slide show more efficiently and purposefully, ensuring a better outcome. 4.
Present slideshows with confidence. With easy-to-use presenter view, speaker notes, and live captions, Slides makes presenting your ideas a breeze. You can even present to Google Meet video calls ...
To make a good slideshow presentation, follow these tips: Use our photo video maker to create uniform color schemes, background images, font styles, and font sizes. Keep your slide design simple to let your audience focus on your slide's content. One slide, one point.
1. Open PowerPoint and click 'New.'. If a page with templates doesn't automatically open, go to the top left pane of your screen and click New. If you've already created a presentation, select Open then double-click the icon to open the existing file. Image Source.
Start by deciding whether to show the slideshow in a window or full screen. To set up the slideshow, select Slide Show > Set Up Slide Show and choose one of the following: Browsed by an individual (window): Run the slideshow automatically and inside a window. This option works best when you save the slideshow to a CD.
Present like a pro, directly from Google Meet. Access all of your Slides and Meet controls in one place, and enjoy smoother high resolution presentations. Premium feature. This feature is available on some Google Workspace and Google Workspace plans.
Use the New > Google Slides > Blank Presentation option to start your new presentation. A new presentation opens: Google Slides will launch a new presentation that's ready for you to design. Of course, if you're using a template as recommended, you'll need to upload it to your Google Drive account.
This Google Slides tutorial for beginners is a complete crash course, taking you by the hand and showing you step by step how to make some amazing and mesmer...
Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation design software that is part of Microsoft 365. This software allows you to design presentations by combining text, images, graphics, video, and animation on slides in a simple and intuitive way. Over time, PowerPoint has evolved and improved its accessibility to users.
Once you establish the mood and the type of slideshow you want to create, you can then pick out the perfect slideshow template for the job from our slideshow creator. Step #2: Start With a Slideshow Template. While you can easily create a slideshow from scratch, if you're on a tight timeline, we recommend using a slideshow.
To do that, simply go up to the Home tab and click on New Slide. This inserts a new slide in your presentation right after the one you were on. You can alternatively hit Ctrl+M on your keyboard to insert a new blank slide in PowerPoint. To learn more about this shortcut, see my guide on using Ctrl+M in PowerPoint.
A good presentation needs two fonts: a serif and sans-serif. Use one for the headlines and one for body text, lists, and the like. Keep it simple. Veranda, Helvetica, Arial, and even Times New Roman are safe choices. Stick with the classics and it's hard to botch this one too badly.
In PowerPoint, you can create a presentation from scratch, or from a theme with built-in graphics, fonts, and placeholders for your text, images, and content...
Many people find it challenging to create effective slideshow presentations. Creating a slideshow presentation can become easy if you know the right process to follow. Continue reading to know some tips/tricks that can help you create effective slideshow presentations. 1. Plan the Structure of Your Slideshow Presentation đ
To create a new Google Slides presentation, open a web browser and go to Slides.Google.com. If you want to start from a template, you can choose one from the template gallery. Otherwise, click "Blank" to create a new blank presentation. Your blank presentation starts with a single simple slide with space to enter a title and subtitle.
Summary. A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you're pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing ...
Free online presentation maker. Try our new tool to edit this selection of templates for people that want to let their creativity run free. Create interactive resources easily, quickly and without the need for any software. A really useful tool for teachers and students. Move the content, add images, change colors and fonts or, if you prefer ...
With Visme's Presenter Studio, you can record your presentation and share it with your audience. Record your screen, audio, and video, or switch off your camera for an audio-only presentation. Present asynchronously on your own time, at your own pace. Let your colleagues watch it at their convenience. Create Your Presentation.
Learn how to create a photo slideshow in Microsoft PowerPoint in this tutorial video. See step-by-step how to import photos, how to make quick edits to the p...
How to make a photo slideshow. Open Adobe Express. Launch Adobe Express in your browser, then upload your own photos and videos to get started or select the kind of video you want to create. Pick a template. Search "slideshow" to find tons of free slideshow templates. Narrow down your search even further when you search by industry ...
Alternatively, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts while viewing your slideshow: Spacebar or Right Arrow Button: Go to the next slide in the presentation.; Left Arrow Button: Go to the previous slide in the presentation. Esc: End the show. W: Hide your current slide and display a white screen. Press the same key again to bring back the slide's content.
Go to File > Publish to the Web in the menu. Choose either "Link" or "Embed" per your intent. Then use the Auto-Advance Slides drop-down box to choose the timing for the slides. Here again, you can pick from every second up to every minute. To loop the slideshow, check the box for Restart the Slideshow After the Last Slide.
5 ways to make your presentation slides more effective. Here are strategies to make your audience nod in agreement as you present: 1. Put your main insights into the slide titles ... For a more effective slideshow and to ensure your audience doesn't get confused or bored, aim to have a single story per slide. There is no such thing as having ...
Creating Photo Slideshows for PC Computers. Open PowerPoint and create a new presentation. To do this, click on the PowerPoint icon on your browser. When PowerPoint opens, click on "File" near the top, left-hand corner and then click on "New" listed under "File".
AI presentation maker. When lack of inspiration or time constraints are something you're worried about, it's a good idea to seek help. Slidesgo comes to the rescue with its latest functionalityâthe AI presentation maker! With a few clicks, you'll have wonderful slideshows that suit your own needs. And it's totally free!
A multimedia presentation or slideshow brings several different types of media and content together in one slick, professional narrative. The only limit to the creative potential of a multimedia presentation is your imagination when using the right tools. ... There isn't just one way to create a multimedia presentation, because there are many ...