Category: PowerPoint

PowerPoint Storyboard: A Powerful Way to Share Your Ideas

Microsoft Visual Studio

powerpoint storyboard

storyboard

storyboarding

May 25, 2015

 
Producing a corporate video – be it for sales, training, or any other business purposes – involves careful planning. To plan out your video effectively, one of the first things you need to do is to create a storyboard.

What’s a storyboard?

A storyboard is a shot-by-shot representation of how a video will unfold. It is typically composed of a series of frames with illustrations or images that represent each shot. Each frame also comes with short notes to explain what’s happening in the scene as well as script details (such as dialogues and directions).
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Advantages of creating a storyboard

Sharing your vision for your video is much easier using a storyboard. There are times when, no matter brilliant our idea is and how hard we try to explain it, people just couldn’t understand it.  With a storyboard, you can show your team how the video is going to unravel.  It will also make it easier for everyone to get behind your idea.

Storyboarding can also make production is relatively hassle-free. As you create a video storyboard, what you’re basically doing is setting up a production plan. You are laying out the shots needed as well as their sequence. And since you already have a guide, it also makes editing easier. In other words, the entire creation process can go smoothly.

Using PowerPoint to create your storyboard

PowerPoint has many features that can bring an ordinary storyboard to life. You can turn any idea into something graphic using shapes, text, animation, and all the other tools that PowerPoint provides.

You can use the Storyboard template in PowerPoint after installing Microsoft Visual Studio 2011. With Visual Studio, making storyboards is as easy as creating and working on new slides. To create a PowerPoint Storyboard, the first things that you should is write down everything that you want to show for every frame. You can use the program’s tools to illustrate your descriptions. Once you are done with a basic storyboard, you may want to add sound and transition effects to make it more interesting.

You can also use storyboards not just in creating videos but also in preparing presentation slides.

Storyboarding your presentation

To create a storyboard for your presentation, determine first the number of slides you will need. This would be dictated by the length of your entire presentation. Ideally, though, don’t use over five or six slides every 10 minutes. After that, simply follow the outline of your presentation script. Think about how to fit it into the sequential frames. Moreover, make sure that the slides show the key ideas clearly and logically.

By storyboarding your presentation, you will be able to express your ideas beyond the usual bullet points. Instead, the series of frames will help you translate information into something visual.
 
 

5 Tips to Help You Finish Your PowerPoint Deck on Time

powerpoint deck

Powerpoint tips

presentation tips

Mar 12, 2015

Here are five tips to help you finish your PowerPoint deck on time:

1. Use a Pre-Designed Template

  • Why it works: Using a professional, pre-designed template saves you time on design decisions, such as layout, colors, and fonts. Templates give you a structured framework to quickly fill in content.
  • How to apply: Choose a template that fits your content and branding. Platforms like SlideGenius or SlideStore offer ready-made designs for different presentation needs, from corporate decks to pitch presentations.

2. Prioritize Key Content First

  • Why it works: Focusing on the most important content first ensures you cover your core message, even if you’re running short on time. Filling in additional details or polishing the design can be done afterward.
  • How to apply: Create an outline of your main points and design those slides first. Once the essentials are in place, go back to add supporting details, visuals, or transitions.

3. Set a Timer for Each Task

  • Why it works: Allocating specific time slots to tasks helps keep you focused and prevents you from spending too much time on one slide or element.
  • How to apply: Use a timer or productivity app to give yourself strict time limits for different tasks (e.g., 15 minutes for each slide). Stick to your schedule to avoid getting bogged down in unnecessary edits.

4. Limit Design Edits

  • Why it works: Spending too much time on slide design can slow down your progress. Focus on functionality and readability instead of obsessing over perfect aesthetics.
  • How to apply: Choose one font, stick to a simple color palette, and avoid overcomplicating your slides with excessive animations or transitions. Save design tweaks for the end if time permits.

5. Delegate or Automate Repetitive Tasks

  • Why it works: If you’re short on time, delegate tasks like data entry, formatting, or creating graphics to a team member or use automation tools. This frees up time for you to focus on critical elements like crafting your message.
  • How to apply: Use features like PowerPoint’s Design Ideas or SmartArt to quickly create layouts and visual elements. If working in a team, consider real-time collaboration through Microsoft OneDrive or Google Slides to divide tasks.

By implementing these strategies, you’ll be able to streamline your workflow and complete your PowerPoint deck efficiently while ensuring quality.

A Guide to Making a PowerPoint Style Guide

PowerPoint Design

powerpoint style guide

Powerpoint tips

Mar 06, 2015

Corporations and organizations often use a style guide to ensure that all their visual materials maintain a consistent and cohesive look.

Because it’s impossible to keep track of every PowerPoint deck created in such an environment, a style guide guarantees that every presentation will correspond to your organization’s brand identity.

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Before starting on your style guide, familiarize yourself with PowerPoint’s Slide Master function to create and customize templates first. This makes it easier to accomplish once you begin distributing it throughout the organization.

Here are areas you need to focus on:

Leverage branding

Every design rule or suggestion that you put down should contribute to your branding efforts. As we’ve discussed in the past, an easy way to integrate branding into PowerPoint design is through the clever use of colors.

Set down some rules on the color scheme that everyone should use for presentations. Keep your brand’s logo and overall aesthetic in mind, making sure your rules for the color scheme goes well with both. Let your colors stand out so that the audience can see that your slides are part of a larger, unified whole.

Another way to leverage branding is by using visual metaphors that correspond to your brand identity. Include suggestions for images and illustrations people should use in their PowerPoint designs.

Establish rules following best PowerPoint practices

Aside from branding, a PowerPoint style guide also helps you maintain the quality of all the slide decks presented in your organization’s name.

As such, it’s important that you establish key rules that follow the best PowerPoint practices. Be strict about the use of bullet points and the amount of text included in a single slide. Establish pointers on how data should be presented. There are different ways to do it, but all in all, you should make sure that charts and graphs don’t get too overwhelming by inputting only the content that matters to your pitch.

Something else you can consider is making suggestions that can help manage the length of your company’s presentations.

In this PowerPoint style guide from the American Marketing Association, there’s a suggestion that a PowerPoint deck should match its length in number of slides. For example, 10-minute presentations should have no more than 10 slides.

Add reminders for presentation delivery

It might seem unnecessary, but you can also include a few reminders on how presentations should be delivered.

While a PowerPoint style guide may be focused on design, its overall objective should touch on improving presentations delivered throughout your organization. Also remind others to be more careful with the way they present their slides. After all, the point of creating PowerPoint slides is to enhance the message people are delivering with their presentations.

At the end of the day, what matters is what audiences are left with. If the delivery is improved, you can expect outcomes to improve as well.

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A PowerPoint style guide is a way you can make sure presentations are organized and consistent with the company’s overall message. Have a clear vision on how you want these presentations to look like, and what kind of impact you want them to leave on audiences.

These are the things you need to have defined and clarified in your PowerPoint style guide:

  • Use of logo
  • Color scheme
  • Font type and size
  • Use of bullet points
  • Use of images, icons, and illustrations
  • Presenting data in charts and graphs
  • Editing and cutting back on slides
  • Pointers on presenting slides to make the most of the visual aids

Keep these in mind and start establishing some rules and pointers to maximize your use of effective visuals.

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References:

Chapman, Cameron. “Why Your Brand Needs a Style Guide, and How to Create One.” Webdesigner Depot. Accessed March 6, 2015.
“Design Ideas: How to Improve PowerPoint Templates.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 9, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2015.
“Improve Your Presentations with the Power of the Metaphor.” SlideGenius, Inc. November 17, 2014. Accessed January 12, 2015.
“PowerPoint Style Guidelines.” American Marketing Association. Accessed March 6, 2015.
“The Top 10 Best PowerPoint Design Practices.” SlideGenius, Inc. November 18, 2014. Accessed March 6, 2015.

 

Featured Image: Death to the Stock Photo

Sound Slides: A PowerPoint Tutorial on Music and Sound Effects

PowerPoint Design

Powerpoint tips

powerpoint tutorial

Mar 05, 2015

Adding background music or sound effects to your PowerPoint presentation can enhance the mood, create emphasis, and keep your audience engaged. PowerPoint allows you to add various audio files to your slides, which can be played automatically, on a loop, or triggered by a click.

Here’s how to add music or sound effects to your PowerPoint slides:

Step 1: Prepare Your Audio File

Before adding music or sound effects, ensure that your audio file is ready. PowerPoint supports audio formats such as MP3, WAV, and WMA.

How to Do It:

  • Save the audio file to a location you can easily access from PowerPoint.

Step 2: Insert the Audio File

Inserting audio into a PowerPoint slide is a simple process.

How to Do It:

  • Go to the slide where you want to add the audio.
  • Click on the Insert tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
  • Select Audio, then choose Audio on My PC from the dropdown menu.
  • Navigate to the location of your audio file, select it, and click Insert.

Step 3: Customize Audio Playback Settings

Once the audio is added, you can customize its playback options.

How to Do It:

  • Select the audio icon that appears on your slide.
  • In the Audio Tools tab, go to the Playback section and choose how you want the audio to play:
    • Start Automatically: The audio will play as soon as the slide is shown.
    • Start On Click: The audio will play when you click the icon.
    • Play Across Slides: The audio will continue to play even as you transition to different slides.
    • Loop Until Stopped: The audio will keep playing on repeat until you manually stop it.

Step 4: Hide the Audio Icon

If you don’t want the audio icon to appear during your presentation, you can hide it while still allowing the sound to play.

How to Do It:

  • Select the audio icon.
  • In the Playback tab, check the box next to Hide During Show.

Step 5: Preview the Audio

Before presenting, make sure the audio plays correctly by previewing the slide.

How to Do It:

  • In the Playback tab, click the Play button to test the audio.
  • If you’re playing music across multiple slides, test the transition to ensure it flows smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Adding music or sound effects to your PowerPoint slides can make your presentation more engaging and dynamic. Just make sure the audio enhances your message without overwhelming or distracting the audience. Test the sound quality and volume before your presentation to ensure it’s balanced with your spoken content.

Are Your Online Presentations Working For You?

online presentations

Powerpoint tips

presentation tips

Mar 02, 2015

There are many advantages to reaching out and connecting with your audience online. Consider integrating online content marketing as part of your strategy for optimal audience engagement.

What better way to pique your target audience’s interests than providing them with content that’s both useful and relevant to their interests?

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That said, online presentations can significantly improve your brand’s visibility online.

As you know, a presentation is both a visual and informative medium. Take note of the ways you can cut back lengthy PowerPoint presentations and turn them to more SEO-friendly slides. In the process, don’t forget to check if the end product lines up with your objectives.

Ask yourself these questions to make sure your online presentations are working for you:

How relevant are your online presentations? 

According to NN Group co-founder Jakob Nielsen, majority of online users spend only about 10 to 20 seconds browsing through a web page to find what they’re looking for. If the page doesn’t have that information, they’ll skip over to the next link.

Don’t let the same thing happen to your online presentations. If the audience skips past the thumbnail of your online presentation, they might never scroll back to have a second look.

Make sure you’re relevant to what they might be searching for.

Create a presentation offering to give them tips or advice, but don’t make it too generic.

Business consultant, Mark Evans, stresses the importance of fitting the needs and interests of your target audience by learning as much as you can about them.

From that knowledge, create a headline and title slide that will surely catch people’s attention.

Can your content sustain interest? 

Now that you’ve caught your audience’s attention, the next step is figuring out how to engage and keep them interested.

Keep them on your page by highlighting your core message and key takeaways.

Don’t present your online pitch in a roundabout way. Define your presentation’s premise from the get go and put your main points forward.

This lets your target audience tell that your ideas are in line with what they’re looking for.

They’ll keep clicking to see what’s on the next slide.

Do you have a clear Call-to-Action?

After making a compelling argument, leave your audience with one last powerful statement. Before they move on to find something else to read, don’t forget to make your pitch.

That’s what a Call-to-Action is for. Should they contact you for inquiries? Should they follow you on social media?

End with a clear-cut statement that lets the audience know what you want them to do next.

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We can’t emphasize enough how much online presentations can help your brand in the long run. Engage your target audience and gain the leads you need by keeping these 3 things in mind. If you want help with designing an online presentation audiences will never forget, contact us to schedule a conversation with our PowerPoint experts.

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References:

“5 Steps To An Integrated Approach To SEO-Friendly Content Marketing.” Marketing Land. March 11, 2014. Accessed February 27, 2015.
Evans, Mark. “The Importance of Really Knowing Your Target Audiences.” Forbes. March 20, 2013. Accessed February 27, 2015.
“How Long Do Users Stay on Web Pages?” Nielsen Norman Group. Accessed February 27, 2015.
“Perfecting Your Presentation Title Slide.” SlideGenius, Inc. October 16, 2014. Accessed February 27, 2015.
“Why Your Presentations Need Better Slide Headlines.” SlideGenius, Inc. November 3, 2014. Accessed February 27, 2015.

3 Ways to Cut Back Your Text-Heavy PowerPoint Slides

PowerPoint Design

powerpoint slides

Powerpoint tips

presentation content

presentation tips

Feb 24, 2015

The most effective PowerPoint slides are often simple and concise. As branding experts TRAY Creative put it: cluttered slides will only put your audience to sleep.

Effective decks help the presenter discuss a topic with memorable and arresting visuals. In other words, a PowerPoint presentation isn’t there to act as your script or teleprompter.

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If your presentations are always burdened by text-heavy PowerPoint slides, it’s time to dial back and strip your deck bare.

Try the following suggestions to make sure you don’t have walls of text blocking the audience’s interest in your discussion:

Strip your content down to its essentials 

Cutting back on text-heavy PowerPoint slides rely on your ability to edit your own content.

Before you start making your PowerPoint deck, review the draft you’ve prepared and see how you can simplify your points even more. Your goal is to strip down your content to the bare minimum.

You don’t have to waste space on your slides to elaborate particulars. Your slides are there to highlight the main points and takeaways.

Everything else that needs to be discussed or described is for the presenter to do on his own.

Use multiple slides to split up bullet points

Bullet points are often maligned in PowerPoint design because of constant misuse. A lot of presenters insist on presenting text through a bullet point list, even if the text requires a lengthy paragraph description.

Bullet points are meant to simplify content and list down key information. If you’re going to use it to cram several paragraphs on a single slide, you’re not utilizing bullet points properly.

Split up your content across multiple PowerPoint slides. Even if you end up with 10 more slides than you originally planned, your deck won’t look poorly designed.

Spreading out your PowerPoint to tackle one point at time will help you make sure your slides aren’t dragged down by too much text.

Represent content visually

I’m sure you’re familiar with the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Remember to keep it in mind when making PowerPoint slides, because it’s extremely crucial to presentation design.

Sometimes, it can be hard to cut back on content because there are things that require several sentences to describe.

Luckily, PowerPoint is a visual tool. Instead of using up slide space on lengthy descriptions, you can represent certain parts of your content through pictures or graphics instead.

Turn a discussion on a particular process into a flowchart. Find pictures that represent your brand values. Think visually and use images to relay what might need several sentences to say.

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In general, try to keep your PowerPoint slides visual. Use text to enhance the meaning of particular images or graphs, and do it by using the simplest sentences or phrases. Remember, a PowerPoint deck is a visual aid. It shouldn’t overwhelm your audience with too much information. As the presenter, it’s your job to take the stage and discuss your presentation accordingly.

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References:

“Visual Storytelling: How Stories Are Told in Pictures.” SlideGenius, Inc. October 27, 2014. Accessed February 24, 2015.
“PowerPoint Insight: Reconsidering the No Bullet Points Rule.” SlideGenius, Inc. August 21, 2014. Accessed February 24, 2015.
“7 PowerPoint Mistakes That Put Audiences to Sleep.” TRAY Creative Seattle Marketing Branding Web Design. Accessed February 24, 2015.

 

Featured Image: Hernán Piñera via Flickr

4 Easy Tips to Manage Your PowerPoint File Size

Powerpoint tips

powerpoint tutorial

presentation tips

Feb 20, 2015

PowerPoint presentations can quickly become large and unwieldy, especially when they contain high-resolution images, videos, or embedded content. Large file sizes can cause problems when sharing the presentation via email, slow down performance, or even lead to difficulty opening the file on older devices. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to reduce the file size without compromising the quality of your presentation.

Here are four easy tips to help you manage and reduce your PowerPoint file size.

1. Compress Images

High-resolution images are often the primary culprit behind large PowerPoint files. PowerPoint has built-in tools that allow you to compress images without significantly losing quality. Compressing images reduces their file size, helping you keep the overall size of the presentation manageable.

How to Compress Images:

  1. Select an Image: Click on any image in your presentation.
  2. Go to the “Picture Format” Tab: At the top of PowerPoint, navigate to the Picture Format tab.
  3. Click “Compress Pictures”: In the ribbon, click on Compress Pictures.
  4. Choose Compression Options: Uncheck “Apply only to this picture” if you want to compress all images in the presentation. Then, select the desired resolution (e.g., Email (96 ppi) for maximum compression or Web (150 ppi) for moderate compression).
  5. Click OK: PowerPoint will compress the selected images and reduce the overall file size.

Tip:

Choose a resolution based on how you plan to share the file. For email, lower resolutions work well, but for printed presentations, you might want to select a higher resolution for better quality.

2. Use the “Link to File” Option for Videos

Embedding videos directly into your PowerPoint presentation can significantly increase the file size. Instead of embedding large video files, you can link to the video file on your computer. This keeps the PowerPoint file size small and allows the video to play without being embedded in the presentation.

How to Link a Video:

  1. Go to the “Insert” Tab: Click on Insert at the top of PowerPoint.
  2. Select “Video”: Choose “Video on My PC” from the Video dropdown menu.
  3. Select Your Video: Find and select the video file you want to include.
  4. Click the Arrow Next to “Insert”: Click the arrow next to the Insert button and select “Link to File” instead of embedding the video.

Tip:

When linking a video, make sure to keep the video file in the same folder as the PowerPoint file to avoid broken links when moving or sharing the presentation.

3. Embed Fonts Carefully or Avoid Embedding Them

Embedding custom fonts in a PowerPoint presentation ensures that your fonts will appear correctly on any device. However, this can dramatically increase file size, especially if you’re using multiple fonts or font variations. If file size is a concern, consider embedding only necessary fonts or avoiding font embedding altogether.

How to Manage Font Embedding:

  1. Click the “File” Tab: Open the File tab at the top left of the PowerPoint window.
  2. Click “Options”: Scroll down and click Options at the bottom of the left menu.
  3. Go to the “Save” Section: In the PowerPoint Options window, select Save.
  4. Manage Font Embedding:
    • To embed fonts, check the box next to “Embed fonts in the file.”
    • To reduce the file size, choose “Embed only the characters used in the presentation” or uncheck the box altogether if you can use standard system fonts.

Tip:

If you’re using widely available system fonts (like Arial or Times New Roman), avoid embedding fonts entirely to save space. If you do embed fonts, limit it to the necessary characters.

4. Save the Presentation as a Compressed File Format

One of the simplest ways to reduce the file size of your PowerPoint is by saving it in a compressed format. PowerPoint offers the PPTX format, which is a compressed version of the older PPT format. Saving your presentation as a PPTX file can help reduce file size without affecting the content or quality.

How to Save as PPTX:

  1. Click the “File” Tab: In PowerPoint, go to the File tab.
  2. Select “Save As”: Choose Save As and select a location to save the file.
  3. Choose “PowerPoint Presentation (*.pptx)”: In the “Save as type” dropdown, make sure to select “PowerPoint Presentation (*.pptx)”.
  4. Click “Save”: This will save your presentation in the smaller, compressed PPTX format.

Tip:

Always use the PPTX format for your presentations, as it’s more efficient and has better support for modern features than the older PPT format.

Final Thoughts

Managing the size of your PowerPoint presentation can help improve its performance, make it easier to share, and ensure smooth delivery during presentations. By compressing images, linking to videos, carefully managing font embedding, and saving your presentation in a compressed format, you can significantly reduce the file size without compromising on quality or content. These simple steps will ensure that your PowerPoint files remain manageable and accessible, whether you’re sharing them via email or presenting them on different devices.

PowerPoint Advice for Confused Mac Users

powerpoint advice

powerpoint for mac

Powerpoint tips

powerpoint tutorial

Feb 18, 2015

PowerPoint for Mac users can sometimes feel a little different from its Windows counterpart, but with the right approach, you can still take full advantage of its powerful features. If you’re a Mac user struggling to navigate PowerPoint, this guide will help clarify some key differences and tips for smoother operation.

1. Learn the Mac-Specific Shortcuts

Macs have different keyboard shortcuts compared to Windows, which can make PowerPoint usage feel unfamiliar. Learning these shortcuts can save time and frustration.

Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Efficiency: Knowing the right shortcuts speeds up your workflow.
  • Reduces Confusion: Using Mac-specific shortcuts ensures you’re not fumbling with the wrong commands.

Example: Use Command + Z to undo and Command + C to copy, instead of the Windows Ctrl equivalents.

2. Understand the Differences in Menus

Mac PowerPoint’s ribbon and menu layout is slightly different from the Windows version, so certain features may be located in unexpected places.

Why It’s Important:

  • Reduces Frustration: Familiarizing yourself with the layout helps you quickly find the tools you need.
  • Enhances Productivity: A smoother navigation experience leads to more productive work.

How to Do It:

  • Explore the Insert, Format, and View tabs, which are similar but not identical to the Windows version.
  • Take note of any tools that seem to be missing; they might just be under a different menu on the Mac.

3. Use the Mac-Specific Features

PowerPoint for Mac integrates well with other Mac applications, offering features like seamless embedding of media files from your Apple devices or using AirDrop to share presentations across devices.

Why It’s Important:

  • Maximizes Functionality: Leveraging Mac-specific features allows you to optimize your workflow.
  • Improves Collaboration: Sharing files or media across devices makes collaboration easier.

How to Do It:

  • Use AirDrop to share presentations with nearby devices.
  • Embed media files directly from your Photos app to integrate with your presentation more easily.

4. Sync with iCloud for Easy Access

Mac users can take advantage of iCloud to store their presentations and access them from any device.

Why It’s Important:

  • Ensures Accessibility: With iCloud, you can easily access and edit your presentation on multiple devices without needing to transfer files manually.
  • Provides Backup: iCloud automatically backs up your files, protecting your work from accidental loss.

How to Do It:

  • Save your presentations to iCloud Drive from within PowerPoint.
  • Access your presentations from any Mac or iOS device by signing into your iCloud account.

5. Use Presenter View Effectively

PowerPoint for Mac has a Presenter View that lets you see your notes, upcoming slides, and a timer—just like in the Windows version. Familiarizing yourself with this tool will make your presentations run more smoothly.

Why It’s Important:

  • Enhances Presentation Delivery: Presenter View helps you stay organized and deliver a more polished presentation.
  • Improves Confidence: Having your notes and upcoming slides at hand makes you feel more in control.

How to Do It:

  • Go to Slide Show > Presenter View to activate it during your presentation.
  • Make sure to connect your Mac to a projector or external screen for Presenter View to work correctly.

Final Thoughts

PowerPoint for Mac users can sometimes feel different from the Windows version, but with practice, you can master its features. By understanding the shortcuts, layout differences, and Mac-specific functionalities, you can create and deliver professional presentations with ease.

3 Easy Steps to Your Own PowerPoint Design

PowerPoint Design

powerpoint template

Powerpoint tips

Feb 04, 2015

Don’t let an important message get buried under bad PowerPoint design. A great story can fall short if your visuals end up boring the audience.

The standard bullet point design won’t do much for your success. If you really want to be impressive and make sure your message sticks, be diligent in creating effective PowerPoint slides, which you can do in three easy steps.

Today, we’re sharing tips on how you can create unique and memorable designs without ruining your schedule.

Step 1: Customize a PowerPoint template

Creating your own deck design from scratch is a daunting task. Unless you have a perfectly planned concept, it’s better to go down another route. Start with a PowerPoint template that you can customize, which you can apply using the Slide Master function.

To upgrade default PowerPoint templates, create your own color schemes. You can follow the color patterns of your company’s branding efforts or use programs like Adobe Color CC to find the perfect combination.

You can also use high-quality images as backgrounds to some of your slides. Just remember to choose images that aren’t too heavy on the eyes. They shouldn’t stick out from the overall visual theme of your PowerPoint design.

Step 2: Add carefully curated images

Aside from images for backgrounds, it’s also important to illustrate your points with pictures.

There are plenty of different images find on the Internet that will fit the subject matter of your presentation. Just be sure to carefully browse through your wealth of choices, aiming for images that allow for a unified look in your PowerPoint design.

Other than the overall theme of your images, make sure that they all match visually. You might find some images are too saturated and underexposed.

To solve the problem, make adjustments and corrections using photo-editing tools in PowerPoint.

Step 3: Be mindful of good design practices

As you put the different elements of your slide deck together, it’s important to keep good design practices in mind. These include the sparse use of text and animation, as well as the careful consideration on which font types to use.

Among our most important lessons is the proper use of white space in PowerPoint slides.

Contrary to what some may think, minimalistic design is not simply the absence of extraneous objects on the slides, but in removing distracting clutter and helping the viewers’ eyes focus on more important elements.

Tap into this principle and keep your design and layout balanced and in order as you craft your overall deck.

PowerPoint design comes from inspiration

If starting with these three steps still feels a bit overwhelming, you can find inspiration from all over the web.

Creativity stems from inspiration, so keep looking for designs that catch your eye. Start by browsing samples designs and studying their methods for inspiration.

Not sure where to begin? Contact us and consult with our PowerPoint experts today!

 

References

“Design Ideas: How to Improve PowerPoint Templates.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 9, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2015.
Ivanoff, Ada. “Design Minimalism: What, Why & How.” SitePoint. June 6, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2015.
“Tutorial: How to Use PowerPoint as a Photo Editor.” SlideGenius, Inc.. February 2, 2015. Accessed February 4, 2015.
“Using White Space in PowerPoint Design-a Closer Look.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 4, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2015.
“Where to Find Unique Images for Your Presentation Design.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 18, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2015.

 

Featured Image: Life of Pix

Tutorial: How to Use PowerPoint as a Photo Editor

photo editing

photo editor

Powerpoint

PowerPoint Design

Powerpoint tips

powerpoint tutorial

Feb 03, 2015

PowerPoint is more than just a presentation tool—it also offers basic photo editing features that allow you to enhance, crop, and customize images directly on your slides. Whether you want to adjust an image’s brightness, apply artistic effects, or remove the background, PowerPoint’s photo editing tools can help you create more visually appealing presentations without the need for external software.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use PowerPoint as a photo editor:

1. Insert Your Image

Before you can start editing, you’ll need to insert the image you want to work with.

How to Do It:

  • Open PowerPoint and go to the slide where you want to place the image.
  • Click on the Insert tab in the ribbon.
  • Select Pictures, then choose either This Device or Online Pictures to find your image.

2. Adjust Image Brightness and Contrast

PowerPoint allows you to easily adjust the brightness and contrast of your images to make them stand out or blend in with your slide design.

Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Visibility: Adjusting brightness and contrast ensures that your images are clear and visible, even in different lighting conditions.
  • Enhances Visual Appeal: You can make images more vibrant or muted depending on the tone you want to convey.

How to Do It:

  • Select your image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click on Corrections and choose from the available brightness and contrast adjustments.
  • You can also manually adjust the brightness and contrast by selecting Picture Corrections Options and using the sliders.

3. Crop Your Image

Cropping helps remove unwanted parts of an image and allows you to focus on the most important elements.

Why It’s Important:

  • Simplifies the Image: Cropping unnecessary areas draws attention to the main subject of the image.
  • Optimizes Space: By cropping an image, you can fit it more neatly into your slide design.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image, then go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Crop, and drag the black crop handles to remove the portions of the image you don’t want.
  • Press Enter to apply the crop.

Example: If you have a wide image but only want to show a specific part of it, crop out the unnecessary background to focus on the subject.

4. Remove Image Backgrounds

PowerPoint has a built-in tool for removing the background from images, which can be useful for isolating subjects or creating transparent backgrounds.

Why It’s Important:

  • Creates Cleaner Visuals: Removing a distracting background can help focus attention on the main subject of your image.
  • Allows Layering: A transparent background makes it easier to layer the image over other design elements or images.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Remove Background. PowerPoint will automatically attempt to detect and remove the background.
  • Use the Mark Areas to Keep or Mark Areas to Remove tools to fine-tune the selection.
  • Once you’re satisfied, click Keep Changes to apply the background removal.

5. Apply Artistic Effects

You can use PowerPoint’s artistic effects to give your images a unique, stylized look. These effects can transform an image into a sketch, painting, or other creative form.

Why It’s Important:

  • Adds Creativity: Artistic effects can give your images a custom look that fits the theme of your presentation.
  • Enhances Design: Using effects can make your images stand out and contribute to a more visually interesting slide.

How to Do It:

  • Select your image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Artistic Effects and choose from a variety of effects such as Pencil Sketch, Blur, Glow, or Photocopy.
  • Hover over each effect to preview it, then click to apply the effect.

6. Adjust Image Color and Saturation

You can adjust the color tone and saturation of your images to match your slide’s color scheme or create a specific mood.

Why It’s Important:

  • Creates Consistency: Matching the colors of your images to your presentation’s theme creates a cohesive look.
  • Sets the Mood: Adjusting saturation or applying color filters can help evoke the desired emotional response.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image, go to the Picture Format tab, and click Color.
  • Choose from preset color options like Grayscale, Sepia, or Washout, or manually adjust the saturation and temperature using the More Variations option.

Example: Apply a sepia tone to create a vintage effect or use grayscale for a professional, clean look.

7. Add Picture Borders or Effects

PowerPoint allows you to add borders, shadows, and other visual effects to your images, helping them stand out on your slides.

Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Focus: Adding borders or shadows can help your image pop and grab the audience’s attention.
  • Adds Depth: Effects like reflection or glow add dimension to your images, making them more visually appealing.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Picture Border to add a colored border, or use the Picture Effects dropdown to apply shadow, reflection, or glow effects.

8. Compress Images to Reduce File Size

Large images can make your PowerPoint file difficult to share or slow to load. Compressing images reduces the file size without compromising too much on quality.

Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Performance: Compressing images helps keep your presentation file size manageable, making it easier to share and load.
  • Saves Storage: Reducing image file sizes is useful if you’re working with a lot of high-resolution images.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image, go to the Picture Format tab, and click Compress Pictures.
  • Choose your compression settings based on whether your presentation will be used for printing or sharing online.

Final Thoughts

PowerPoint’s photo editing tools allow you to quickly and easily enhance your images without needing specialized software. From adjusting brightness and color to removing backgrounds and applying artistic effects, these features can help you create more visually compelling presentations. Experiment with these tools to transform basic images into polished, professional visuals.