Tag: powerpoint tutorial

3 Ways to Live Stream Your PowerPoint Presentation

live stream

powerpoint presentation

PowerPoint tip

powerpoint tutorial

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Sep 25, 2017

Distance shouldn’t be a barrier between you and your audience. Bring your pitch out of the boardroom and into the Web. Reach out to a wider audience with your deck without sacrificing your presence.

Live-stream your PowerPoint in three ways:

1. Share as a Link

In his article on digital video hub Field59, Michael Worringer gives his readers a run-through on how to broadcast your presentation from PowerPoint 2010 and 2013 by sharing it as a link.

For the purpose of this tutorial, we’ll be using PowerPoint 2013.

Unlike its 2010 version, whose Broadcast Slide Show option is found in the Slide Show tab, PowerPoint 2013 lets you live-stream your presentation through the Share option in the File tab.

A dialog box will appear with your presentation’s custom URL once you click Present Online. Copy the link or send it via email to your audience.

After they’ve received the link, click Start Presentation. Now you’ll be able to guide your viewers through each slide in real time at your own pace.

Below, you’ll find how Presenter View will appear on your screen. However, your audience will only see your slide show as you present it.

Once you’re done, exit the slide show mode and select End Online Presentation in the Present Online tab.

The slight downside to this broadcast method is that while you’re free to share your PowerPoint, some of your original deck’s features may be compromised. All transitions will be set to ‘fade’ from the audience’s view, and a file size may be imposed on your upload, depending on your broadcast service.

A compact and concise deck is more advisable for this PowerPoint live-stream technique to minimize the lag in your loading times.

2. Use Office Mix

If you’re using PowerPoint 2013 and are subscribed to Office 365, live streaming becomes even easier with the downloadable free add-in Office Mix.

Unlike the previous method, Office Mix is more accommodating with your slide contents. You’re free to add audio, video, polls, and quizzes to your slides. This is especially helpful for educators who want to track their students’ progress outside the classroom and for presenters who want to maximize audience engagement using their deck.

These are all available in the Quizzes Video Apps found in the Mix tab that will appear once you’ve downloaded it.

Source:

There’s also live digital inking, a more hands-on approach to presentation that lets you guide students through your slides in real time using video, audio, and illustration.

Source:

Office Mix has its own site dedicated to help users navigate through this handy feature. First-timers can benefit from its tutorials that show Mix at work.

Similar to the Broadcast Slide Show in PowerPoint 2010, Office Mix requires an Internet connection to share your presentation to a selected audience. However, another unique option of this add-in lets your audience review and play back your slides to their own pace even after you’ve exited your slide show.

True to its name, Mix crosses the boundaries between the Microsoft Office programs. Import viewers’ data and feedback on your deck for a more in-depth analysis.

3. Upload to Online Platforms

The third route to live-streaming your PowerPoint doesn’t let you interact with your audience as much, but it may be the easiest yet.

If you don’t have the last two PowerPoint features, you can upload and design your presentation using a private account to online platforms made for deck hosting, such as SlideShare.

Publishing your slides on online platforms is meant to improve reaching out to a wider audience. Although you can configure your uploaded deck’s settings to selected viewers, following default settings leaves your deck open for public viewing. You can add tags to make your PowerPoint easily searchable online, further reinforcing its inclination towards mass sharing.

At the same time, this technique can be considered a combination of the previous two PowerPoint live-streaming methods. It has a file size limitation like PowerPoint 2010, but it lets your audience enjoy your presentation at their pace, like Office Mix. Making use of online platforms requires compressing your slide contents into a file size that you can manually upload to the website.

Conclusion

Your deck is an important part of your presentation. Don’t let the distance between you and your audience deter you.

Broadcast your slide deck using three different methods, depending on the type of program available to you and on your intended audience. Share your PowerPoint with a link and broadcast it live with PowerPoint 2010 and 2013. Interact with your viewers in real time with Office Mix. However, if neither of these are available to you, you can always upload your presentation to an online platform like SlideShare.

There are a number of ways to make your presentation accessible. Just reach out to the one that works best for you.

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References

Worringer, Michael. “How to Broadcast a PowerPoint Presentation with a Live Stream.” Field59 Inc. April 21, 2015. www.field59.com/broadcast-powerpoint-presentation-live-stream
“What Is Office Mix.” Office Mix for Teachers. www.mixforteachers.com/what-is-office-mix.html

Featured Image: “Man Holding Laptop Computer Typing While Dog Watches” by Image Catalog on flickr.com

Save Your Deck: Methods to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint File

powerpoint file recovery

Powerpoint tips

powerpoint tutorial

Jan 18, 2017

Sheer panic—that’s probably your first reaction when you realize that you couldn’t save the PowerPoint file you were working on. Maybe the power went out, or your computer unexpectedly crashed. Perhaps you were too preoccupied that you didn’t think to hit “Save.” Whatever the reason, you’ve suddenly lost hours of hard work and have no clue how to get it all back.
Luckily, there’s no reason to stress over losing an unsaved PowerPoint file. Using the latest versions of PowerPoint, you can easily retrieve and recover all your hard work. Follow these steps to recover a PowerPoint file you accidentally lost:

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Method One: Recover Unsaved Presentations

If you were interrupted before saving your PowerPoint file, you could simply look for it in the Microsoft Unsaved Files folder. Go to the File tab, make sure you’re on Recent, and click on Recover Unsaved Presentations. The icon is right below the list of folders under Recent Places.

Recover-Unsaved-Presentations

Everything in the Unsaved folder is a temporary file. Make sure you recover and save everything you need because you might lose it after a few days.

Method Two: AutoRecover

If you’ve been periodically saving your work but was interrupted before you could save specific changes, you can retrieve your PowerPoint file using the AutoRecover function. First, check if you have it enabled. Go to the File tab, click on Options and go to Save. Make sure your options are similar to those in this picture:
PowerPoint-Files-AutoRecover
If you don’t have AutoRecover enabled, there’s no other way to retrieve the changes you made to your PowerPoint file. You will have to redo your work from the last save. But if everything looks good, you can then follow these steps:
1.) Copy the file destination path in the same dialogue box.
PowerPoint-Files-AutoRecover-02
2.) Open Windows Explorer, paste the path on the address bar, and hit Enter.
PowerPoint-Files-AutoRecover-025
To avoid losing crucial information, ensure AutoRecover is enabled every time you create a PowerPoint deck.

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ConclusionSGBlog_SaveYourDeck_Supporting image_SG01_JE-01

Retrieving an unsaved PowerPoint file is a no-brainer as long as you know these basic recovery methods.
You can either open the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” found in the “Recent Places” or use the AutoRecover function to check where that unsaved document must be hiding.
Learn these tricks by heart so you don’t have to worry about getting your presentation back!

How to Set the Playback Options in PowerPoint 2013

playback options

powerpoint 2013

powerpoint tutorial

presentation

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Dec 04, 2016

Setting the playback options for audio and video in PowerPoint 2013 allows you to control how multimedia elements behave during your presentation. Whether you want a video to play automatically or have audio loop throughout the entire presentation, PowerPoint offers several playback settings to customize the viewing experience.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set playback options for both audio and video files in PowerPoint 2013:

1. Insert Your Audio or Video

Before adjusting playback options, you need to insert the multimedia file into your slide.

How to Do It:

  • Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon.
  • Select Audio or Video from the Media group and choose your file from your computer.

Example: If you’re adding background music, insert an audio file onto the first slide.

2. Select the Audio or Video Object

Once you’ve inserted your media file, click on the audio or video object on the slide to access the playback options.

How to Do It:

  • Click on the multimedia file to select it.
  • The Playback tab will appear in the ribbon.

3. Set Video Playback Options

For video files, you can control when the video plays, how it plays, and what happens when the video finishes.

How to Do It:

  • In the Playback tab under the Video Tools, you’ll see the Video Options group.
  • Choose Start and select from the following options:
    • Automatically: The video starts playing as soon as the slide is shown.
    • On Click: The video starts playing when you click on it during the presentation.
  • Loop Until Stopped: Check this box if you want the video to loop continuously until manually stopped.
  • Rewind After Playing: Check this box if you want the video to rewind to the beginning after playing.

Example: If you’re embedding a product demo video, set it to play automatically when you reach the slide.

4. Set Audio Playback Options

For audio files, similar options allow you to control when and how the sound plays during your presentation.

How to Do It:

  • In the Playback tab under the Audio Tools, locate the Audio Options group.
  • Start: Choose when the audio will start:
    • Automatically: The audio starts playing as soon as the slide is shown.
    • On Click: The audio plays when you click the play button.
    • Play Across Slides: The audio continues to play even as you move through multiple slides.
  • Loop Until Stopped: This option ensures the audio will loop until you manually stop it or the presentation ends.
  • Hide During Show: Check this if you want the audio icon to be invisible during the presentation.

Example: For background music that plays throughout the entire presentation, select Play Across Slides and Loop Until Stopped.

5. Set Trim Options (For Both Audio and Video)

PowerPoint 2013 allows you to trim audio or video to play only the portion you want.

How to Do It:

  • Click on the Trim Video or Trim Audio button in the Editing group on the Playback tab.
  • Adjust the sliders to set the start and end points for the audio or video.

Example: If you only want the first 30 seconds of a song to play, use the Trim Audio tool to select the desired section.

6. Test Your Playback Settings

Once you’ve made your adjustments, it’s important to test your multimedia playback to ensure it works as expected during the presentation.

How to Do It:

  • Go to Slide Show mode and navigate to the slide with the media file.
  • Check if the media plays as intended (automatically, on click, etc.).

Example: Play through your entire presentation and verify that your audio plays seamlessly across all slides, or that the video loops continuously as you intended.

Final Thoughts

Setting playback options in PowerPoint 2013 allows you to have full control over how multimedia content interacts with your presentation. Whether you’re adding background music that plays throughout your slideshow or inserting a video that automatically starts, adjusting playback settings ensures that your multimedia enhances the overall flow and experience of your presentation.

Get More Organized with PowerPoint Presenter View

full screen

powerpoint 2013

powerpoint tutorial

Rick Enrico

Slide Show

SlideGenius

Nov 27, 2016

PowerPoint’s Presenter View is a useful tool for keeping your presentations organized and professional. It allows you to see your speaker notes, upcoming slides, and a timer, all while your audience views only the slides. Here’s how to use Presenter View effectively and stay organized during your presentation.

1. Set Up Presenter View

To use Presenter View, you need to have a second display (a projector or an additional monitor) connected to your computer.

Why It’s Important:

  • Enhances Organization: Presenter View allows you to manage your notes, track time, and view upcoming slides without the audience seeing it.
  • Improves Presentation Flow: Knowing what’s coming next helps you deliver a smoother, more professional presentation.

How to Do It:

  • Go to the Slide Show tab and select Use Presenter View.
  • Connect your computer to a projector or external monitor so you can see the presenter view on your screen while your audience only sees the slides.

2. Use Speaker Notes for Key Points

Presenter View allows you to see your speaker notes, so you don’t have to memorize your entire presentation. This helps you stay on track without losing eye contact with the audience.

Why It’s Important:

  • Keeps You Focused: Speaker notes serve as reminders of key points without overwhelming you with too much information.
  • Reduces Memorization: Having notes available reduces the pressure to memorize everything and lets you focus on delivering your message.

How to Do It:

  • Add speaker notes for each slide in PowerPoint, highlighting the main points you want to cover.
  • As you present, glance at the notes on your screen to stay on track.

3. Monitor Time with the Built-In Timer

Presenter View includes a timer that tracks how long you’ve been presenting. This helps you stay within your time limit and avoid rushing or running over.

Why It’s Important:

  • Ensures Time Management: Monitoring time ensures that you stay on schedule and don’t miss important points due to poor pacing.
  • Keeps You Calm: Having a timer on screen means you won’t have to worry about how much time you have left, allowing you to focus on your presentation.

How to Do It:

  • Start your presentation in Presenter View, and the timer will automatically start.
  • Keep an eye on the timer to adjust your pacing as needed.

4. Preview Upcoming Slides

Presenter View shows you a preview of the next slide, allowing you to prepare your transitions and make smoother connections between slides.

Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Transitions: Previewing upcoming slides helps you transition smoothly between topics, keeping your presentation fluid.
  • Reduces Mistakes: Knowing what’s coming next ensures that you don’t get caught off guard by the content of the next slide.

How to Do It:

  • Use the Next Slide preview in Presenter View to see what’s coming up and adjust your delivery accordingly.

Final Thoughts

PowerPoint’s Presenter View is an invaluable tool for staying organized and delivering polished, professional presentations. By using speaker notes, monitoring time, and previewing upcoming slides, you can maintain control of your presentation and keep your audience engaged. Incorporate Presenter View into your presentation routine to elevate your performance and create a smoother, more engaging experience for your audience.

3 Cost-Effective PowerPoint Tips to Enhance Your Deck

artistic effects

Powerpoint tips

powerpoint tutorial

presentation

Rick Enrico

slide elements

SlideGenius

Nov 01, 2016

PowerPoint is designed to be a user-friendly tool. Because of this, anyone can easily access and operate the program to create a basic deck.

However, we’ve barely scratched the surface of this diverse presentation program.

There’s more to the visual aid than meets the eye.

Here are three tips on how to save time with PowerPoint to ease your design process:

1. Edit Your Images in PowerPoint

If you’re struggling with a third party program and you want to see your pictures alongside the actual slide layout, edit your images directly in PowerPoint.

Although this won’t give you the same flexibility compared to editing programs like Photoshop, it does give you options to enhance images in your slides. You can use this option for basic formatting, especially if you’re still beginning with design essentials.

A Format tab will appear once you’ve selected your desired object. Explore the options on this tab to transform your pictures into attractive slide elements.

One of the most common editing tools in PowerPoint is the Crop tool. It cuts your image down to size without adjusting its dimensions.

You can also select a number of designs for your image with Picture Styles. This frames your picture, and even changes its shape and angle.

Draw attention to key objects without needing to make the rest of your slide too plain. Tick Artistic Effects to make your images stand out from your background.

Editing straight in PowerPoint saves you time and money that would have taken to design your images in a separate platform.

2. Adjust Your Slide Size

Most presenters stick with the default slide dimensions on PowerPoint. Earlier versions were in the standard 4:3 square size. There worked best for presentations that will be printed later on.

This changed with PowerPoint 2013 onwards, where the default slide size used the 16:9 widescreen format. This configuration was used with visual content reserved only for on-screen presentations.

Other than that, these later versions now also let you adjust your slides to whatever size you choose.

PowerPoint 2013 users will find this option under the Design tab. Click Slide Size > Custom Slide Size to modify your slide according to the size you want it to be.

According to the guide, 4:3 is best used for decks to be printed or presented on different media. On the other hand, 16:9 is best for presentations that are going to stay on screen, particularly for formal conferences or business presentations.

Knowing which sizes are compatible with your presentation leaves out the trouble of printing slides that are too small, or presenting a deck that’s too big onscreen.

3. Check Out Their New Features

PowerPoint is a constantly evolving program.

Its developers are aware of the criticisms hurled against it, so the presentation aid’s been optimized to respond with even better features.

For example, just last year, Microsoft released two new add-ins for Microsoft 2016 – Designer and Morph.

Designer eliminates the hassle of customizing layouts and color schemes to fit your chosen background. Just insert an image in PowerPoint and the program will analyze what design goes best with it.

Morph also gives you an easier job at crafting transitions and basic animation.

Simply drag the object you want to animate along a path after clicking the Morph option, and the slide element will follow that path once you play the Slide Show.

Make sure to check the new add-ins for a cost-effective PowerPoint that improves both your experience and deck design.

Conclusion

PowerPoint is a deceivingly simple tool to use, but there are plenty of things yet to be discovered about its functions. Most of these will help you cut back on time and effort, while still producing a winning deck for your presentation.

Edit your images directly in PowerPoint using the options in the Format tab.

Adjust your slide size to match your presentation type.

Always update yourself with the latest PowerPoint add-ins to find out what can make your designing a breeze.

Need help with your presentation design needs? Contact our SlideGenius experts today for a free quote!

Reference

“What Slide Size Should You Use?” Presentitude. November 19, 2014. Accessed December 29, 2015. http://presentitude.com/slide-size-use

Choose and Customize View Panes in PowerPoint 2013

custom ppt

customize powerpoint

powerpoint 2013

powerpoint basics

powerpoint tutorial

presenter

Rick Enrico

Slide Show

SlideGenius

view

Oct 18, 2016

PowerPoint 2013 offers several view panes that help streamline the presentation creation process by giving you different perspectives and tools for editing, organizing, and managing your slides. Each view serves a specific function, whether you’re working on content, structure, or design. Understanding how to choose and customize view panes can enhance your workflow and make it easier to build professional presentations.

Here’s how to choose and customize view panes in PowerPoint 2013 to optimize your slide creation experience.

1. Choosing View Panes in PowerPoint 2013

PowerPoint provides several different views, each designed to help you with specific tasks like editing, organizing, or reviewing your slides. You can easily toggle between views using the View tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.

Key View Panes:

a) Normal View

  • Purpose: This is the default view in PowerPoint, allowing you to edit and design your slides. It includes three main sections: the Slide Thumbnails pane on the left, the Slide pane (where you edit the current slide), and the Notes pane at the bottom.
  • When to Use: Ideal for building and editing slides one by one.

How to Access:

  • Go to the View tab and click Normal.

b) Slide Sorter View

  • Purpose: Displays thumbnails of all your slides in a grid, allowing you to rearrange, delete, or reorder them easily.
  • When to Use: Best for organizing and rearranging your slide order or getting an overview of the entire presentation.

How to Access:

  • Go to the View tab and click Slide Sorter.

c) Reading View

  • Purpose: Lets you view the presentation as the audience would see it, but within the PowerPoint window. It’s helpful for reviewing your presentation without entering full screen mode.
  • When to Use: Use this view to preview animations, transitions, and overall flow.

How to Access:

  • Go to the View tab and click Reading View.

d) Slide Show View

  • Purpose: Runs the entire presentation in full screen, showing slides as they will appear to your audience.
  • When to Use: Use this view to rehearse the timing of your presentation or to present it live.

How to Access:

  • Go to the View tab and click From Beginning or press F5.

e) Outline View

  • Purpose: Displays only the text of each slide in outline form, making it easier to focus on the structure and content.
  • When to Use: Ideal for working on slide content, especially when you want to ensure clarity and consistency in text flow.

How to Access:

  • Go to the View tab and click Outline View.

f) Notes Page View

  • Purpose: Shows each slide along with the notes you’ve added. You can add speaker notes here that are visible only to you while presenting.
  • When to Use: Best for preparing and reviewing speaker notes for your presentation.

How to Access:

  • Go to the View tab and click Notes Page.

2. Customizing View Panes in PowerPoint 2013

You can adjust and customize view panes in PowerPoint to make your workflow more efficient. Here’s how to modify each pane based on your needs:

a) Slide Thumbnails Pane

  • Purpose: Located on the left side of the Normal View, the Slide Thumbnails pane displays mini versions of all slides, allowing for easy navigation and rearrangement.

How to Customize:

  • Resize: You can adjust the size of the Slide Thumbnails pane by hovering over the right edge of the pane until your cursor turns into a double arrow. Click and drag left or right to resize the pane.
  • Collapse or Expand: Click the small arrow at the top of the pane to collapse or expand it as needed. Collapsing it gives you more room for slide editing.

b) Notes Pane

  • Purpose: The Notes Pane, located below the Slide pane in Normal View, allows you to add notes for each slide.

How to Customize:

  • Resize the Pane: Click and drag the top edge of the Notes pane to make it larger or smaller based on how much space you need for notes.
  • View Notes on a Larger Scale: If you need to focus more on your notes, switch to Notes Page View for a more detailed view.

c) Zoom Feature

  • Purpose: Allows you to zoom in or out on your slides in the Slide pane.

How to Customize:

  • Adjust Zoom: Use the Zoom Slider at the bottom-right corner of the PowerPoint window to zoom in or out. You can also access the Zoom button in the View tab to manually set the zoom percentage.
  • Fit to Window: To reset the view and fit the entire slide into the window, click the Fit Slide to Current Window button in the View tab.

d) Gridlines and Guides

  • Purpose: Gridlines and guides help you align objects on your slides more precisely.

How to Customize:

  • Show or Hide Gridlines/Guides: Go to the View tab, and in the Show group, check or uncheck Gridlines and Guides.
  • Add More Guides: Right-click on an existing guide, then choose Add Vertical Guide or Add Horizontal Guide to increase the number of guides.
  • Snap Objects to Grid: If you want objects to align perfectly to the grid, select Snap objects to grid under the View tab.

e) Presenter View (When Using Slide Show Mode)

  • Purpose: Presenter View offers a dual-screen setup where you see speaker notes, upcoming slides, and a timer, while the audience sees only the current slide.

How to Customize:

  • Enable Presenter View: Go to the Slide Show tab and check the Use Presenter View box.
  • Customize Screen Layout: During the presentation, you can move or resize the panes in Presenter View to suit your preferences, showing more or less of the notes, timer, or slide preview.

3. Other Customization Options

a) Ruler

  • Purpose: Helps you align text, shapes, and objects on your slide.

How to Enable:

  • Go to the View tab and check Ruler in the Show group.

b) Multiple Windows

  • Purpose: If you’re working on multiple presentations, you can view them in separate windows to easily compare or copy content between them.

How to Open Multiple Windows:

  • Go to the View tab and click New Window to open another instance of the current presentation in a new window. You can arrange them side-by-side using the Arrange All button.

Final Thoughts

Choosing and customizing view panes in PowerPoint 2013 is a powerful way to improve your workflow, helping you focus on specific aspects of your presentation. Whether you’re editing content, organizing slides, or preparing notes, PowerPoint’s flexible views and customization options give you the tools to work more efficiently and design professional presentations with ease.

By mastering these view pane options and making them work for your needs, you can streamline your presentation-building process and ensure that your final output is polished and effective.

How to Rehearse Timings in PowerPoint 2013

powerpoint 2013

powerpoint tutorial

presentation

Rick Enrico

slide transitions

SlideGenius

Aug 17, 2016

One of the most important aspects of delivering a presentation is managing your time effectively. PowerPoint 2013 offers a handy tool that allows you to rehearse the timings of your slides, helping you stay on track during your actual presentation. Here’s how to use the Rehearse Timings feature in PowerPoint 2013.

1. Open Rehearse Timings

PowerPoint 2013 has a built-in feature that allows you to practice your presentation and record the time spent on each slide.

Why It’s Important:

  • Keeps You on Track: Rehearsing timings ensures that you stay within your allotted time without rushing or dragging out certain sections.
  • Improves Delivery: Practicing with real-time feedback helps you pace your delivery more effectively.

How to Do It:

  • Go to the Slide Show tab and click Rehearse Timings.
  • PowerPoint will automatically begin timing each slide as you rehearse your presentation.

2. Record Your Timing

As you progress through your presentation, PowerPoint will record the amount of time you spend on each slide. This allows you to review your timing and make adjustments where necessary.

Why It’s Important:

  • Helps with Pacing: Recording timings lets you see where you may be spending too much or too little time.
  • Prepares You for the Real Presentation: Rehearsing under real-time conditions helps simulate the actual presentation experience.

How to Do It:

  • Move through your slides at your normal speaking pace. When you reach the end, PowerPoint will display the total time spent on each slide.

3. Review and Adjust Timings

Once you’ve completed your rehearsal, PowerPoint allows you to review your slide timings. You can adjust the timings if you need to spend more or less time on certain slides.

Why It’s Important:

  • Allows for Adjustments: Reviewing your timings gives you the opportunity to refine your pacing and adjust the presentation’s flow.
  • Ensures Timing Accuracy: Fine-tuning your slide timings helps you hit your time limit with precision.

How to Do It:

  • PowerPoint will display the total rehearsal time once you complete your practice session.
  • Adjust your slides based on where you spent too much or too little time.

4. Save Your Timings

After rehearsing, PowerPoint will ask if you want to save your timings. If you plan to use these timings during your actual presentation, make sure to save them.

Why It’s Important:

  • Automates Slide Transitions: Saving your rehearsed timings allows PowerPoint to automatically advance slides based on the time you practiced.
  • Keeps You On Track: Automated timings ensure that your presentation moves at the right pace without you manually advancing the slides.

How to Do It:

  • After completing your rehearsal, click Yes when prompted to save your timings.
  • Your presentation will now use the rehearsed timings when played in Slide Show mode.

Final Thoughts

Rehearsing slide timings in PowerPoint 2013 is a valuable tool for ensuring that your presentation flows smoothly and stays within your allotted time. By using the Rehearse Timings feature, you can practice your delivery, refine your pacing, and feel confident that your presentation will be perfectly timed. Incorporate this step into your preparation to improve the overall delivery of your presentation.

Your Quick Guide to Outline Text Fonts in PowerPoint 2013

outline text fonts

powerpoint 2013

powerpoint tutorial

presentation tip

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Aug 03, 2016

Outlining text in PowerPoint 2013 can add emphasis and make your text stand out in a presentation. While it’s not a commonly used design feature, adding an outline to text can create a bold, unique look that enhances readability, especially when used with large headings or titles.

Here’s a quick guide to outline text fonts in PowerPoint 2013:

1. Adding an Outline to Text

PowerPoint 2013 offers an easy way to add an outline (or stroke) to any text box, helping the text pop off the slide. This is particularly useful when your text is placed over an image or a busy background.

How to Do It:

  • Select the text box or specific text that you want to outline.
  • On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click the Text Outline button.
  • Choose a color for your outline from the color palette.
  • To further customize the outline, click Weight to adjust the thickness of the outline or Dashes to choose a different line style.

Example: If your slide has a dark background, outlining light-colored text with a darker border (such as white text with a black outline) can improve readability and visual impact.

2. Customizing the Outline Color

The color of the text outline should complement both your font color and the background of your slide. Choose a high-contrast color to ensure that your outlined text stands out.

How to Do It:

  • Click Text Outline from the toolbar and select a color from the Theme Colors or Standard Colors section.
  • For more customization, select More Outline Colors to access a full color wheel or enter specific RGB values for a custom color.

Example: Use brand colors for your text outline to reinforce your brand identity in your presentation.

3. Adjusting the Outline Weight

The thickness of the outline, known as its weight, determines how bold or subtle the outline appears. You can adjust the weight of the text outline depending on the font size and the overall style of your presentation.

How to Do It:

  • After applying an outline, go to Text Outline > Weight and choose from several preset thickness options.
  • For larger text, like titles or headings, you can choose a thicker outline (e.g., 2-3pt). For smaller text, use a thinner outline for a subtle effect (e.g., 0.5-1pt).

Example: A bold heading in 72pt font might look great with a 2pt outline, while smaller body text (24pt) may only need a 0.5pt outline for subtle emphasis.

4. Exploring Other Outline Styles

PowerPoint 2013 also allows you to create more creative text outlines by using dashed or dotted lines. This can add a unique design element to your presentation, especially if you’re going for a playful or creative look.

How to Do It:

  • Select the text and go to Text Outline > Dashes to choose from a variety of dashed or dotted line styles.
  • Apply these styles sparingly to avoid making the slide look too busy or difficult to read.

Example: Use a dotted outline on text in a slide meant to showcase creative ideas or brainstorming sessions, adding visual flair to the content.

5. When to Use Outlined Text

Outlined text works best for large titles, headers, or key phrases that need emphasis. It’s not ideal for long paragraphs or body text, as it can reduce readability if overused.

When to Use It:

  • Use outlined text for titles, quotes, or key points that need to stand out from the rest of the slide.
  • Avoid using outlined text for dense paragraphs or small text to maintain clarity and readability.

Example: Add an outline to the title slide to make the main headline stand out, while keeping the body text plain and easy to read.

Final Thoughts

Outlining text in PowerPoint 2013 is a great way to add emphasis and visual interest to your slides. By adjusting the color, weight, and style of the outline, you can create striking text that stands out while complementing your overall presentation design. Remember to use text outlines sparingly and thoughtfully to enhance readability and maintain a professional look.

How to Open the .ODP Format Using PowerPoint 2013

.odp

business presentations

odp format

powerpoint 2013

powerpoint tutorial

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Jul 20, 2016

The .ODP (Open Document Presentation) format is commonly used in open-source office programs like LibreOffice or OpenOffice. While PowerPoint uses its own proprietary formats (.PPT and .PPTX), it can still open and edit .ODP files with a few simple steps.

Here’s how to open and work with .ODP files using PowerPoint 2013:

1. Open the .ODP File in PowerPoint

PowerPoint 2013 has built-in support for .ODP files, so you can open them directly without needing any additional software.

Why It’s Important:

  • Saves Time: You don’t need to convert the file beforehand—PowerPoint can open it natively.
  • Maintains Compatibility: This allows you to collaborate with colleagues who use open-source office programs.

How to Do It:

  • Open PowerPoint 2013 and click File, then Open.
  • Navigate to the location of your .ODP file and select it.
  • Click Open. PowerPoint will automatically convert the .ODP file into a format it can edit.

2. Check Formatting After Opening

While PowerPoint can open .ODP files, there may be some formatting discrepancies, especially with complex layouts, fonts, or animations.

Why It’s Important:

  • Ensures Professionalism: You want to make sure your slides look exactly how you intended them.
  • Avoids Presentation Issues: Checking for formatting errors prevents any issues when delivering your presentation.

How to Do It:

  • After opening the .ODP file, go through each slide and check for formatting issues such as misplaced text, images, or animations.
  • Make any necessary adjustments to ensure the presentation looks clean and professional.

3. Save the File as .PPTX

To ensure maximum compatibility and access to all PowerPoint features, it’s a good idea to save the .ODP file as a .PPTX file once you’ve finished making edits.

Why It’s Important:

  • Access to PowerPoint Features: Saving the file as .PPTX unlocks all of PowerPoint’s advanced features that may not be fully supported in the .ODP format.
  • Improves Compatibility: Saving in .PPTX format makes it easier to share the file with others using PowerPoint.

How to Do It:

  • Once you’ve made your edits, click File > Save As.
  • Choose PowerPoint Presentation (.PPTX) as the file type and click Save.

Final Thoughts

Opening and editing .ODP files in PowerPoint 2013 is a simple process, thanks to built-in support for this open-source format. However, always check for formatting issues and save your file as .PPTX for better compatibility and access to all PowerPoint features. By following these steps, you can seamlessly work with .ODP files and ensure your presentation is professional and polished.

How to Optimize and Embed Audio in PowerPoint 2013

audio

powerpoint 2013

powerpoint tutorial

presentation

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Jul 06, 2016

Adding audio to your PowerPoint presentation can bring your slides to life, whether you’re using background music, sound effects, or voiceovers. Optimizing and embedding audio files ensures smooth playback and a professional presentation experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to optimizing and embedding audio in PowerPoint 2013.

1. Choose the Right Audio Format

To ensure that your audio plays smoothly during your presentation, it’s important to use the right file format. PowerPoint supports several audio formats, but MP3 is the most widely compatible.

Why It’s Important:

  • Ensures Compatibility: MP3 files are supported across different devices and platforms.
  • Improves Playback: Optimized audio ensures smooth playback without lag or errors.

How to Do It:

  • Convert your audio files to MP3 format before embedding them into PowerPoint for the best compatibility.

2. Embed Audio in Your Presentation

Instead of linking to an external audio file, it’s better to embed the audio directly into your presentation. This ensures that the audio stays with your file and plays correctly, even if you share the presentation.

Why It’s Important:

  • Ensures Audio Stays Linked: Embedding audio prevents issues where the file gets disconnected or lost.
  • Allows for Easy Sharing: Embedded audio travels with your PowerPoint file, making it easier to share.

How to Do It:

  • Go to the Insert tab in PowerPoint and click Audio.
  • Select Audio on My PC, navigate to your audio file, and click Insert.
  • The audio will now be embedded in your presentation, not linked.

3. Optimize Audio Settings

Once your audio is embedded, you can adjust the playback settings to ensure it plays exactly when and how you want.

Why It’s Important:

  • Controls Timing: Optimizing settings allows you to control when the audio plays and how it behaves during your presentation.
  • Enhances Professionalism: Proper audio settings prevent awkward moments where the audio starts at the wrong time or overlaps with other elements.

How to Do It:

  • Select the audio icon and go to the Playback tab.
  • Choose whether you want the audio to start Automatically or On Click.
  • Use the Trim Audio tool to cut out unnecessary parts of the audio file.

4. Compress the Audio

Large audio files can make your PowerPoint presentation difficult to share or slow to load. Compressing the audio file helps reduce the overall size of your presentation without sacrificing too much quality.

Why It’s Important:

  • Reduces File Size: Compression ensures that your presentation remains shareable and doesn’t take up too much storage space.
  • Improves Performance: A smaller file size means faster loading and smoother transitions.

How to Do It:

  • Select the File tab, click Info, and then click Compress Media.
  • Choose Internet Quality or Low Quality depending on your needs.

5. Test the Audio Before Presenting

Before delivering your presentation, it’s essential to test your audio on the device and environment where you’ll be presenting. This ensures there are no playback issues, especially if you’re presenting on a different system than your own.

Why It’s Important:

  • Prevents Technical Issues: Testing ahead of time ensures smooth audio playback during your presentation.
  • Ensures Compatibility: Audio playback can sometimes behave differently on other systems, so testing prevents surprises.

How to Do It:

  • Play the entire presentation in Slide Show mode and make sure the audio starts and stops where you intended.
  • Test the audio’s volume level and clarity in the actual room where you’ll be presenting.

Final Thoughts

Embedding and optimizing audio in PowerPoint 2013 can add a dynamic layer to your presentation. By choosing the right file format, embedding the audio, adjusting playback settings, and compressing large files, you ensure a professional and smooth presentation experience. Don’t forget to test everything before your live presentation to avoid technical issues and ensure the audio enhances your message.