Understanding PowerPoint Slide Masters and Templates




Slide Masters


A PowerPointSlide Master contains objects that you want to appear on each slide in your presentation. With a Slide Master, you only have to create an item once and PowerPoint will automatically include them on every slide. Some things are set up by PowerPoint (for example; place for slide title and text) so you don't have to create them each time. If you want to add additional items to a master, you can at any time. The Slide Master has boxes already set up for the slide title and text. They're called the Master Title and the Master Body object. The format of these objects determines the way your text will look on each slide. You can always make slides look different from the Slide Master, but a Slide Master gives you a consistent starting point.

The Slide Master is flexible. You can move objects around, add art, add headings or labels, change colors and fonts.

As you create a slide, you have the option of using or not using the elements from the Slide Master. To change the entire presentation, you simply change the format of the Slide Master. PowerPoint will then change all your slides accordingly.

PowerPoint Templates


PowerPoint also offers templates. A template is a presentation containing PowerPoint masters and a color scheme. PowerPoint offers 160 pre-designed templates to help you get started quickly. Applying a template to a presentation you are creating means the design work is already done for you.

You can apply a template when you are just starting a presentation, or you can create a presentation and apply the template later.

Now that you have learned about PowerPoint masters and templates it is time to learn create a slide.

Next Topic: Creating a Slide
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