How to make a PowerPoint presentation (with pictures)

This article will show you how to create a presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint. PowerPoint is a Microsoft Office program that supports Windows and macOS.

Steps

Part 1 of 6: How to Create a Presentation

Step 1. Launch PowerPoint

Click on the white "P" icon on an orange background. The PowerPoint Templates page opens.

Step 2. Browse the available templates

Scroll down the templates page and find the template you want.

Templates include color schemes, fonts, and overall look

Step 3. Select a template

Click on the required template; it will open.

If you don't want to use a template, just click Blank Presentation at the top left of the page and skip the next two steps

Step 4. Choose a theme (if possible)

Many templates have different color schemes or themes, marked with colored boxes at the bottom right of the window; click on one of these fields to change the color scheme / theme of the template.

Skip this step if there are no themes available in the template you selected

Step 5. Click Create

It's in the lower-right corner of the window. A presentation will be created based on the selected template.

Part 2 of 6: How to Create a Title Slide

Step 1: Think about what your title slide should look like

Unlike other slides in a presentation, a title slide should only include a title and possibly a subtitle.

If your title slide needs to be special, skip this step

Step 2. Add a title

Click in the large text box in the middle of the first (title) slide, and then enter a title for your presentation.

You can change the font style and size on the Home tab, which is located on the orange ribbon at the top of the window

Step 3. Add a subtitle

Click the smaller text box below the heading box, and then enter a subtitle.

Leave this field blank if you wish

Step 4. Rearrange the text boxes on the title slide

To do this, move the mouse cursor over the frame of the text field and, while holding the left button, drag the field.

To resize the text box, drag the handle in one of its corners

Step 5. Click the Transitions tab

It's at the top of the window. A list of possible slide transitions is displayed at the top of the page.

Step 6. Select a transition for the title slide

Click on the desired transition to apply it to the slide. You can now proceed to add a new slide (s) for the presentation content.

If you hover your mouse over a transition, the slide shows how that transition will look in practice

Part 3 of 6: How to add a new slide

Step 1. Click the Insert tab

It's at the top of the window. A new toolbar will open.

On a Mac, go to the Home tab

Step 2. Click Create Slide ▼

It's on the left side of the toolbar. A menu will open.

• On a Mac, click the arrow

• 

  to the right of Create Slide in the toolbar.
• If you click the white rectangle icon above the specified option, a blank slide is inserted into your presentation.

Step 3. Select the type of slide

Select one of the following types from the menu:

• Title slide
• Title and object
• Section title
• Two objects
• Comparison
• Title only
• Blank slide
• Signed object
• Drawing with caption

Step 4. Add other slides (if needed)

You can of course add new slides as you create your presentation, but inserting them ahead of time will give you an idea of the presentation layout.

Step 5. Rearrange the slides (if necessary)

To do this, drag the slide up or down on the left pane of the PowerPoint window.

Naturally, the title slide should be the first slide of the presentation, that is, it should be at the top of the left pane

Part 4 of 6: How to add objects to slides

Step 1. Select a slide

In the left pane, click on the desired slide. It will open in the main presentation window.

Step 2. Find the text box

If you selected a slide with a text box, you can enter text in it.

Skip this and the next two steps if the selected slide does not have text boxes

Step 3. Add text to the slide

Click in the text box and enter your text.

Text boxes in PowerPoint automatically format most of the text (for example, add bullets) based on its context

Step 4. Change the format of the text

To do this, select the text, go to the Home tab, and look at the options for formatting text in the Font section.

• To change the font, open the menu with the name of the current font and select the desired font.
• To change the font size, open the menu with a number, and then click on a higher or lower number.
• Here you can also change the font color and make it bold, italic, or underlined.

Step 5. Add photos to the slide

To do this, go to the "Insert" tab, click "Pictures" and select an image.

Step 6. Change the position of the slide objects

To do this, simply drag the object to a different position.

To resize the photo, drag a handle in one of its corners

Step 7. Repeat the described steps for each slide

When you have created all the slides, you can move on to the next part.

Remember that slides should not be cluttered with text and pictures to avoid distracting the audience. The text on each slide should not exceed 33 words

Part 5 of 6: How to add transitions

Step 1. Select a slide

To do this, click on it in the left pane.

Step 2. Click the Transitions tab

It's at the top of the window. The Transitions toolbar opens.

Step 3. Review the available transitions at the top of the window

Transitions improve the visual aspect of your presentation.

Step 4. Review the transition

Click on a transition at the top of the window to see it in action on a slide.

Step 5. Select a transition

To do this, click on the required transition. The selected transition will be used in the current slide.

Step 6. Add a transition to the slide objects

Transitions can be added to specific objects on a slide (for example, a photo or a bulleted list) - select the object, go to the Animations tab (at the top of the window) and select the transition you want.

The slide objects will appear in the order in which you set the transitions. For example, if you set a transition for a photo first, and then for a title, the photo is displayed first, and then the title appears

Part 6 of 6: How to View and Save Your Presentation

Step 1. Review the presentation

To do this, flip through the slides, go through each of them and make sure everything is in place.

Step 2. Click the Slide Show tab

It's at the top of the window. The Slide Show toolbar opens.

Step 3. Click From Beginning

It's on the left side of the toolbar. The presentation starts.

Step 4. Flip through the slides

To do this, use the left and right arrow keys.

Press Esc to exit presentation mode

Step 5. Make the necessary changes

When you have viewed the entire presentation, add forgotten items and / or remove unnecessary information. Step 6. Save your presentation.

It will be saved as a file that can be opened on any Windows or macOS computer that has PowerPoint installed:

• Windows - Click File> Save, double-click This PC, select a location to save, enter a file name, and click Save.
• Mac - Click File> Save As, enter a file name in the Name box, choose a location to save from the Where menu, and then click Save.

Advice

• If you don't have Microsoft Office, use Apple Keynote or Google Slides to create a PowerPoint presentation.
• Save your presentation at all times to avoid losing your changes if your computer shuts down or crashes.
• If you save your PowerPoint presentation in PPS format (instead of the basic PPT format), double-clicking on the presentation will launch it immediately.

Warnings

• Every slide in a good presentation shouldn't contain too much text.
• Your PowerPoint presentation (or some of its features) may not open in older versions of PowerPoint.