From the classroom to the boardroom, no other presentation software is relied on more than Microsoft PowerPoint. You can use PowerPoint on any device, from Android and iOS devices to PCs andportable Chromebooks, and sync your presentation between devices. PowerPoint has a slew of powerful tools to make your presentations look professional and consistent. Two of the easiest-to-use tools available are themes and templates, but what are they, and how are they different?
The difference between PowerPoint themes and templates
A PowerPoint theme is a style applied to every slide in your deck. It helps you achieve consistent colors, fonts, and effects between each slide in your presentation.
A PowerPoint template takes a theme further by incorporating default elements such as tables and graphics in your slide deck. Every presentation you make with a common template (for example, an earnings report) will have a consistent appearance.
Microsoft PowerPoint has several predefined themes and templates. If you don’t see one you like, build one from the ground up to suit your needs.
How to make a PowerPoint theme
A quick way to learn about themes is to design one. PowerPoint uses the Office theme for all presentations by default. To make a custom theme, you’ll modify the Slide Master. This slide defines the other slides in the deck.
Set theme colors
The first thing you’ll do is set up the color scheme for your presentations.
The name you give your palette isn’t the name of your theme, but PowerPoint makes this palette available for quick access under this name.
Set theme fonts
There are two things to consider when choosing typefaces for a theme: the typeface for the headings and the body text.
As with custom colors, typeface selections are available for quick access with the name you gave it.
Set theme effects
Effects change how slide elements display. Gradients, fills, strokes, and shadows can be customized. Modifying theme effects is similar to setting theme fonts.
Unlike colors and fonts, you cannot customize a group of effects for your theme. You can only choose one of the preset options.
Set theme background styles
You set the background of all your slides to default to white. You can also give your theme a little character by spicing it up.
This displays a menu on the right side of the window with options to play with. Your background can be a solid color, a gradient, an image, a texture, or a pattern.
Add other elements to your theme
You can add an image that appears on all slides of the theme.
Save your PowerPoint theme
After perfecting your theme, save it.
How to make a PowerPoint template
Now that you know how to make a theme, you can make your own PowerPoint template. The left pane of the Slide Master tab displays the Slide Master slide at the top. Below it are the Layout slides. You’ll make changes to the Slide Master to create a theme. You’ll make changes to the Layout slides to make a template. If you leave things as they are, you’ll have a template with the default slides.
Here’s how to change the template for the default first slide:
Insert an image into your template
You can add more than images from the Insert tab. Look through the options on the Insert tab to see what’s possible.
Insert placeholders into your template
A placeholder is like a potential element in PowerPoint. Use it when you aren’t sure of the content ahead of time, but know you’ll need it.
Modify the theme for individual Layout slides.
You can modify the theme for one of your slides without changing the theme for every slide. Select the Layout slide you want to modify and change the color, font, effect, or background style. To remove an image, mark the checkbox next toHide Background Graphics.
Save your PowerPoint template
Saving your template is similar to saving a slide deck. You only need to change one thing.
Now you’re playing with PowerPoint
Themes and templates can be an easy way to streamline your PowerPoint workflow, helping you focus on the content of your presentation and not how it looks. If you do your presentation work in Google Slides, read ourguide on how to use audio in your next presentation.
