Simple Steps to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

Creating a PowerPoint presentation can be a straightforward task if you follow some simple steps. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you through the process.

Things You Should Know

• Templates: Using templates can significantly enhance your presentation, making it visually appealing regardless of your experience level.
• Photo Adjustments: When you insert photos, you can easily resize them by clicking and dragging from the corners.
• Animated Transitions: You can add animated transitions between slides or to specific elements such as bullet points and text blocks to keep your audience engaged.

Steps

Part 1: Creating a New PowerPoint

1. 
   1. Open PowerPoint. Click or double-click the PowerPoint app icon, which resembles an orange box with a white “P”. This action opens the PowerPoint templates page.
      • If you don’t have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription, you can access the web version at https://powerpoint.office.com/ .
      • Alternatively, you can use the mobile app, although the desktop version offers a better experience due to its larger screen and full keyboard capabilities.
2. 2. Select a template. Click on the template you wish to use, and its window will open. - If a template is not preferred, simply select the Blank option in the upper-left corner to start fresh.
3. 3. Choose a theme. Many templates offer different color schemes or themes. You can select a box in the lower-right corner of the window to change the theme if available.
4. 4. **Click Create. This button is located in the bottom-right corner. By clicking it, you select your template and create your PowerPoint presentation.

Part 2: Creating the Title Slide

1. 
   1. Understand the title slide layout. The title slide should ideally contain only the title and subtitle, ensuring a clean and professional appearance.
2. 2. Add a title. Click the large text box in the center of the title slide and type your title. - You can modify the font and size using the Home tab in the top toolbar.
3. 3. Add a subtitle. Click the smaller text box beneath the title to enter your subtitle, or leave it blank if you prefer.
4. 4. Rearrange text boxes. Click and drag the edges of the text boxes to reposition them on the slide as needed.

Part 3: Adding New Slides

1. 
   1. Click the Insert tab. Located at the top of PowerPoint, this will open additional options.
2. 2. **Click New Slide ▼. This option is on the far left of the toolbar, leading to a drop-down menu.
3. 3. Select a slide type. Choose from options like Title Slide, Title and Content, Section Header, etc., to add it to your presentation.
4. 4. Add more slides as necessary. While you can add slides on the go, having a few laid out initially can help you visualize the overall presentation.
5. 5. Reorganize your slides. After adding multiple slides, you can click and drag them in the left-hand column to rearrange their order.

Part 4: Adding Content to Slides

1. 
   1. Select a slide. In the left-hand pane, click the slide you want to edit to open it in the main window.
2. 2. Locate a text box. If the selected slide has a text box, you can add your content there.
3. 3. Enter text. Click the text box and type your content. PowerPoint will format your text based on the context.
4. 4. Format the text. Highlight the text you wish to modify, then use the options in the Home tab to adjust the font and size.
5. 5. Insert photos. To add an image, click the Insert tab, then select Pictures to choose an image from your device.
6. 6. Rearrange content. Move items around on the slide by clicking and dragging them to their desired locations.
7. 7. Repeat for each slide. Continue adding and formatting content for all your slides, keeping each one visually appealing and uncluttered.

Part 5: Adding Transitions

1. 
   1. Select a slide. Click on the desired slide in the left column.
2. 2. Click the Transitions tab. This option is at the top, opening the transitions toolbar.
3. 3. Explore transitions. Review the different transition effects available to enhance how your slides appear during the presentation.
4. 4. Preview transitions. Click on a transition to see how it looks with your slide.
5. 5. Choose a transition. Click on the desired transition to apply it to the current slide.
6. 6. Add transitions to slide content. Select specific content on a slide, click the Animations tab, and choose how you want that element to appear during the presentation.

Part 6: Testing and Saving Your Presentation

1. 
   1. Review your slides. Go through each slide to confirm everything is accurate and complete.
2. 2. Open the Slide Show tab. This is located at the top of the window, allowing you to test your presentation.
3. 3. **Click From Beginning. This option starts your presentation from the first slide.
4. 4. Navigate through the presentation. Use the left and right arrow keys to move through your slides.
5. 5. Make final adjustments. After reviewing the presentation, add or remove content as needed.
6. 6. Save your presentation. Click File, then Save, choose a location, and name your file to ensure it’s saved correctly.