Google Slides Presentation Template Creation

17 minutes read

@ tutsplus.com

Do you want all your presentations to have the same professional look?

Consider making your own reusable Google Slides presentation template.

There’s no need for all your Google Slides presentations to look different. Save time and achieve a consistent look with a Google Slides presentation template.

One way to do this is to design and create your own Google Slides presentation template. Another way is to customize an existing template.

In this tutorial, we will examine why you might want to create a presentation template. We will also explain what a master slide and a Google Slides master layout are. Additionally, we’ll show you how to create your own Google Slides presentation template and how to customize a pre-designed template to save time.

How to Make Your Own Template (Quickstart Video)

Do you want to get started on your own template right away? Watch this short video on creating Google Slides templates to get a head start:

For more information on how to design Google Slides templates, study the complete tutorial below.

Why Create a Google Slides Presentation Template?

Your Google Slides template controls the impression your presentation leaves in the minds of your viewers. There are many professional presentation templates available, but sometimes you need something a little more unique.

When you want to use a unique presentation theme, consider creating your own reusable Google Slides template.

Be careful, though. Any theme you create needs to be professional. The success of your presentation could depend on it. Consider consulting your in-house design team if you have one.

Guide to Making Great Presentations (Free eBook)

Learn how to create and give effective presentations. Before you dig deeper into creating your own Google Slides template, don’t miss our free eBook on presentations: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations.

Now, let’s take a closer look at how to create your own theme in Google Slides. We’ll start by creating a master slide and master layouts, then apply them to a sample presentation to create your Google Slides template.

What’s a Master Slide and What Are Master Layouts?

When creating a presentation template, you need to know what a master slide is in Google Slides. Simply put, the elements that you place on the master slide appear on all the slides in your presentation.

In contrast, a Google Slides master layout defines the layout only for the slides it’s applied to. To create a master layout, you’ll use a combination of placeholders and graphic elements on each master layout. A master layout can be used for one or more slides in your presentation, or it may not be used at all.

A change made to the master slide appears on all the slides in the presentation, including the master layouts.

For example, if you add a vertical bar to the left of the master slide, the bar will automatically appear on all the master layouts:

Pro Tip: Design elements added to the master slide appear on every slide in your presentation. However, you can cover a master slide element on an individual slide by drawing a shape over it in a color that matches the background of the slide.

How to Plan Your Own Google Slides Template

Before you create a Google Slides template, first plan for it. Some questions to ask yourself include:

What will I use this presentation template for?
Who will see the presentations created with this template?
How can I make this template fit into my current marketing and branding?

Step 1. Keep Your Audience in Mind

This step addresses the question: “Who will see the presentations created with this template?”

The audience makes a difference in what you put in your Google Slides template. For example, a presentation template used by a teacher should differ from one used by a marketing department.

Also, consider whether the presentation will be given by a live presenter or accessed online through a site like SlideShare. If the latter is true, the first few slides are crucial to capturing the reader’s attention. They need to be visually appealing, or your presentation will be overlooked.

Once you’ve thought about your audience, it’s time to move on to planning the actual design.

Step 2. Consider Design Elements

Your Google Slides template comprises many components, including:

Fonts: Use highly readable fonts, especially for online presentations. Choose commonly available fonts to avoid substitution.
Colors: Be aware that colors may symbolize different things in different cultures. Choose colors that positively resonate with your audience or align with your company’s branding.
Images: Keep your design simple. While you can add images and graphics to the various presentation slides, be cautious with the master slide.

The final planning step is to decide on the design itself.

Step 3. Plan Your Template Design

Plan what types of slides you want to include in your template. These types will become the Google Slides master layouts.

Many professional designers create wireframes as sketches for each slide type they want in the Google Slides template. If you’re not comfortable with wireframes, create a simple list of the slide types you wish to include, such as:

Title slide
Intro slide (no images)
Text and single image slide
Columns slide
Conclusion slide

Since you’ll likely use the same slide layout multiple times, focus on the basic layouts you need.

After the planning is done, you’re ready to create your Google Slides template.

How to Create Your Own Google Slides Template

Start by opening Google Drive. To access Google Slides, type https://drive.google.com in your browser’s address field. Google Drive will open.

Step 1. Create a New Google Slides Presentation

Once Google Drive is open, create a new Google Slides presentation. Click the New button in the upper left, then select Google Slides from the drop-down menu. A blank presentation will appear:

The presentation will initially have one of Google Slides’ default themes, but we will change that shortly. Rename your presentation by typing a new title in the upper left.

Step 2. Create a Master Slide

We’ve already examined the master slide tool. Now, let’s define the elements that will appear on every slide.

Select View > Theme Builder from the main menu:

We defined a vertical bar for the left of the Google Slides Presentation. Now, let’s start defining the slide elements, beginning with the font.

Change the Font

Click in the text placeholder on the master slide to select it. The current font will typically be Arial:

Pro Tip: You can find unique fonts and other graphic elements in Envato Elements.

To change the font for each text placeholder, click the down arrow next to the font name. For this presentation, we’ll use the common font Georgia.

Pro Tip: You could also change the font size and other font attributes by clicking the arrow next to the word More next to the font name.

Continue selecting the text in each placeholder on the master slide to change the font at each level.

When you’re done, the font Georgia will be used throughout the entire presentation, though you can manually change the font for an individual slide.

Add a Graphic

You can also add a graphic element to your Google Slides template. This element will appear on every slide, so it’s best to keep it subtle. For this example, let’s add a logo. Here’s how:

Select the master slide:

Click the Insert Image placeholder icon from the toolbar beneath the main menu. Select Image from the menu that appears:

Click the Upload From Computer button to download an image from your computer. In this case, I downloaded an image from Envato Elements:

Drag the image to your desired position on the slides. Here, I want the image in the lower right corner:

We’ve just added a vertical blue bar, changed the font, and inserted an image into the master slide. These changes will reflect on all the slides in the presentation.

Note: There’s a page number beneath the image on the master slide. We want this to appear on all the slides in the presentation except the title slide, so it’s important to leave it here.

Step 3. Add Master Layouts

Now, let’s start adding your own master layouts from within the master slide tool. Click on View > Theme Builder.

Remove Extra Layouts

To begin, delete any current master layouts that you don’t need.

To delete a master layout, click on it to select it and right-click.
Choose the Delete option from the popup menu:

You must leave at least one master layout in your template.

Change a Master Layout

Once you’ve removed unwanted master layouts, you can modify any layouts you left in the template to match your design. For example, let’s change the master layout for the title slide to make the text left aligned:

Click on the title slide master layout to select it:

To change the text alignment, select the text to be changed.
Click the down arrow next to the Align button in the Tools menu. Then, click the Left Alignment button. Here’s what the title master layout slide looks like with left-aligned text:

Every time you apply the title slide layout to a slide in your Google Slides presentation, it will look like your master layout.

Change Another Master Layout

I’ve modified one more master layout as an example. Here’s what I did:

Select the slide you want to change.
Use the editing tools to delete any elements you don’t want to keep. (Remember, you can’t delete elements from the master slide.) After removing the existing elements, you’ll see a blank master layout like this:

For this master layout, I’ll leave room for an image on the left and insert a text placeholder on the right.

To add an image placeholder, click the Insert image placeholder button in the toolbar. From the drop-down menu, select the image placeholder option. Then, drag your mouse in a diagonal line where you want the placeholder to be.

Leave space around the image, and draw a text placeholder to guide the user in modifying the template.
To draw the placeholder, click the arrow next to the Text Tool in the Tools menu. Select the Body text placeholder option from the drop-down menu. The master layout will look like this:

If you use the Text Tool without choosing the placeholder option, the text becomes an unchangeable part of the slide layout for any slides using that master slide.

Use your cursor to draw the text box placeholder on the master layout.
Add a subtitle placeholder using the Subtitle placeholder option from the drop-down menu:

Continue modifying existing layouts or add a new master layout slide through the Master Slide tool.

Add a New Master Layout

Here’s how to add a new master layout to your Google Slides template:

Click on any master layout to select it.
Right-click to bring up the drop-down menu:

Select the New Layout option from the drop-down menu. A new master layout slide will appear below the current master layout slide.

Change the new master layout as needed using the previous steps.

Apply the Masters to Your Google Slides Template

Once you’ve created all the master layouts you need, return to the slide authoring view. Your template will be a sample presentation you build using the master slide and layouts you just created. Modify it as needed.

To start, all I’ve got in my Google Slides template is the title slide:

To add another slide to your template, click the down arrow next to the New slide button in the upper left (it looks like a + symbol). A pop-up will show the available master layouts:

For step-by-step instructions on how to add an image to a Google Slides presentation, study:

{.roundup-block__content-link} How to Add Pictures and Backgrounds in Google Slides

Sarah Joy 13 Apr 2023

Continue adding slides and applying master layouts and sample text until your Google Slides template is complete.

Step 4. Use the New Google Slides Template

Once you’ve completed your template, you’re ready to use it. Do this by modifying the template example to create an actual presentation.

Make a copy of the template using the File > Make a copy > Entire Presentation option in the main menu.

Rename the copy to avoid overwriting your template.
Right-click on any sample slides you want to use more than once and click Make a Copy to duplicate it. Delete any template slides you don’t need.

Move the slides into the order you want by clicking on each slide and dragging it into position.
Type your information into the presentation and add any images necessary.

For more information on how to create a Google Slides presentation, review these tutorials:

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How to Create Professional Google Slideshows for Business Presentations

Laura Spencer 21 May 2021
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How to Use Google Slides in 2024 (Quick Start Guide)

Rebecca Tarnopol 15 Mar 2023

How to Quickly Customize a Google Slides Presentation Template

Now that you’ve learned how to create your own theme in Google Slides, it’s time to customize a pre-designed template to build amazing slide decks. Let’s learn how in just five easy steps.

If you’d like to follow along, download the beautiful Creative Google Slide Template from Envato Elements and copy it to your Google Drive.

Once you’ve opened Google Slides, use File > Open to access the template. Rename it so that you don’t overwrite it and can use it again for another presentation.

If the template is in PowerPoint format, you can quickly convert it to Google Slides format.

{.roundup-block__content-link}

How to Convert PowerPoint (PPT) to Google Slides Presentations on Import (+Video)

Laura Spencer 30 Apr 2024

Now let’s get started on customizing the template:

1. Add Custom Text

To customize the Google Slides template designs, begin by highlighting any text you see on a slide.

Then, simply type in your own words. If you’d prefer to leave a space blank, press Delete to remove any selected text.

2. Change the Font

Google Slides templates often include custom fonts, but you don’t have to use them. With a block of text selected, locate the Font section in the center of the menu bar.

Change the font style or size by clicking the appropriate drop-down menus. You can also add effects like bold or italics.

3. Import an Image

Images are critical to the success of any slide deck. Pre-built templates allow for easy addition of images, with placeholders for image imports scaled to fit slides perfectly.

Click inside the placeholder, then choose Replace Image in the menu above. Select Upload From Computer. Browse to an image file you want to import.

4. Change Shape Colors

To draw attention to certain slide elements, use contrasting colors.

Select an object, then click on the Fill Color icon just left of center on the menu bar. Browse solid or gradient colors or create your own in the Customize section. Click once to apply your chosen color. Repeat as needed.

5. Change the Master Slide

If you want to place an object on every slide in the deck, adding it manually is unnecessary. Instead, use the Google Slides master slide.

On the Slide menu, select Edit Theme. Under Office Theme, scroll up and select the Master Slide thumbnail. Any edits you make here will apply to all slides using that master.

Once you’ve made your edits, click X in the upper right corner to return to normal view.

Use a Professional Google Slides Presentation Template from Envato Elements

If you want to create a professional presentation without breaking the bank, Envato Elements can help. It’s an all-you-can-download site that includes templates with top Google Slides master designs.

On Envato Elements, you’ll find dozens of professional templates. Download one, add your specifics, and you’re ready to go.

Explore Envato Elements{.call-to-action-btn .call-to-action-btn-primary}

In addition to great Google Slides template master designs, you’ll also gain access to stock photos, illustrations, and more.

After you start using Elements, you’ll find it easy to add a template to Google Slides. Simply download a file from the library, upload it, and make Google Slides templates your starting point.

Remember: make Google Slides templates your starting point for your next design. With the help of Elements, you can achieve high quality without unexpected costs.

5 Google Slides Presentation Template Design Trends for 2024

Now that you’ve chosen your Google Slides template, it’s time to build your slide deck. To succeed in 2024, embrace the latest template design trends. Here are five of the best:

1. Audiences Demand Infographics

Planning to talk through detailed concepts? Think again. Audiences in 2024 want visual infographics that vividly illustrate data and ideas.

Pre-built Google Slides templates from Envato Elements come with creative infographics that make your slide deck engaging.

2. Smoother Presentations With Timed Slides

Nothing distracts an audience more than fumbling with clickers or asking an assistant to jump to the next slide. With Google Slides, you can pre-time slides to advance automatically.

Learn how to do this quickly by checking our full slide timing tutorial:

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How to Time Your Slides on Google Slides (+ Video)

Andrew Childress 06 Oct 2023

3. With Layouts, Less Is More

Busy slides filled with data won’t impress modern audiences. Focus on a single big idea with a few supporting points.

Use ample white space to ensure readability and an appealing layout. Minimalism is an excellent design concept for your Google Slides template.

4. Classic Fonts Are Out

Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri: you see them everywhere. The font universe is vast, so for 2024 slide decks, consider using new custom fonts that elevate your presentation’s style.

You can add custom fonts to Google Slides with just a few clicks. Check out our quick tutorial on Google Slides fonts here:

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How to Quickly Add New Fonts to Google Slides (+Video)

Sarah Joy 01 May 2023

5. Use Plenty of Photos

As the saying goes, pictures are worth a thousand words, which is especially true now. 2024 presentations should include ample images.

Photos help introduce your team, showcase products, and clarify ideas, while also breaking up monotony to keep your audience engaged.

5 Top Google Slides Templates From Envato Elements for 2024

Here are the top five Google Slides presentation templates you can download from Envato Elements:

1. Palox Creative Google Slides Template

The Palox template features a creative and colorful design with a trendy gradient, easily customizable to match your brand colors. It comes with slides designed in 16:9 format and includes master slides.

2. Oriola Business Google Slides Template

The Oriola template offers a more traditional yet modern design. It includes 50 editable slides, master slides, and image placeholders, designed in widescreen resolution.

3. Vigo Google Slides Template

The Vigo template features a minimal design, making it suitable for any presentation type. It is easily customizable and comes with 110 unique slides and over 500 custom vector icons.

4. Forward Multipurpose Google Slides Template

The Forward template is versatile, suitable for any business presentation. It uses trendy, bold colors that can easily be changed, featuring 86 unique slides and 10 color schemes.

5. Smarta Creative Google Slides Template

The Smarta template is ideal for educational presentations, including infographic elements, charts, and graphs. It comes with master slides and image placeholders, designed in widescreen resolution.

Templates for Google Slides

We’ve shown you how to create your own Google Slides template. However, you can save time with a professionally designed presentation template.

You can find professional presentation templates at Envato Elements. Here’s an article that gives you a peek at some of the professional templates and themes available:

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30+ Cool Google Slides Themes (With Aesthetic Slide Design Ideas for 2024)

Sean Hodge 07 Nov 2022

After you’ve chosen a Google Slides template, learn how to use a professional theme:

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How to Quickly Change Themes For Google Slides (Download & Import)

Laura Spencer 22 Jul 2019

Common Google Slides Questions Answered (FAQ)

If you’re using Google Slides for your presentation, you probably have some questions. Here are the most common questions and answers about Google Slides:

1. Is Google Slides Better Than PowerPoint?

Google Slides is an excellent solution for creating presentations, especially for collaboration. However, whether it is better than PowerPoint depends on your familiarity with the software.

We’ve provided a detailed comparison between Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint to help you decide which is better for you:

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Should Google Slides Replace PowerPoint in Your Workflow?

Laura Spencer 01 Jun 2017

2. Can I Convert PowerPoint to Google Slides?

Yes, you can easily convert a PowerPoint file to Google Slides format during the import process. Learn more in our step-by-step tutorial.

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How to Convert PowerPoint (PPT) to Google Slides Presentations on Import (+Video)

Laura Spencer 30 Apr 2024

3. Can I Add Video to Google Slides?

Yes, adding a video can make your presentation more dynamic and interactive. We have a full tutorial showing you how to easily add videos to Google Slides presentations.

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How to Add YouTube Video to Google Slides Presentations

Laura Spencer 12 Sep 2023

4. Can I Save the Google Slides Presentation as a PDF?

Yes, saving your presentation as a PDF allows you to distribute the slides as handouts during or after the presentation. You can easily export your Google Slides presentation as a PDF by selecting File > Download as > PDF.

5. Is Google Slides Free?

Yes, like most tools offered by Google, Google Slides can be used for free.

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