PowerPoint Portrait Format

Most PowerPoint presentations are presented in 16:9 landscape orientation, which is fine for presenting on all standard monitors and via most projectors.

However, in some cases you may need to adapt to conditions on site and change your presentation’s orientation to PowerPoint portrait mode. We’ll go through the various options and explain how to easily set the orientation you need.

When is the PowerPoint portrait format suitable?

In individual cases, you may need to adapt to the conditions on site. You may still occasionally encounter 4:3 monitors and projectors or vertical (pivot) monitors. To ensure your presentation displays all facts and information in an organized manner under these circumstances, you may need to change the PPT slide format and adjust your presentation. Portrait-mode PowerPoint is often a better choice for handouts or for printing the presentation compared to landscape mode.

Portrait presentations are also excellent for use on mobile devices, as they are generally held in portrait mode and thus display the presentation optimally without having to rotate the screen.

They are also ideal for digital signage, such as in storefronts, reception areas, or at trade shows.

In the academic field, portrait presentations can be used for presenting scientific posters or research findings, as they better utilize vertical space and can therefore display more information on a single page.

Portrait presentations can also be effectively used in corporate communication and marketing, for instance for social media posts, internal informational materials, or product presentations.

Advantages of the PowerPoint portrait format

You’ve probably encountered the following situation: The goal is to present individuals and their roles within the company in a visually appealing and structured manner using an org chart. However, a landscape slide doesn’t offer enough space for this task in your case. What can you do in this situation?

We present a simple solution—the portrait mode in PowerPoint. This orientation provides several benefits, making it easier to create meaningful and visually appealing content.

Portrait PowerPoint presentations offer additional advantages over traditional landscape presentations:

• Optimization for Mobile Devices: As more people use smartphones and tablets for information, it’s crucial that presentations are optimized for these devices. Portrait presentations seamlessly adapt to mobile screen orientation, providing a better viewing experience without needing to rotate the screen.

• Better Use of Vertical Space: In portrait mode, content can be better arranged and structured on a single slide due to the increased vertical area. This enhances readability and helps audiences grasp the content more easily.

• Easier Integration of Infographics and Diagrams: Portrait mode allows for better integration of these elements into the presentation. Since many elements have a vertical orientation, they are better displayed in portrait mode, offering a clearer insight into the information. This way, complex data and relationships can be effectively conveyed.

Setting PowerPoint portrait format: here’s how

To change a slide to portrait mode:

1. Open the slide.
2. Using the Design/Customize tab, select Slide size, then Custom slide size.

3. Select Portrait.
4. Go to the Slide Size dialog box under Orientation and Slides, and click on Portrait. Confirm your selection with OK.

5. A PowerPoint dialog box will now open for you to choose Maximize or Scale to fit.

Choosing Maximize will display your content as large as possible, but some might be cut off. With Scale, PowerPoint will fit all your content in the new size, but you might be left with blank spaces above and below your content.

Setting PowerPoint Portrait Format for Individual Slides

While portrait mode in PowerPoint appears straightforward, the implementation can sometimes be more complicated. Remember that many PowerPoint templates are designed for landscape orientation.

If you need to display certain slides in portrait mode while others remain in landscape, you’ll have to create two separate presentations—one in landscape format and the other in portrait format—and then link them together.

To do this, select an object (like a text field) on a slide in the presentation you want to start with (e.g., the one in landscape format) to serve as the link base. Then click Action under the Insert tab, and select Links.

PowerPoint will open the action settings, allowing you to choose the action that opens the presentation in portrait format. After selecting this, set a hyperlink to the presentation in portrait mode by clicking Hyperlink to and then Other PowerPoint presentation.

Select the presentation from your storage location and click OK. After confirming again, a link to the portrait-oriented presentation will be created on the slide you selected. To return from the linked presentation to your original presentation, create another link.

Printing Slides in Portrait Orientation

To print slides in portrait orientation from your presentation or to create a PDF, it helps to manually set the slide size. First, switch the orientation to portrait. Then go to “Paper Size” and select “Custom.” Enter 21 cm for the width and 29.7 cm for the height.

Exporting PowerPoint Presentation in Portrait Orientation

If you’ve created your PowerPoint presentation in portrait orientation, you have various options for exporting and sharing it.

• Export as PDF: One of the most common methods is to export your presentation as a PDF file, allowing you to store it in a single file that can be opened and viewed on most devices without losing formatting or design elements. PDF files are also easy to send via email and can be shared on websites or social media.

Here’s how it works:

1. Open your PowerPoint presentation in portrait orientation.
2. Click on “File” in the upper left corner of the program window.
3. Select “Export” from the menu.
4. Click on “Create PDF/XPS Document” or “Save as PDF,” depending on your PowerPoint version.

5. In the dialog box that appears, choose the location to save the PDF file and enter a filename.
6. Ensure that the “File Type” dropdown menu has “PDF” selected.
7. Optionally, adjust settings under “Options,” such as image quality or specific slide ranges.
8. Click on “Publish” or “Save” to create the PDF file.

• Export as Video: Another option is to export your presentation as a video. PowerPoint allows you to save slide transitions and animations in a video that can be played on various platforms. This is particularly useful for sharing your presentation on social media or embedding it on a website, as videos often attract more attention.

Here’s how it works:

1. Navigate to the “Export” menu option as described above.
2. Click on “Create Video” or “Save as Video,” depending on your version.
3. In the dialog box, select the video quality (e.g., “Ultra-HD,” “Full HD,” or “Standard HD”). Higher quality results in a larger file size.

4. Under “Seconds Between Slides,” choose the desired duration for the automatic display of each slide. You can also set custom transition times for each slide in the normal editing view.
5. Click on “Create Video” or “Save” to start saving the video.
6. Choose the location to save the video and enter a filename. Ensure that the “File Type” dropdown menu has “MPEG-4 Video” or “Windows Media Video” selected.
7. Click on “Save” to export the video. PowerPoint will create the video, and you can monitor the progress in the program window.

Important: Check Slides for Distortions

When transitioning from landscape to portrait format, check your slides for distortions. The Scale to fit option, as noted, may shrink your original landscape slide content to fit portrait format. If the result looks undesirable, rearranging some slide content may be necessary for improved aesthetics.

To sum up: Give your audience a change of perspective with the PowerPoint portrait format!

The PowerPoint portrait format offers a unique way to convey information and engage your audience visually. By adapting to this format, you can create presentations that stand out and better communicate your message.