PowerPoint XP

Applying a Design Template

Introduction

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

  • Apply a slide design template
  • Choose a color scheme

Applying a design template

PowerPoint offers design templates to make it easy to create an attractive presentation. These templates come in a variety of colors and styles. You can apply a design to existing slides or begin a new presentation with a template.

To begin a new presentation with a design template:

  • Open PowerPoint.
  • In the task pane under New , click From Design Template .

Choose Design Template

  • A list of templates appears.
  • Move your mouse pointer through the different designs or use the scroll bar.
  • Click the down-pointing arrow in the gray box next to the template you like.
  • Choose Apply to All Slides .

Adding a design to an existing presentation

Do you have an existing presentation you want to add a design to? PowerPoint makes it easy to enhance existing slides with a design template.

To apply a design to an existing presentation:

  • Open PowerPoint.
  • In the task pane , under Open a presentation , click the presentation you want.
  • Click the down-pointing arrow in the New Presentation pane and choose Slide Design - Design Templates .
  • A list of templates appears.

Browse Design Templates

  • Move your mouse pointer through the different designs or use the scroll bar.
  • Click the down-pointing arrow in the gray box next to the template you like.
  • Choose Apply to All Slides .

Applying a design template to selected slides

As you are working on your presentation, you can choose Apply to Selected Slides if you want one or more slides to have a different look.

Apply Design Template to selected slide

A closer view of design templates

If you want a closer look at the design templates, follow these steps:

  • With a presentation open, click a template.
  • Click the down-pointing arrow in the gray bar to the left.
  • Choose Show Large Previews so it is checked.

Show Large Preview selected

  • To return to smaller views of slides, click in the gray bar of any template and uncheck Show Large Previews .

Choosing a color scheme

PowerPoint's design templates have preselected colors, but you can choose your own color scheme . A color scheme is a combination of colors for the text and background of your slides.

To choose a different color scheme:

  • In the task pane , click the down-pointing arrow in the gray bar next to New Presentation .
  • Choose Slide Design - Color Schemes .

Choose Design Color Scheme

  • A list of color schemes appears.
  • Move your arrow pointer through the different color scheme options or use the scroll bar.
  • When you find a color scheme you like, click the down-pointing arrow in the gray box and choose Apply to All Slides .

Challenge!

  • Open the presentation Learning to Use PowerPoint , which you created earlier in this course.
  • Apply a design template to your slides.
  • View the various color schemes and apply one to your slides.
  • Close and save your presentation.