Presentations Deep Dive

Slide Design Principles

Content rules:

One idea per slide
6x6 rule: max 6 bullets, max 6 words per bullet
Headlines tell the story (someone skimming titles should get the point)
Use images over text when possible

Visual hierarchy:

Title: largest, top
Key point: prominent
Supporting details: smaller, less prominent
Source/footnote: smallest, bottom

Slide Master

What it does: Defines default layouts, fonts, colors, logo placement.

Access: View → Slide Master

Changes here apply to all slides:

Add company logo to master = appears on all slides
Change title font = all titles update
Set background = consistent throughout

Multiple layouts: Create different masters for title slides, content slides, section headers.

Animations

Types

Entrance: How element appears (Fade, Fly In, Appear)
Exit: How element disappears
Emphasis: Draw attention (Pulse, Grow/Shrink)
Motion Path: Move element along path

Best Practices

Subtle over flashy (Fade > Bounce)
Consistent animation style throughout
Purpose: guide attention, not entertain
Test timing before presenting

Build Effect (Bullets one by one)

Select text box
Animations → Add Animation → choose effect
Effect Options → By Paragraph
Set to "On Click" or "After Previous"

Presenter Tools

Presenter View:

You see: current slide, next slide, notes, timer
Audience sees: only current slide
Enable: Slide Show → Use Presenter View

Rehearse Timings: Practice run that records time per slide.

Laser Pointer: Hold Ctrl + click during presentation.

Black/White screen: Press B (black) or W (white) during presentation.

Charts & Data

Link to Excel:

Copy chart from Excel
PowerPoint → Paste Special → Paste Link
Updates when Excel data changes

Animate charts:

Select chart
Animations → Effect Options → By Series or By Category
Reveals data progressively

Export Options

Format	Use Case
PDF	Share without editing, print
Video (MP4)	Self-running presentations, share online
Images (PNG/JPG)	Individual slides for social media
Handouts	Print multiple slides per page
Notes Pages	Print with speaker notes

Common Problems

Problem	Solution
Fonts change on other computer	Embed fonts: File → Options → Save → Embed fonts
Video doesn't play	Use MP4 format, embed in file not link
File too large	Compress images: File → Compress Pictures
Animations out of order	Animation Pane → drag to reorder

Keyboard Shortcuts (PowerPoint)

Action	Windows	Mac
Start from beginning	F5	Cmd+Shift+Enter
Start from current	Shift+F5	Cmd+Enter
End slideshow	Esc	Esc
Next slide	Space/Enter	Space/Enter
Previous slide	Backspace	Delete
Go to slide N	Type N + Enter	Type N + Enter

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