by Geetesh Bajaj, March 29, 2016

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PowerPoint's implementation of the Widescreen aspect ratio has changed somewhat over the last few versions. Although this is a "wee bit" change, it is still a very significant change that will influence your understanding of what is happening behind the scenes.

Explore the gamut of Widescreen slide aspect ratio implementations in PowerPoint

This video came about when a few questions were sent to TJ Walker, who responded with answers via a video podcast. For those who want to read or print, we managed to get you a transcript as well. So, where do you start when it comes to creating a presentation?

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The same goof up happened but at yet another conference! The text size on the slide was teeny-weeny, and you could not see much, even if you squinted your eyes. This time, the problem was not that the presenter had used 8 point text on the slide; this text was 20 points, and that did not make it too small. Even then, you still could not read the text! Yet, the presenter was referring to numbers on the slide repeatedly, and the audience was supposed to read the content and comment! The problem was that a 16:9 Widescreen slide was projected on a Standard 4:3 projector/screen, thus making the slide's screen estate very less indeed.

Make sure that you know whether you must create widescreen or standard slides for your next presentation

Hearts have super-smooth edges, but it is always fun to use something different! So we decided to create Op-Art versions of Heart shapes! You get four variations. These Heart shapes are already placed within slides and are available in both black and white. Do remember though that they can be recolored using PowerPoint's native options for fills, lines, and effects.

Download and use these Op-Art Heart shapes

Widescreen Defaults

When you open PowerPoint 2016 for the first time, you'll see that all slide examples in the Presentation Gallery are in Widescreen aspect ratio with 16:9 proportions. This is in complete contrast to the typical standard slides with 4:3 aspect ratios that you saw in PowerPoint versions older than 2010. For many of us who are living in a world with widescreen displays and projectors, this may be a blessing -- but many others may not feel as blessed! Worse, there's no obvious way for you to change these defaults so that you can always have 4:3 slides rather than 16:9.

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Formatting Picture Placeholders

When you are working with multiple pictures on a slide, their position, formatting, and size may be required to be the same across successive slides. This can be achieved manually using resizing and aligning options -- although you will use an inordinate amount of time making sure that the pictures look consistent slide after slide. You can get over this problem by using a new Slide Layout with a picture placeholder.

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Create Custom Shaped Picture Placeholders

Do you want your pictures to be contained within shapes that look like frames? Or maybe you want to use silhouette style placeholders for your pictures? Yes, this is possible even though this process is a little involved -- but we'll hold your hand if you promise to follow all our steps in sequence!

Remix in Sway

Sway is more than just a new way to create presentations; it is a liberating experience that lets you play and work at the same time. Yes, you would expect to add content or import content. But would you like to venture a little off the beaten path? Then you will love Sway's Remix option which randomly changes the design and navigation features to your Sway. Think of Remix as a dice that has infinite rather than just six choices. You never know what you will end up with!

Americana | Patterns

  

More PowerPoint templates on Indezine

Heart Attack

  

More PowerPoint templates on MedicinePPT

International Law | Communication Law

  

More PowerPoint templates on LegalPPT

Medicine

  

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Child Christ (Early Life of Jesus) | Jesus in the Temple

  

More PowerPoint templates on ChristianPPT

       

Crossword Graphics for PowerPoint

Crosswords can indulge your mind, and minds of others. That's because they represent more than some words to discover - they symbolize potential, thought processes, intelligence, perspective, etc.

These crossword graphics can be used on their own, or also combined with other graphics such as a human head to create a larger concept! In this collection, we provide 10 crossword graphics:

Download and use these graphics in PowerPoint for $0+.

Your audience is made up of visual...
-- by Stephanie Diamond

If I'd waited to know who I was...
-- Austin Kleon