By Ellen Finkelstein
PowerPoint’s default blank template is annoying! It really needs work. And with more and more people using white backgrounds, you’re probably using the blank template more often. Here’s what to do to make a better template.
Here are the steps:
1. Open a new presentation file, which uses the default blank template. In 2007, it’s the default blank theme.
2. Press Shift and click the Normal view icon to enter the slide master. Note: In PowerPoint 2007/2010, to change the slide master for all layouts, click the larger layout at the top and format that. (Formatting an individual layout only affects that layout.)
3. Titles are usually centered by default; and because they are different lengths, their left side is different for each slide. It’s better to left-justify the titles and they’ll stay in the same place and give the magical appearance of changing without moving. Click in the title placeholder, and click the Align Left button on the Format toolbar. (In PowerPoint 2007/2010, right-click in the title placeholder, and click the Mini toolbar’s Align Text Left button.) You may want to left justify the title slide also.
4. Some titles are 1 line and others are 2 lines. You’ll see the titles jump down when you display a 2-line title after a slide with a 1-line title. Instead, give them a vertical justification of bottom and that bottom left corner will stay steady. Double-click the placeholder to open the Format Placeholder dialog box. On the Text box tab, set the Text Anchor Point to Bottom. Click OK. (In 2007/2010, right-click the placeholder and choose Format Shape. Click the Text Box category and set the Vertical alignment to Bottom. Click Close.)
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This excerpt is shared with permission from ellenfinkelstein.com.
