Format the title and subtitle placeholders in a PowerPoint title layout, then customize date, footer, and slide-number placeholders.
This exercise uses the supplied PowerPoint 2016 class files and screenshots. The core slide-design techniques still apply, but ribbon labels and controls may differ in current Microsoft 365 or other PowerPoint versions.
Downloading & Installing Class Files
If you haven't done so already, these instructions tell you how to install the class files you'll need to go through the exercises in this workbook.
- Navigate to the Desktop.
- Create a new folder called Class Files (this is where you'll put the files after they have been downloaded).
- Go to nobledesktop.com/download
- Enter the code ppt16-1708-01
- If you haven't already, click Start Download.
- After the .zip file has finished downloading, be sure to unzip the file if it hasn't been done for you. You should end up with a PowerPoint 2016 Class folder.
- If you still have the downloaded .zip file, you can delete that. That's it! Enjoy.
Before Starting
1. If you completed the previous exercise, yourname-Presentation.pptx should still be open. If you closed it, re-open it now. If you did not complete the previous exercise (1B), do the following sidebar.
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If You Did Not Do the Previous Exercise (1B) |
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Formatting the Title Master
1. Click on the Slide Master tab if you're not already there.
2. In the Slides list, click on the Title Slide Layout (second slide from the top).
3. We want to put a logo on the left, move the title and subtitle to the right, and make them smaller. Normally, you would use your best judgment to position placeholders, but to make things easier, we've provided exact coordinates for you to use. Right–click on the title placeholder's bounding box and select Size and Position. The Format Shape panel will slide in on the right side of the screen.
4. Under Size, set the following:
- Height: 2.5"
- Width: 4"
5. Still in the Format Shape panel, farther down the screen, expand the Position options.
6. Set the following:
- Horizontal position: 5.5"
- Vertical position: 0.75"
7. Notice both From fields are set to Top Left Corner. That's where it measures the coordinates from. You could change that if you wanted, but no need here.
8. Now on to the subtitle. Click on its bounding box. You are now able to edit its properties in the Format Shape panel on the right.
(We recommend keeping the Format Shape panel open while you work. If you closed it, Right–click on the subtitle placeholder and select Size and Position.)
9. Under Size, set:
- Height: 1.5"
- Width: 4"
10. On the left, under the Position options, set the following:
- Horizontal position: 5.5"
- Vertical position: 3.25"
11. The subtitle is black by default, which detracts from the title. With the subtitle still selected, click on the Home tab.
12. Click the icon part of the Font Color button. Clicking the icon changed the selected text to the last used text color. Not what we want.
13. Click the arrow part of the Font Color button, and in the menu that appears, select the seventh theme color, Gray-50%, Accent 3 (top row, 7th swatch).
Cleaning Up the Slide Master
1. In the Slides list on the left, click on the Slide Master (top slide) to select it.
2. Notice at the bottom of the Slide Master, there are three placeholders included by default: date, footer, and slide number. Let's remove the date and footer.
NOTE: Use Insert > Header & Footer to enable dates, footers, or slide numbers. Choose an automatically updating or fixed date as needed. Formatting a placeholder on the master does not by itself enable it on every slide.
3. Click on the bounding box around the date placeholder to select it.
4. Shift-click on the footer placeholder's bounding box to select both.
5. Press Delete/Backspace to delete them.
6. Click on the remaining slide number placeholder's bounding box to select it. Let's format it so that it is visible against the background.
7. In the Home tab at the top, click the arrow part of the Font Color button to open the menu. Under Theme Colors, select the first one: White, Background 1.
8. Click the Bold button. Now the slide number is easier to see.
Cleaning Up the Title Master
1. In the Slides list on the left, click on the Title Slide Layout.
We do not want a visible number on the title slide, so remove these placeholders from the Title Slide Layout. Hiding or deleting its number does not remove the slide from the numbering sequence; change the starting slide number separately if needed.
2. Shift-click on the bounding boxes of the date, footer, and slide number placeholders. Press Delete/Backspace to delete them.
3. The master slides are ready to rock! Save the file.
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