How to Edit Design Template in PowerPoint: A Complete Guide

Are you looking to create stunning presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint but don’t know where to start? One of the easiest ways to create professional-looking slides is by using PowerPoint design templates. Templates provide a pre-designed layout and style that you can customize to fit your needs.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to edit design templates in PowerPoint so you can create engaging presentations with ease.

Why Use PowerPoint Templates?

There are several benefits to using PowerPoint slide templates:

• Save time – Rather than designing each slide individually, templates allow you to quickly apply a consistent design across all your slides.
• Professional appearance – Well-designed templates give your presentation a polished, professional look.
• Flexibility – Templates provide a starting layout, but you can still customize them extensively to make the design your own.
• Inspiration – If you’re stuck on how to design your presentation, browsing templates can give you ideas and a good foundation to start from.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced PowerPoint user, using templates is an effective way to create high-quality presentations efficiently.

How to Apply a PowerPoint Template

Before you can edit a template, you first need to apply one to your presentation. Here’s how:

1. Open PowerPoint and click “New” to create a new presentation.
2. In the search bar, type keywords to find templates related to your topic, such as “business”, “education”, “creative”, etc.
3. Browse the templates and click on one you like to see a preview.
4. If you’re satisfied with the template, click “Create” to apply it to your presentation.

You can also apply templates to an existing presentation:

1. Open your PowerPoint file.
2. Click the “Design” tab in the ribbon menu.
3. In the “Themes” group, click “More” and choose “Browse for Themes”.
4. Locate the template file you want to use and click “Apply”.

Once you’ve applied a template, you can start editing it to customize the design and content to your needs.

Editing PowerPoint Template Layouts

The first step in editing a PowerPoint template is modifying the slide layouts. Layouts define the arrangement and type of placeholders on each slide. Here’s how to edit layouts:

1. In the “View” tab, click “Slide Master”.
2. In the left pane, you’ll see the master slides which control the layout for the entire presentation. The top slide is the main master.
3. Click on the layout you want to edit in the left pane. Any changes you make will apply to all slides using that layout.
4. Edit the layout by moving, resizing or deleting placeholders, or adding new ones.
5. To change placeholder properties, select a placeholder and use the options in the ribbon to modify the fill, outline, text style, etc.
6. When you’re done editing layouts, click “Close Master View” to return to the normal view.

Modifying slide layouts allows you to customize the default template to better suit your content needs. You can create the exact placeholders you need for each type of slide, such as section headers, two-column layouts, image slides, etc.

Customizing PowerPoint Template Design

After modifying the layouts, you can further customize the visual design of your template. Here are some key design elements to consider:

Theme Colors

To edit the theme colors of a template:

1. Click the “Design” tab and locate the “Variants” group.
2. Click the arrow to expand the variants and then click “Colors”.
3. Choose from the preset color schemes or click “Customize Colors” to create your own palette.
4. Select new colors for the theme elements, such as text, background, accents, hyperlinks, etc.
5. Click “Save” to apply the color changes throughout your presentation.

Using theme colors ensures a consistent color scheme across your slides. Stick to 2-3 main colors to keep your design clean and readable.

Theme Fonts

To change the theme fonts:

1. In the “Design” tab, expand the “Variants” group and click “Fonts”.
2. Choose a font pair from the list or click “Customize Fonts” to select your own.
3. Pick a heading font and body font that complement each other and align with your brand or presentation style.

Keep your font choices simple and legible. Avoid using more than 2-3 fonts to maintain a polished look.

Slide Background

To customize the slide background:

1. Right-click a slide and choose “Format Background”.
2. Select a fill type, such as solid color, gradient, picture or texture.
3. Adjust settings like transparency, color, and position.
4. Click “Apply to All” to use the same background for all slides or “Close” to only apply it to the selected slide.

Opt for subtle backgrounds that don’t distract from your content. White or light solid colors are usually best. Avoid busy patterns or low-contrast color combinations.

Graphics and Images

powerpoint design templates often include placeholder graphics and images that you can replace with your own:

1. Select a graphic or image and press “Delete”.
2. Click the “Insert” tab and choose “Pictures” or “Online Pictures” to add your own image file or search for stock photos.
3. Resize and position your image as desired. Maintain the original aspect ratio to avoid stretching.
4. Use the “Picture Format” tab to adjust image settings like brightness, contrast, color saturation, and artistic effects.

Incorporate high-quality visuals that reinforce your message. Avoid cluttering your slides with too many images. Use them purposefully to illustrate key points.

Editing PowerPoint Template Content

Once you’re happy with the design of your template, it’s time to replace the placeholder content with your own:

1. Click into a text placeholder and highlight the default text.
2. Type or paste in your own content.
3. Highlight the text and use the options in the “Font” group of the “Home” tab to change the font style, size, color, alignment, or spacing.
4. To create bulleted or numbered lists, select the text and click the “Bullets” or “Numbering” button.
5. Repeat for all text placeholders in your presentation.

When replacing placeholder text, keep your slides concise. Use keywords and short phrases rather than complete sentences. Content should be easily scannable for your audience.

Saving Your Custom PowerPoint Template

After customizing your template, you can save it to reuse in future presentations:

1. Click “File” > “Save As”.
2. Choose a location to save your file.
3. Enter a file name.
4. In the “Save as type” dropdown, select “PowerPoint Template”.
5. Click “Save”.

Your template will now be available in the “Personal” tab whenever you start a new presentation. Using a custom template maintains consistency across multiple presentations and saves you time on design.

Tips for Editing PowerPoint Templates

Here are some final tips to keep in mind as you edit your PowerPoint template:

• Keep it simple – Don’t go overboard on colors, fonts, and graphics. A clean, minimal design is usually most effective.
• Be consistent – Use the same design elements throughout your presentation for a unified look.
• Prioritize readability – Ensure text is large enough and has sufficient contrast against the background.
• Use images purposefully – Choose high-quality visuals that support your message. Avoid generic stock photos.
• Allow whitespace – Don’t feel the need to fill every area of your slide. Whitespace improves readability and focus.
• Customize charts & tables – Ensure data visualizations use your template colors and fonts for consistency.
• Proofread – Double check your content for any typos or errors before finalizing your presentation.

By following these tips and the steps outlined above, you’ll be able to easily edit PowerPoint design templates to create professional, engaging presentations. Templates are a powerful tool that can help you save time and achieve better results.

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Trish Dixon

Trish Dixon is the founder of PPTBliss and a PowerPoint expert with over a decade of experience in presentation design. Passionate about visual storytelling, Trish shares her expertise through easy-to-follow tutorials on slide design, animations, transitions, and best practices, helping professionals create impactful presentations across industries.

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