PowerPoint and Presenting Stuff

Learn PowerPoint 2013 for Windows: Pattern Fills for Slide Backgrounds

Patterns in PowerPoint are two-color designs comprising lines, dots, dashes, checks, etc. PowerPoint includes 48 such patterns with names like plaid, weaves, shingle and zigzag. Typically, patterns should work most of the time as slide backgrounds since most patterns are very small, and spread over the entire expanse of a slide, they can add a homogeneous look. However some patterns work better than others, and if your slide text is small in size, then reading the text against a patterned background may be a challenge.

Learn how to apply pattern fills as slide backgrounds in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2013
Tagged as: Background, Pictures, PowerPoint 2013, Tutorials

Learn PowerPoint 2011 for Mac: Set Line Weight for Table Borders

While drawing tables, you might have noticed that the table borders are thin with just 1pt. weight (thickness). And truly speaking, you may not need to change that value most of the time. However, if you do want to change the weight of table borders, you do so in the same way as you change their color or line style. Your table borders can be of any weight starting from 0.25 pt. to 6pt., and no higher. Even 6 pt. is very thick for a table border, so it does pay to be careful, just to make sure that your table borders don’t look too blocky, or even distract from the content within the table.

Learn how to set the line weight (thickness) for table borders in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2011
Tagged as: Office for Mac, PowerPoint 2011, Tables, Tutorials

Know Your Inner Dialogue

By Claudyne Wilder

You have practiced out loud. You feel confident. You know the subject. You have answered the questions you may be asked. But you are still uneasy. Often you feel good before a presentation but part way through, you lose confidence and just want to get it over with and sit down.

Image: Yay Images

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Filed Under: Guest Posts
Tagged as: Claudyne Wilder, Guest Post, Opinion, Presentation Skills

Learn PowerPoint 2013 for Windows: Texture Fills for Slide Backgrounds

Textures are the “in” thing even in a world that looks so much at the new flat design concept — and the reason is not difficult to understand. The right texture can add interest, and make your slide content look crafted. If you cannot find the perfect texture, it’s best to leave your slide background unaltered. Texture and picture fills for slide backgrounds have so much in common. Yes, the same picture can be used for both a texture or a picture fill, but the results will differ. The main difference is that while a picture background results in your slide using a single picture as a backdrop, using a texture background can result in the same picture being tiled across the slide background.

Learn how to apply texture fills as slide backgrounds in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2013
Tagged as: Background, Pictures, PowerPoint 2013, Tutorials

GoSkills PowerPoint Training: Conversation with Bhavneet Chahal

Bhavneet is Managing Director and Co-Founder of GoSkills, an online learning company that helps anyone learn business skills to reach their personal and professional goals. Her passion for accessible online learning began when she saw a need for flexible learning options for busy professionals, combined with a website that was modern, well-designed and intuitive. GoSkills provides online courses for career advancement and selects the top tutors in the world to help design and develop their courses.

In this conversation, Bhavneet discusses about GoSkills’ new PowerPoint Training.

Geetesh: Why is it so important to get the right training in PowerPoint skills? Can you share some thoughts?

Bhavneet: I believe PowerPoint is a tool that many business professionals use in their daily work, but fail to explore its many useful and helpful features. This is because it’s often a self-taught application — we aren’t taught how to use PowerPoint at school or at university, but are expected to know how to use it!

As a result, we learn just what we need to know and fail to discover the treasures that lie beneath. PowerPoint really has so many wonderful features that many people don’t know how to use or may not even know existed — we feel it’s important to share these and to help people create beautiful and engaging presentations.

Geetesh: Tell us about the PowerPoint video training options available from GoSkills and what sets your training options apart from others?

Bhavneet: The GoSkills PowerPoint course consists of 34 business-focused course modules, covering the basics and interface to advanced topics like removing picture backgrounds. The course was designed and developed by award-winning PowerPoint experts (including Indezine’s very own Geetesh Bajaj) and consists of HD video tutorials, transcripts, cheat sheets, exercises and short quizzes for each module.

Special Promo Offer for Indezine Readers

Get this course now for a special rate! Pay only $99 for a year rather than the full price of $299! To avail this offer, go to www.goskills.com/coupon, and type in the coupon code WOW99.

What sets us apart? We don’t only cover PowerPoint’s technical features. As it’s not just about the tool, we wanted to show people how to use PowerPoint effectively. So our tutorials are a mix of technical features and advice on how, when and where to use those features to truly engage your audience with your next presentation.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.

Filed Under: Interviews
Tagged as: Interviews, PowerPoint, Training, Tutors