Thanks to Google Slides, you don’t have to stuck with PowerPoint to do your presentation. It is web-based, and there is no software to install, which means you can access it on any PC. With Google Slides it’s possible to do things such as dictate text, import/export files, and zoom in and out of the slides.
Google Slides is capable of much more than what was previously mentioned. There are also options to add a specific color and add any image to the background of your slides. Keep reading to find out how to add these options to your Google Slides presentations.
1. Create a Master Slide
One of the most important (and easy to forget) things when making a presentation is having a master slide. This allows you to quickly make changes that will appear on all your slides, imbuing your presentation with a stylistic consistency throughout.
To do this, click Slide in the menu bar, then “Edit master,” and you’ll be taken to the Master page. Click the thumbnail under “Master,” then edit that slide’s colours, backgrounds, shapes, images and whatever other elements you’d like to see across all your slides.
2. Stream Presentations via Chromecast
The days of using transparent plastic sheets of laminate paper to do your presentations are well behind us. (Does anyone even remember those days?) In fact, thanks to the miracle of streaming gizmos like the Google Chromecast, you might not even need to plug your laptop into a screen or projector via cable any more.
From Your PC:
To stream your presentation via Chromecast, click the drop-down arrow next to the “Present” option at the top right, then “Present on another screen,” which should be available as an option if you’re connected to the same Wi-Fi network as an active Chromecast.
From Your Phone:
You can also stream presentations from your phone to a Chromecast and control them using your touchscreen. Open your presentation in the Slides app for your Android or iOS device, then tap the TV-like streaming icon at the top of the screen.
3. Dictate Text in Google Slides
If your typing skills are not what you would like them to be, dictating what you want to say is always an option. To compose, click on Tools and click on “Voice type speaker notes.”
After clicking on this option, a microphone will appear on your screen. Click on it and start speaking, remembering to close the icon when you’re done dictating. Above the mic, you’ll also see a drop-down menu that’ll allow you to change languages.
4. Import/Export Files to Google Slides
There’s a good chance you’ve already created something in PowerPoint. It’s possible to import your PowerPoint presentation to Google Slides.
Click on File, followed by the Import option. There will be two import options: one will be from your computer, and the other will be for presentations you’ve previously uploaded.
If what you want to do is export one of your creations, go to “File -> Download As.” There will be various formats the file can be exported in such as PowerPoint, ODP, PDF, plain text, JPEG, PNG, and scalable vector graphics.
5. Zoom in or Out of Google Slides
To get a better look at your presentation, you don’t have to squint. With a simple keyboard shortcut (whether you’re on Windows or Mac) it’s possible to make the text bigger or smaller. In Windows, press the Ctrl + Shift and the plus or minus.
6. Add the Perfect Color to Your Slides Presentation
Google Slides has a lot of colors to offer, but you might not be able to find a specific shade. Let’s say you want to add a particular color to a text box. Click on the box, followed by the paint bucket.
If you don’t see the color you need, click on the custom option at the bottom. Add the hex value to get your desired color, and the object will reflect that new color.
7. Add Any Background Image to Your Presentation
An all-white background is boring, so it’s a good thing that adding an image to your Slides presentation is easy. Click on the Insert option and place the cursor on the Image option. A side menu will appear with options as to where you can get your image.
For example, let’s say you want to add the image from your computer. Click on the upload from computer option and choose your image. As soon as you click on it, it will take up the entire background. By placing the cursor on the blue squares of the box, you can change the shape of the image.
8. Embed Google Slides in a Website
Slides offers an easy way to throw your finely-crafted presentations straight onto the Internet. When you’re ready to share your slideshow with the world, click “File -> Publish to the Web,” and then click the “Embed” option. (If you click “Link,” it’ll create a Slides logo that people then click through to view your slideshow – not quite as slick!)
When you’re done, click “Publish,” then copy the embed code into whatever CMS or web-editing software you’re using for your site. Your slideshow should now appear there. The great thing is that you can keep editing your presentation through Slides, and it’ll automatically update on your site as well!
9. Change the Shapes of Images in Your Slideshow
There’s a good chance you want your presentation to be embellished with more than just square/rectangular images. You might want your images to be circular, triangular, or Pac-Man-shaped, for instance.
To do this, add an image to your slideshow (Insert -> Image or click “Background” then insert one, or by another means of your choice). Next, with your image selected, click the drop-down arrow next to the crop icon in the toolbar and pick a shape of your choice. (Such as what I did here, by turning a pretty landscape into an irregular star shape and putting it against a brick background. Doesn’t look quite as good as I imagined, but hey, you get the idea!)
10. Check Out Some Presentation Template Sites
If you’re not feeling entirely confident about your presentation design skills or simply don’t have the time to piece together every single fine detail of a presentation, then there are hundreds of templates you can use.
A relatively recent addition to Google Slides is the Template gallery where you can use a number of templates for presentations relating to weddings, photo albums, portfolios and more. But the fun doesn’t stop there, as there are plenty of third-party sites packed with hundreds of Slides templates. Slides Carnival is a good one, letting you search for pretty much any presentation templates that spring to mind. I like Free Google Slides Templates, too, which lets you view the templates as slideshows, so you can see them in action.
Conclusion
Google Slides is full of many features that will help you create one fantastic presentation. These were just a few of these options, but there are many more to choose from. What Google Slide options help you save time?
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