1.1Slides & layouts
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Each content has its own layout: comparison = Two contents, breathing = Section title, visual = Empty.
- Placeholders ensure alignments: avoid floating text boxes.
- “Reset” fixes a misaligned slide with one click.
Spun mini-case — Slides & layouts
Amel structures the launch presentation: title, context, range, evidence, price, availability and next steps. It chooses a per-message layout rather than stacking floating text boxes.
Continuation of the common theme: the Blida agri-food SME is preparing its market launch.
1. The layout is the layout of the slide
Each layout (Title, Title and content, Two contents, Comparison, Empty…) defines aligned and hierarchical placeholders. Choosing the right layout means deciding on the visual message: compare? Two contents. Prove ? Title and content + graphics.
2. Placeholders vs. Floating Areas
The placeholders follow the mask (fonts, bullets, auto-aligns); floating text boxes accumulate approximations (sizes, pixel-precise positions). Rule: fill reserved, reserve float with exception (quote, caption).
3. Change without breaking everything
Home → Layout changes the template while retaining the content; Reset re-aligns a tinkered slide to its original layout. A slide that “never aligns” is a floating slide that needs to be reverted.
🔎 Concrete example — Concrete example — Compare two offers properly
1. New slide → “Comparison” layout
2. Left: “Offer A — €12,000”, 3 bullets
3. Right: “Offer B — €15,000”, 3 bullets
4. Message title: “Offer B includes maintenance”Reading: symmetry proves comparison without a word.
Lesson: the title states the conclusion, not the subject.
Section vocabulary
- Layout
- The template applied to a slide: Home → Layout (or right click on the thumbnail).
Simple example: Amel mobilizes “Disposition (layout)” in preparing for the launch.
What it is not: Treat “Layout” as a detail unrelated to the message.
Reflex: Does this choice make the presentation clearer for the audience?
- Reset
- Home → Reset: Returns moved/distorted placeholders to their original position in the layout.
Simple example: Amel mobilizes “Reset” in preparation for the launch.
What it is not: treat “Reset” as a detail unrelated to the message.
Reflex: Does this choice make the presentation clearer for the audience?
- Section title
- “Interposer” layout that marks the start of a part — the visual rhythm of a long presentation.
Simple example: Amel mobilizes “Titre de section” in preparing for the launch.
What it is not: Treat “Section Title” as a detail unrelated to the message.
Reflex: Does this choice make the presentation clearer for the audience?
- Ctrl + M / Ctrl + D
- New slide (with current layout) / duplicate selected slide.
Simple example: Amel mobilizes “Ctrl + M / Ctrl + D” in preparing for the launch.
What it is not: treat “Ctrl + M / Ctrl + D” as a detail unrelated to the message.
Reflex: Does this choice make the presentation clearer for the audience?
In practice — The right layout for every message
- Create 4 slides and assign the appropriate layout to each: Title slide (opening), Section title (“Part 1”), Two contents (advantages | disadvantages), Blank (one full-screen image).
- On the “Two Contents” slide, fill in both boxes: the comparison is aligned effortlessly.
- Intentionally move the title of a slide, then Home → Reset: everything returns to its place.
- Duplicate the comparison slide (Ctrl + D) to make a variation of it.
Ready-to-Speak Script — Slides & Layouts (25 sec)
“Add, duplicate, rearrange slides and choose the right layout. Concretely, I check this point before projecting: each content has its own layout: comparison = two contents, breathing = section title, visual = empty. »
Short wording, to be adapted to the audience and the context of the meeting.
Copy and paste template — “Slides & layouts” checklist
CHECKLIST — Slides & layouts
1. Each content has its layout: comparison = Two contents, breathing = Section title, visual = Empty.
2. Placeholders ensure alignments: avoid floating text boxes.
3. “Reset” fixes a misaligned slide with one click.
4. Layouts can be personalized in the mask (level 2) — all the more reason to use them.
EXPECTED RESULT: Aligned, consistent slides — without having to draw a single text box by hand.Express version
Apply only the essentials and the first key point, then check the rendering in projection.
Remote
Share the file and check fonts, contrasts and text size before the video conference.
As a team
Lock in the common model and document choices to keep colleagues consistent.
Printed version
Keep the message titles and the text outline; remove animations that are no longer needed.
✓ Best practices
- Choose the layout according to the message.
- Titles in statements, not labels.
- Revert whenever a slide drifts.
✗ Common pitfalls
- Make everything in “Empty” layout.
- Multiply unaligned floating areas.
- Title labels (“Results”) instead of messages.
Key takeaways
- Each content has its own layout: comparison = Two contents, breathing = Section title, visual = Empty.
- Placeholders ensure alignments: avoid floating text boxes.
- “Reset” fixes a misaligned slide with one click.
- The layouts are personalized in the mask (level 2) — all the more reason to use them.
48 hour challenge — apply tomorrow
Use the correct layout for each message on the Amel launch presentation: Create 4 slides and assign the appropriate layout to each: Title slide (opening), Section title (“Part 1”), Two contents (advantages | disadvantages), Blank (one full-screen image).. Time 20 minutes and note what has changed for the audience.
- I can explain and apply: Each content has its layout: comparison = Two contents, breathing = Section title, visual = Empty.
- I can explain and apply: Placeholders ensure alignments: avoid floating text boxes.
- I can explain and apply: “Reset” fixes a slide out of adjustment with one click.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between deleting a placeholder and leaving it empty?
An empty reserved space is not displayed when projected: there is no need to delete it. Keeping it allows you to fill it later and preserve the layout.
Can I create my own layouts?
Yes, in the slide master (section 2.1): you add tailor-made layouts which will appear in the Layout menu.
To compare two offers side by side, which layout should you choose?