Google Slide Presentation: Templates & Themes

Leveraging the theme builder: Google Slide Presentation from GraphyPix LLC

The Theme builder, often referred to as the Slide Master in PowerPoint, shapes the overall aesthetic and ambiance of your presentation. Customize your slides with unique layouts, backgrounds, color schemes, and fonts to make them truly stand out. Setting up the theme builder right at the beginning of your project is essential for crafting a cohesive set of slides. Exercise caution when editing the theme slide; any modifications to the theme will retroactively influence the slides you’ve already created. Make sure to review the entire presentation afterward!

To launch the theme builder, select Edit theme from the Slide tab in the menu bar. To access this feature, click on View in the toolbar and choose Theme builder from the options. On the left side, you’ll find a variety of slides to explore. The theme slide is positioned at the top. This serves as the command hub for the entirety of your deck. Modifying this slide will automatically update all other slides in the theme builder, as well as every slide in your presentation.

Slide layouts in Google Slide presentations

To create a specific type of google slides theme templates, such as a title slide or an agenda slide, you’ll need to modify the various slide layouts located beneath the theme slide. Make subtle changes, such as modifying background colors or incorporating images, or opt for more significant alterations, like rearranging text boxes. These changes will only impact the slides that utilize that specific layout, unlike the theme slide which applies universally to all slides.

To modify a themes for google slides, begin by finding it on the left side of the theme builder interface. To create a new layout, right-click on any existing layout and select the option for New layout. After choosing the perfect layout, you can start editing it just like any other slide. Customize your layout by adding, moving, altering, or deleting objects to create the perfect design. To rename the layout, right-click on it in the left-hand panel and choose the Rename layout option. You can give the layout a new name, such “Agenda slide,” in the new box that appears.

Once you’ve finished editing your layouts, take a moment to review your presentation thoroughly. To exit the theme builder, click the X located in the upper right corner after you’ve completed your checks. Your changes are saved automatically.

To apply a specific layout to your slide, simply right-click the slide thumbnail in the left panel and select Apply layout. Explore all the layout options available in the theme builder, ready for you to select your perfect fit. Looking for additional details? Explore our article on customizing the Google Slides theme builder and layouts.

Want to know how to make your design work better? Check out our free graphic design templates.

Free Templates

Crafting and utilizing themes in Google Slide presentations

Themes consist of a curated set of slide layouts designed to enhance your Google Slide presentations. Google Slides offers a variety of ready-to-use themes that you can implement immediately, or you can tailor them using the theme builder for a unique and personalized appearance.

Design a unique theme that reflects your personal style in nice Google Slides themes. Start by launching a new blank Google Slide presentation, then proceed to customize the theme slide and layouts as detailed earlier. Next, navigate to the Slides home screen and click on the Template gallery located in the top right corner and explore how to get more themes for google slides. Once the new window appears, you can easily submit a new template by clicking the option in the top right corner. Select a presentation in the next window to serve as your template. To submit a copy of this file, simply check the box at the bottom. By choosing this option, a copy of the presentation you have selected will be made and saved to your personal drive. Only you have the ability to make edits to it. Editing a deck saved in the template gallery is incredibly convenient, as it automatically updates in the gallery. You must be the only one with access to the original file in order to preserve its integrity. After completing the setup, you can easily create a new deck from that template by selecting New > From a template and finding it in the template gallery.

When you start a new Slides deck by selecting + New and then Google Slides from your Google Drive homepage, you’ll be greeted with a variety of themes to choose from as your new deck opens. Navigate to the Slide tab in the menu bar and choose Change theme. Simply click on any theme in the panel to see a preview. After making your selection, effortlessly close the panel by clicking the X located in the top right corner. To customize this theme, just access the theme builder and follow the outlined steps above.

Switching up the theme in Google Slide presentations

To change the theme of an existing Slides document to one of Google’s preset options, select Change theme from the Slide tab in the menu bar. This will allow you to explore Google Slides’ pre-set alternatives. When you select a new theme, it will automatically update all your existing slides. Be sure to review each slide after the change to confirm that everything appears just the way you envision it.

Tip: After transferring your content to the appropriate template, you can tidy up the other themes in the deck. Begin by going to View and selecting Theme builder. Click on your theme’s name to reveal a dropdown menu showcasing the other themes in the deck. To remove them from the deck, just click on the theme name, navigate to the top panel marked Theme, and hit delete. If there are no slides in the deck utilizing that theme, it will remove the theme—and all associated layouts—from your document.

When importing a theme from PowerPoint, exercise caution with the built-in Import theme function and explore how to import themes into google slides. While it allows you to transfer themes between decks, it may merge with the existing theme, leading to potential irregularities. Your Theme builder may become cluttered with templates if slides are improperly copied and pasted from other sources. To explore this function, simply navigate to the Slide tab in the menu bar and choose Change theme. At the bottom of the theme panel, you’ll find the option to Import theme. Then press “Select a file from your computer” button after navigating to the upload tab in the newly opened window. Select a different Google Slides deck or PowerPoint file, and Google Slides will extract the theme from it.

Importing themes with the native function can be quite unpredictable. However, we’ve found a reliable workaround that works seamlessly, particularly if you’re looking to import a PowerPoint theme into your Slides deck. Locate a deck on Drive that aligns with the theme you wish to incorporate into your Google Slides presentation. Duplicate a slide that adheres to the appropriate template. Access the deck where you want to import your theme and simply paste your slide into it. Choose to maintain the original styles. This approach guarantees that the complete theme is transferred—encompassing fonts, colors, and guides—while maintaining its distinction from other themes in the deck. With your theme successfully imported, simply right-click on the slide featuring the desired theme and select ‘New slide’ to create additional slides.

To personalize your theme’s colour palette, navigate to the theme builder. Click on the colours option located just beneath the menu bar, and the colours tab will appear on the right-hand side for your customization. From that location, you have the ability to customize the colors for each theme.

Adjusting slide dimensions in Google Slide presentations

Google Slides comes with a standard size of 25.4 x 14.29cm, featuring a 16:9 aspect ratio. Keep in mind that this is smaller than PPT. Therefore, when you copy objects or text from a PPT deck opened in Google Slides, they will appear much larger when pasted into Google Slides than they do in the original.

Effortlessly switch between predefined slide dimensions or design your own custom size. Navigate to Page setup located in the File tab. Choose a common size (common 4:3, Widescreen 16:9, Widescreen 16:10) from the dropdown menu, or choose Custom to enter your own measurements.  Select your option and then click Apply.

When opting for a custom size for your deck, ensure that your decision is backed by solid reasoning. The 16:9 ratio is the go-to choice, seamlessly aligning with the majority of widescreen displays and projectors. A custom size might pose challenges, making it difficult to seamlessly insert slides from other presentations! Discover how to adjust the slide size in Google Slides effortlessly.

Tip: For optimal results, set a custom slide size prior to adding your content. Modifying your slide size later will cause all elements on the slide to stretch and conform to the new dimensions!

And yes, you have successfully completed your article about customizing and adding themes in Google Slide Presentation distributed by GraphyPix LLC. To learn in-depth information about Google Slide Presentation, click here.  

FAQ

1. What are themes in Google Slide presentation?

Google Slides themes are pre-made collections of colors, typefaces, backdrops, and layouts that help give your presentation a unified, polished appearance. They can be applied to all slides at once to maintain uniformity.

2. How do I apply a theme to my Google Slide presentation?

To apply a theme, click on the “Slide” menu, select “Change theme,” and choose from the available options. A theme may be applied to individual slides or to the presentation as a whole.  

3. Can I customize a theme in a Google Slide presentation?

Yes, you can customize a theme in Google Slides. You can modify colors, fonts, backgrounds, and even the layout of individual slides to match your brand or preferences.

4. How do I change the background of a slide within a theme?

To change the background, right-click on the slide, select “Change background,” and then choose a color or image. This can be done for individual slides or for all slides in the presentation.

5. Can I create my own custom theme in Google Slide presentation?

Yes, you can design a slide with the colors, fonts, and layouts that you choose, then save the design as the presentation’s theme. This will let you to build your own unique theme.

6. Can I apply a different theme to individual slides in Google Slide presentation?

While Google Slides applies a theme to the entire presentation, you can adjust individual slides by changing their backgrounds or layouts, which allows for some variation within the overall theme.

7. Are there any free themes available in Google Slide presentation?

Indeed, there is a large collection of free themes available in Google Slides for your presentations. You can access these themes under the “Change theme” option.

8. How do I import a custom theme into Google Slide presentation?

You can import a custom theme by opening a presentation, selecting “Slide,” then “Apply layout,” and finally “Import theme.” From here, you can upload a custom .pptx file with the theme you want.

9. Can I save a custom theme for future use in Google Slide presentation?

While Google Slides doesn’t have a built-in “save theme” feature, you can save a custom-themed presentation as a template. You can then duplicate the template for future use in new presentations.

10. How do I change the font style of a theme in Google Slide presentation?

To change the font style, go to “Slide,” select “Edit master,” and then adjust the font in the master slide view. This will apply the new font style across the entire presentation.