Add a slide master

A slide master is part of a template that stores information, including placements of text and objects on a slide, text and object placeholder sizes, text styles, backgrounds, color themes, effects, and animation.

When you save one or more slide masters as a single template file (.potx), it creates a template that you can use to create new presentations. Each slide master contains one or more standard or custom sets of layouts.

The following picture shows a single slide master that contains three layouts.

Add a slide master

1. On the View tab, in the Presentation Views group, click Slide Master.
2. On the Slide Master tab, in the Edit Master group, click Insert Slide Master.

3. Do one or both of the following:

   • If you want to remove an unwanted, default placeholder, click the border of the placeholder, and then press DELETE.
   • If you want to add a placeholder, do the following:
     1. Click a thumbnail slide layout below the slide master that you added.
     2. On the Slide Master tab, in the Master Layout group, click the arrow next to Insert Placeholder, and then click a placeholder.
     3. Click a location on the slide master, and then drag to draw the placeholder.

        Tip To resize a placeholder, drag one of its corner borders.

4. Click the Microsoft Office Button , click Save As.
5. In the File name box, type a file name, or do nothing to accept the suggested file name.
6. In the Save as type list, click PowerPoint Templates, and then click Save.

See also:

• Apply a built-in theme to a slide master
• Rename a slide master