Presentations

Presentations — questions and answers

What's the difference between a master slide template and just formatting slides individually?

A master slide controls fonts, colours, layouts, and placeholders across the entire deck from one central location. Changing the master updates every slide instantly, maintaining consistency. Formatting individually means editing each slide separately, which creates inconsistencies and makes updates time-consuming. Masters also include layout variants for title slides, content slides, and section dividers.

Can a presentation built in PowerPoint be opened and edited properly in Keynote or Google Slides?

Basic elements like text, images, and simple shapes usually transfer, but complex animations, custom fonts, embedded videos, and precise spacing often break or shift. Transitions may not translate, and chart formatting frequently needs adjustment. If cross-platform compatibility matters, designs should stay simple and fonts should be standard system ones, or the deck should be distributed as PDF.

How should data visualisation work differently on slides compared to printed reports?

Slides are viewed briefly from a distance, so charts need larger text, fewer data points, and bolder colours than print versions. One clear message per chart works better than dense multi-variable graphs. Axis labels and legends must be readable at presentation scale. Animated builds can reveal data progressively, which printed charts cannot do.

What file formats are typically delivered at the end of a presentation project?

The standard deliverable is the editable source file in the working software format—PPTX for PowerPoint, KEY for Keynote, or a Google Slides link. A PDF version is common for distribution or printing. Some projects also require a 16:9 and a 4:3 aspect ratio version, or separate files with and without animations if the deck will be presented live and emailed afterward.

Why do some presentations use icon libraries instead of stock photos?

Icons are scalable vector graphics that stay sharp at any size, load faster, and maintain a clean, professional look across slides. They work well for representing abstract concepts like growth, communication, or processes without the literal specificity of photos. Stock photos can feel generic or clash stylistically, while a consistent icon set creates visual cohesion throughout a deck.

When does a presentation need animation or transitions, and when should slides be static?

Animations work when revealing information step-by-step helps understanding—showing parts of a process sequentially, or building a list point-by-point so the audience focuses on each item as it's discussed. Static slides suit decks meant for reading independently, or when the presenter controls pacing verbally. Excessive transitions distract and make decks feel amateurish.