How to create a design template in PowerPoint for the Macintosh

Design templates contain predesigned formats and color schemes that you can apply to any presentation to give it a particular look. This article describes how to create a design template that is based on a blank presentation or a presentation that you have already created. The article also explains how to add the new template to the AutoContent Wizard so that it is available the next time that you use the wizard.

Create a Design Template

1. Open an existing presentation or design template that is similar to the new design template that you want to create.
   
   If none of the design templates suits your needs, or if you want to create a unique template, start with a blank presentation. To open a blank presentation:
   1. On the File menu, click Project Gallery.
   2. In the Category list, click Blank Documents.
   3. Double-click PowerPoint Presentation.
2. On the View menu, point to Master, and then click Slide Master.
   
   Note To add a Title Master, click New Title Master on the Insert menu.
3. Change the design or presentation to suit your needs. For example, modify the fonts, background, or footer, or add graphics.
4. On the File menu, click Save As.
5. In the Save As box, type a name for your design template.
6. On the Format pop-up list, click Design Template (or Presentation Template if you use PowerPoint 98), click My Templates in the location pop-up list in the upper-left part of the menu box, and then click Save.

Locate a Design Template

1. On the File menu, click Project Gallery.
2. In the Category list, click My Templates.
3. Double-click the template.

See How a Design Template Looks

To see how a design template looks in PowerPoint 98 or in PowerPoint 2001, follow these steps:

1. Open a blank presentation.
2. On the Format menu, click Apply Design Template.
3. In the menu window, click the My Templates folder.
4. Click the template design that you want to use.

To see how a design template looks in PowerPoint X or in PowerPoint 2004, follow these steps:

1. Open a blank presentation.
2. On the Format menu, click Slide Design.
3. In the menu window, click the My Templates folder.
4. Click the template design that you want to use.

Add a Template to the AutoContent Wizard

To add a new template to the AutoContent Wizard so that it is available when you use the wizard, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Project Gallery, and then click the Blank Documents category.
2. Scroll through the list of files to locate the AutoContent Wizard, and then double-click it.
3. Click the category in which you want your template to appear, and then click Add.
4. Locate and click the template that you want to add, and then click Open.