This document provides instructions for formatting and inserting elements into a PowerPoint presentation template for the University of Toronto brand. It explains how to add new slides from template layouts, insert and adjust images, format text styles and bullets, and choose from title slide layout options. Colour palette options are also described, noting the primary U of T blue and secondary accent colours that can be used to add vibrancy while maintaining brand standards.
1. Instruction slide only — Delete this from your final presentation
Inserting New Slides
You can use the
‘New Slide’ button from
the ‘Home’ ribbon to
create new slides from
the template layouts.
Click on the lower half of the
button to choose the new layout.
Section header options
Content slide options
Title slide options
Sample slides for each of these layouts have also
been included in this file. You can use the sample
slides to help build your presentation quickly.
2. Colour Palette (1/2)
In addition to the U of T Blue, the University’s brand standards uses a secondary
palette consisting of nine colours and three neutral colours. The U of T blue
remains the dominant colour and secondary colours should be used as
accents only for subheads, call-outs, charts, graphs, icons and other
small editorial details to add vibrancy and energy to the document.
Instruction slide only — Delete this from your final presentation
SECONDARY PALETTE - NEUTRALS
Black Pantone
Cool Gray 2
White
U of T Blue
(Pantone 655)
PRIMARY PALETTE
SECONDARY PALETTE - COLOURS
Pantone
376
Pantone
3285
Pantone
2985
Pantone
633
Pantone
2613
Pantone
Warm Red
Pantone
7406
Pantone
227
Pantone
7722
Don’t use the
‘Standard Colors’
Don’t use the generated
tints and shades
✗
✗
The full set of
secondary colours and
approved tints can be
selected from the
‘Custom Colors’ section
✓
You can use any of the
colours from the top row
of the ‘Theme Colors’
✓
✗
✗
All the approved colours can be
accessed through the colour dropdowns.
3. Colour Palette (2/2)
Any editable component that is displayed in a secondary colour can be updated to another secondary colour.
When using coloured text or background, ensure there is enough contrast for legibility.
Instruction slide only — Delete this from your final presentation
Some placeholders include lines.
To update the colour, first select the
placeholder, then use the ‘Shape
Outline’ dropdown in the ribbon
menu to choose a different
secondary colour.
Some layouts include coloured boxes.
To update the colour, first select the
placeholder, then use the ‘Shape Fill’
dropdown in the ribbon menu to choose
a different secondary colour.
Remember, you can change
the colour for graphics, icons,
and subheadings too!
4. Formatting Text
Instruction slide only — Delete this from your final presentation
This template has been formatted with
five levels of bullets. These styles are
available in most placeholders.
To use these styles, first select your
text, then click the ‘Increase List
Level’ or ‘Decrease List Level’ button
until you reach the desired style.
If you would like a regular paragraph,
first select your text, then click the
‘Bullet’ button to remove the bullet.
If you would like to add a subheading
into a text box, remove the bullet, then
make the text bold and change the text
to a secondary colour.
Quickly fix incorrect text
styling of a selected
element with the ’Clear
All Formatting’ button.
The ‘Reset’ button clears all
formatting from placeholders
and returns the placeholders
to their original location.
Use this button if you want to
clear unwanted formatting
from a whole slide.
5. Adding and Replacing Images
Instruction slide only — Delete this from your final presentation
Some slides include image
placeholders. You can click the
icon at the center of the
placeholder to browse for an
image on your computer.
If the image icon is covered by another element (like a
gradient overlay) there are two ways to add the
background image:
1) Move the interfering element out of the way so you can
select the image icon to browse for an image, then press
the ‘Reset’ button to put the elements back into the
correct spot.
2) Select the image placeholder, then drag the image
directly onto the slide from a folder on your computer.
To change an existing image, right-
click on the image, then choose
‘Change Picture’ > ‘From a File…’
On slides where the U of T
logo is visible above a
photo, the photo is set as
the slide background.
To change the photo, first
open the Format Pane by
right-clicking anywhere on
the grey space around the
slide and choosing
‘Format Background’.
Then click the ‘Insert’
button and browse for a
new background image.
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6. Adjusting Images
Instruction slide only — Delete this from your final presentation
If you don’t like which part of the
image is showing, right-click on
the image and choose ‘Crop’ to
adjust the size and position of the
image within the placeholder.
For full-screen images, it will be easier
to adjust the crop if you zoom out. You
can find the zoom controls at the bottom
right side of the PowerPoint window.
Use the corner handles to resize the
images to avoid unwanted stretching.
If your image files are
causing your presentation
file size to become too
large, you can compress the
images. First, select an
image, then click on the
‘Picture Format’ ribbon tab,
then click on ‘Compress
Pictures’.
Choose an appropriate
compression level and
then press ’OK’.
Note: If you want to compress
all the images at once, uncheck
‘Apply only to this picture’. Be
aware that compression can affect
the clarity of logos.
Note: All images in this template
have already been compressed.
7. Title slide options
The following slides show title slide options.
If the presentation is intended to be printed,
select an option without a full screen image
for more efficient printing.
Please delete this slide and any unused
title slide options from your final presentation.
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