This document provides tips and tools for creating widescreen PowerPoint presentations in a 16:9 aspect ratio to take advantage of widescreen displays. It recommends starting with a 16:9 template or setting the slide size to 16:9. Graphics and images can be presented more dramatically in widescreen. The document includes instructions for creating 16:9 presentations and slide show tips, and provides a test pattern to verify the aspect ratio settings.

1. WIDESCREEN
PRESENTATION
Tips and tools for creating and presenting wide format
slides

2. Widescreen Presentation
This template is formatted with a Even if you do not have a
16:9 “widescreen” aspect ratio. widescreen display, you can still
It’s a great way to take create and present 16:9 slides.
advantage of computers, When you click Slide
televisions, and projectors Show, PowerPoint always
equipped with widescreen resizes your slides to fit any
displays. screen.

3. Widescreen Advantages
 Side-by-side material
fits more naturally.
 Widescreen adds
drama to graphics and
images.

4. Widescreen Graphics
East West North
Even a 90
single
graphic, suc
h as a
chart, can be 46.9
45.9 45 43.9
presented 38.6
34.6
more 30.6
27.4
31.6
dramatically 20.4 20.4
in
widescreen.
1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

5. Widescreen Pictures
Pictures can also be presented more dramatically in widescreen.

6. Creating 16:9 Presentations
To setup a widescreen
presentation, do one of the
following: Important: Always start with your slide
size set to the aspect ratio that you intend
 Start with this template. Then delete to use. If you change the slide size after
the example slides and add your you create some slides, your pictures and
own content. other graphics are resized. This could
potentially distort their appearance.
 Or, on the File menu, click Page
Setup. On the Slides sized forpop-
up menu, click On-screen Show
(16:9).
Note: You can also use
16:10, which is a common
widescreen resolution for laptop
computers.

7. Slide Show Tips
 To present in true widescreen, you’ll
need a computer and, optionally, a
projector or flat panel that can show
widescreen resolutions.
 Common computer widescreen
resolutions are 1280 x 800 and 1440 x
900. (These have an aspect ratio of
16:10, but work well with 16:9
projectors and screens.)
 Standard resolutions for high-definition
televisions are1280 x 720 and 1920 x
1080.
 Use the Test Pattern on the next slide
to verify your slide show settings.

8. Widescreen Test Pattern (16:9)
Aspect Ratio
Test
(Should appear
circular)
4x3
16x9