This document provides tips for creating and presenting widescreen PowerPoint presentations in a 16:9 aspect ratio. It notes the advantages of widescreen such as fitting side-by-side content and presenting graphics and images more dramatically. It offers instructions for setting up a new widescreen presentation or converting an existing one to 16:9. It also includes slide show tips and a test pattern to verify the correct aspect ratio is being displayed.

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

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

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

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

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

6. Creating 16:9 Presentations
Important: Always start with your slide
size set to the aspect ratio that you intend
to use. If you change the slide size after
you create some slides, your pictures and
other graphics are resized. This could
potentially distort their appearance.
To setup a widescreen
presentation, do one of the
following:
 Start with this template. Then delete
the example slides and add your
own content.
 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)
16x9
4x3