QUICK REFERENCE

Canvas & Saving (Note: The first word instruction is usually a tab at the top >So, look there first. OR it is a mouse or keyboard request. See Examples in BLUE 

• Set slide size: Design → Slide Size → Custom → (A4/Letter or 8×10 in) → OK → Maximize. 

NOTE: The instructions on Set slide size above means: Click the Design tab at the top of PowerPoint, then click Slide 

Size, then click Custom, then click the size you want, then click OK, then click Maximize. 

• Change background color/photo: Right-click slide → Format Background → Solid/Gradient/Picture → Insert. 

NOTE: Right-click slide, means inside the large canvas work area, hold your hand completely still and click the RIGHT

SIDE Mouse Button. 

• Save slide as picture: File → Export → Change File Type → PNG/JPG → Save → “Just This Slide”. 

• Export video (MP4): File → Export → Create a Video → (1080p/4K) → Create Video. 

• Compress media (smaller file): File → Info → Compress Media → (Internet Quality). 

Insert Stuff

 • Insert picture: Insert → Pictures → This Device → pick file → Insert. 

• Insert video: Insert → Video → This Device → pick file → Insert. 

• Insert icon/shape/text: Insert → Icons / Shapes / Text Box. 

Select, Arrange, Align 

• Selection Pane (rename/hide layers): Home → Select → Selection Pane. 

• Arrange order: Right-click → Bring Forward/Send Backward. 

• Group/Ungroup: Ctrl+G / Ctrl+Shift+G. 

NOTE: When you see a + sign it usually means to press two keys at the same time on your keyboard. Ctrl is on the lower 

left bottom of the keyboard. 

• Duplicate: Ctrl+D. 

• Align/Distribute: Shape Format → Align → pick option. 

• Nudge: Arrow keys on keyboard. 

Picture Cut-Out & Cleanup

• Remove background (pictures only): Picture Format → Remove Background → Mark Areas to Keep/Remove → Keep Changes. 

• Refine edges: Picture Format → Picture Effects → Soft Edges (1–5 pt). 

• Feather a side (DIY): draw a rectangle → Gradient Fill (white→transparent) → place over edge. 

• Make transparent: Picture Format → Transparency (or Color → Set Transparent Color). 

Crop & Shapes

• Crop: Picture/Video Format → Crop → drag handles → Enter. 

• Change PICTURE to a shape - Crop to shape (picture): Picture Format → Crop → Crop to Shape → pick shape. 

• Change VIDEO to a shape: select video → Video Format → Video Shape → pick shape. 

• Fit vs Fill inside crop: Picture/Video Format → Crop → Fit / Fill. 

Color/Clarity

• Quick fix: Picture Format → Corrections (Sharpen/Brightness). 

• Recolor (team color mono): Picture Format → Color → Recolor → pick tone. 

• Tint overlay (DIY): insert rectangle → Shape Fill → More Fill Colors (team color) → set Transparency 20–40% → send to back. 

Blurs, Glows, Shadows (Pop!)

• Glow/Shadow: Picture/Video Format → Picture/Video Effects → Glow / Shadow. 

• Simple motion blur look: duplicate pic → Artistic Effects → Blur (10–20) → send behind → stretch slightly. 

• Speed streaks (DIY): draw long thin rectangle → Gradient Fill (white→transparent) → rotate → place behind. 

Text Styling

• Bold header: insert Text Box → choose Impact/Bebas/League Spartan (or bold system font). 

• Text with photo inside: select text → Text Options (Format Shape pane) → Text Fill → Picture or Texture Fill → Insert (use team/photo). 

• Outline only: Text Options → Text Fill: No fill → Text Outline: Solid (2–4 pt). 

• Shadow small: Text Effects → Shadow → Offset (50–70%). 

Video Essentials

• Trim video: select video → Playback → Trim Video… set sliders → OK. 

• Mute/Loop/Start: Playback → (Volume: Mute) / Loop until Stopped / Start: Automatically. 

• Soft edges on video: Video Format → Video Effects → Soft Edges. 

• Poster frame (thumbnail): Playback → Poster Frame → Image from File. 

Rendering & Sharing

• Export print poster: File → Export → PNG (300 ppi if available). 

• Export story/reel: File → Export → Create a Video → 1080p → Create Video. 

• One-slide snapshot: right-click slide thumbnail → Save as Picture.