I create modern and professional templates not only for PowerPoint, but also for Google Slides, where you can take advantage of the benefits of a cloud environment. Do you already have a presentation design prepared by graphic designers and need to turn it into a user-friendly Google Slides template? I’ll be happy to help you!
Google Slides vs. PowerPoint
While PowerPoint is a comprehensive tool with decades of development, Google Slides focuses more on simplicity and a cloud-based approach. It is part of the Google Workspace suite and is designed for teamwork, sharing, and editing from anywhere. No installation is required, and for personal use it is even free. Despite its simplicity and online focus, it is still possible to create presentations that look professional. However, this requires knowledge of its specifics and limitations, which you may need to accept compared to what you are used to in PowerPoint.
What Google Slides Can Do
In Google Slides, you can set up the following in a similar way to PowerPoint:
- Predefined slide layouts, such as Title Slide, Title and Content, Two Contents, various divider slides and image galleries, a final contact slide, etc. These can include repeating elements such as a logo or other graphic features.
- You can set a color theme, which, just like in PowerPoint, contains 10 colors: the first 4 are background and text colors, and the other 6 are accent colors. In addition, custom colors can also be defined.
- You can predefine fonts from the Google Fonts library.
- You can enable and display guides, which define the content area of a slide and make it easier to position various objects.
New slides can then be inserted, assigned one of the predefined layouts, or duplicated from existing slides with the required layout and content, and then adjusted as needed—editing text, replacing photos, and so on.
Figure 1: Example of Google Slides template by Templator.eu including slide layouts
What Is Different Compared to PowerPoint
As mentioned above, some advanced functions and nuances have been sacrificed by Google in favor of creating a foundation sufficient for most users. Below is an overview of functions that work differently in Google Slides:
- Vector images: Vector formats such as SVG or Microsoft EMF are not supported. Vector formats are advantageous because they are lossless even when printed or converted to PDF, as they are recalculated mathematically at any size. Google Slides supports only common bitmap formats (JPG, PNG, GIF), where quality may degrade when resizing, especially when enlarging. On the other hand, images can be inserted in the appropriate size and quality, and on screen projection this is usually not a major issue.
- Limited fonts: It is not possible to upload custom or licensed fonts. Only fonts from the Google Fonts library can be used, though it is very extensive. Note: Google Fonts can also be downloaded and used in Microsoft Office templates.
- Slide layout order: The order of slide layouts cannot be changed by dragging or renaming; it is fixed according to an internal cloud identifier. This can be frustrating, as layouts cannot be logically arranged (e.g., Title Slide, Title and Content, Divider Slide, then image galleries, and finally Closing Slide), but instead appear in a practically random order.
- General content placeholder: Google Slides does not have a universal placeholder into which you can insert text, images, charts, or tables as needed, as in PowerPoint. Instead, placeholders are limited to text or image types, while charts, tables, and other content are inserted directly from the Insert menu. Guides can help position these elements.
- Limited placeholder customization: It is not possible to edit instructional texts such as “Click to add text.” In PowerPoint, you can replace these with numbers (1, 2, 3) on slides that present key values. In Google Slides, “Click to add text” remains in very large font, which can clutter the layout, though once replaced by actual text the problem disappears. The instructional text appears in the user’s language. Placeholders for images are also limited to rectangle, rounded rectangle, and oval shapes. These are usually sufficient, but in PowerPoint you can create irregular or cropped placeholders for both text and images.
- Selection pane: Google Slides does not feature a Selection Pane for easier object management. However, once you select an object by clicking its edge, you can cycle through other elements using the Tab key. This is particularly useful when dealing with layered or stacked objects.
- Footer field: Google Slides does not provide a footer (or header) field that automatically repeats text across slides. It can be replaced with a text box, but then text must be added manually on each slide. The only automatic field available is slide number.
- Working with charts: Charts in Google Slides are linked to an auxiliary file in Google Sheets, where colors may differ, requiring adjustments. On the other hand, the auxiliary spreadsheet can be duplicated for reuse, with chart type changed as needed, while retaining defined colors. Some formatting options are missing—for example, you can insert a line for the vertical axis but cannot change its color, although gridline colors can be changed. Such minor limitations may need to be accepted.
Summary
Despite being simpler than PowerPoint, Google Slides can still produce presentations that are not only fully functional but also visually impressive and equipped with everything you need— predefined slide layouts, Google fonts, color themes, sample tables and charts, and more. You just need to accept the above limitations, especially if you are used to PowerPoint. On the other hand, Google Slides offers great flexibility when it comes to inserting and editing various types of slide content. See here for the inputs you will need.
Want a Polished Google Slides Deck? Get in Touch
Tips for Work
Already have a Google Slides template and want to get the most out of it? Here are some practical tips and tricks that may help in everyday use.
General Tips
- New slide can be inserted via Slide > New slide or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+M.
- Apply a layout to a slide using Slide > Apply layout, or right-click on the slide thumbnail in the left panel > Apply layout.
- If the template is well prepared, you can easily build any presentation by combining new slides and their layouts.
- In many cases (and in Google Slides this is common), it is faster to duplicate an existing slide (right-click on the slide > Duplicate slide) and then modify it as needed by editing text or replacing images.
- Replace an existing image via right-click > Replace image > Upload from computer. Other options include Camera, By URL, Drive and Photos, Stock Images, or Web. A completely new image can be inserted via Insert > Image.
- Enable guides via View > Guides > Show guides. In my templates I usually set guides that define the content area and make it easier to position objects consistently.
Working with Charts
In Google Slides, there is no general or dedicated placeholder for charts that would allow inserting a chart directly via an icon in the middle of a placeholder, as in PowerPoint, and automatically recolor it to match the theme.
In Google Slides, charts are inserted via Insert > Chart, where options include Bar, Column, Line, Pie, or From Sheets. When inserting a chart, an auxiliary Google Sheets file opens, where the source data and additional formatting options are available.
A disadvantage is that the auxiliary Google Sheets file may use a different theme than the Google Slides file, and colors will need to be adjusted. To avoid re-adjusting colors every time, you can duplicate the auxiliary sheet (make a copy of the Google Sheet as shown below), then update values, chart type, etc.
Even more useful is the option Insert > Chart > From Sheets. The full procedure is shown below.
I can also prepare sample tables and charts for you with the correct company color theme.
Sample Column Chart in Google Sheets
In Google Sheets we already have a sample column chart prepared with the desired colors and elements.
Figure 2: Prepared sample column chart in Google Sheets
Inserting a Chart into Google Slides from Sheets
In Google Slides go to Insert > Chart > From Sheets, as shown in the following image.
Figure 3: Inserting a chart into Google Slides from Sheets
Selecting from Recent Sheets
Google will offer recent Sheets for import into Google Slides, as shown in the image below (you can also browse older files). Select the desired file with the mouse and click Insert in the bottom right corner.
Figure 4: Google offering recent Sheets for import into Google Slides
Importing a Chart from Sheets into Slides
A window called “Import chart” will appear, where you click in the middle (see the blue rectangle in the image below) and select Import.
Figure 5: Importing a chart from Google Sheets into Google Slides
Example of an Imported Chart from Sheets into Slides
Google handles everything automatically, and the following image shows what the chart looks like after being imported from Sheets into Google Slides. Adjust the size and position of the chart as needed. You can also notice in the top right corner that the chart is linked to Sheets. You can open the source, edit the data or the chart’s appearance, and an update icon will appear in Slides in the same top-right spot.
Figure 6: Chart imported from Google Sheets into Google Slides
Creating a Copy of a Google Sheet for Additional Charts
If you need to insert another chart type into Google Slides, such as a line or pie chart, I recommend creating a copy of the existing Google Sheet via File > Make a copy, where you already have the correct colors set up, and then adjust as needed. After creating the copy, name the file appropriately, for example with the intended chart type in the title (see the Sample Line Chart example below).
Figure 7: Google Sheets > File > Make a copy
Changing the Chart Type in Google Sheets
You can change the chart type by right-clicking inside the chart > Chart style > the Chart editor opens on the right > Setup tab > Chart type.
Figure 8: Changing the chart type in Google Sheets
Customizing Chart Style in Google Sheets
You can also set the chart title, axis labels, series colors and fonts, font sizes, etc. by right-clicking inside the chart > Chart style > Chart editor > Customize tab, where the following options are available: Chart style, Chart & axis titles, Series, Legend, Horizontal axis, Vertical axis, Gridlines and ticks.
Figure 9: Customizing a chart in Google Sheets
Conclusion on Charts
The procedure above should make it easier for you to work with charts in Google Slides, whether you are preparing a presentation for clients, colleagues, or students. It allows you to create visually consistent and clear charts in Google Sheets that can be easily inserted into Google Slides – and they remain linked, so they can be automatically updated as needed.
If creating and adjusting charts in Google Sheets still feels complicated or time-consuming, don’t hesitate to reach out to me – I will be happy to prepare custom sample charts for you – ready to link with your Google Slides presentation.
Don’t Want to Waste Time Setting up Charts? Contact Me
Working with (Overlapping) Objects
As already mentioned above, Google Slides does not have a Selection Pane where you could see all objects on a slide and work with them more easily. Sometimes you may have multiple objects on a slide that partially or completely overlap. Even though you can set the object order (bring forward, send backward, etc.) via the right mouse button, it may happen that some overlapping objects are hard to select with the mouse.
This practical tip can save you a lot of frustration: Click on the edge of any object – you really need to click the blue outline that frames the object (not inside the object or text). Then you can cycle through the other objects with the Tab key and go backwards with Shift+Tab until the desired object is selected. You can then work with the object, change its properties such as color or font size. If the object is still hidden by another object and you need to move it, use the arrow keys so that you don’t accidentally select the overlapping object again with the mouse.