How to Create a Printable Using Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is not just for slideshows, you know? You can create a wide variety of printables with this easy to use application.

Before you get started, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Verify that your computer has a good of collection of fonts. You can download additional fonts from sites like Dafont.com. Instructions on how to install to install a font on your computer are found at the bottom of this post.
• You will need a collection of images, clip art and icons related to the theme of your printable. You can get some amazing free graphics at FreePik and OpenClipArt. Or you can check out our list of free backgrounds, icons and labels. Do make sure to give credit where it is due.
• You will also have to take into consideration other factors regarding the usage of colors, fonts and spacing as mentioned in the PicMonkey tutorial.

I created a couple of summer printables for my contributory post at Marriage, Motherhood and Missions which will be published in June. With that as the basis, I’ve given below the step by step instructions on how to create a printable using Microsoft PowerPoint.

Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerPoint

Open a new presentation in PowerPoint, by selecting ‘New’ from the ‘File’ Menu.

Step 2: Choose the layout

Choose the orientation of the slide from the ‘Design’ menu, based on how you want your printable to look.

Step 3: Add graphics

Add your graphics by clicking on the ‘Picture’ option in the ‘Insert’ menu.

Select the image you want to include in the dialog box that pops up.

Drag the image to where you want it, and resize it if required.

Step 4: Insert Text

Insert a textbox from the ‘Insert’ menu to place your text.

Add your content to the text box. I’ve placed the text box at the top of the page, and typed in the title of the printable.

Style your text by setting the font type, size and color from the ‘Home’ menu.

Step 5: Add additional text and graphic elements as required

Keep working on the text and graphic elements until you get the desired look for your printable. Here, I added a few other clip arts to make the title stand out.

I added a text box and filled it with rows of dots to form dotted lines.

I changed the size and color of the dotted lines to match with the heading.

Add more graphic elements as required. I included few summer themed icons to complete the look.

This is the final look of the printable that is now ready to be saved.

Step 6: Save the printable

It’s now time to save the printable. Click the ‘File’ menu and select the ‘Save As’ option.

Enter a file name, make sure the file type is “PowerPoint Presentation” and then click “Save”. This is to save the PowerPoint itself, so you can make edits later.

From the same dropdown, select PNG or JPEG to save the printable as an image to be used as a blog graphic.

In the dialog box that pops out, select ‘Current Slide Only’ to save the slide as an image.

Select ‘Save As’ option again from the ‘File’ menu to save the printable as a PDF. You’ll have to select the file type as PDF. This format is easier to upload and share with readers; and also prevents it from being altered.

Note: Older versions of Microsoft PowerPoint may not have the option to save as PDF. In that case, you’ll need to use a PDF converter to convert your PowerPoint file into a PDF.

Your printable is now ready to be shared as a PDF. You can easily upload it to your website or Dropbox and then share the link with your readers.

Today’s Challenge: Create a simple printable using PowerPoint. Even if you’re not planning to give it away to your audience, it is still good practice!

Have you ever tried creating a printable with PowerPoint?
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