PowerPoint - Creating custom multiple master slides

Hello Caroline,

Thank you for your question regarding creating custom multiple master slides in PowerPoint 2010.

The way to go about this is first to start with a new presentation file which of course uses a default template. Then open the slide master view where changes would have to be made. Then open the old template files and switch to the slide master view, from here you will be copying and pasting from old masters to create the new masters.

Now begin with the first master. Remember, the large master at the top governs all of the layouts below. Delete any layouts you don't want and create new layouts which you feel you would need. Copy everything from the old master and paste into the topmost master. You will notice that all the layouts will adopt the pasted material.

The slide just below the master slide is the Title Master. You may want this to be different to all the other layouts. To achieve this simply select this title master layout and from the Background group in the Slide Master ribbon put a tick in the box to Hide Background Graphics. Now you can copy and paste backgrounds and objects from your old Title Master into the new Title Master (second slide).

At this point it is always a good idea to preserve this master and you can do so by selecting the top Slide Master and click the Preserve button in the Edit Master group.

Close the Slide Master and check that all the layouts are visible (especially the ones that you may have created) by adding a few slides. Happy...

...now for the rest.

Save this presentation as a normal slide and then once all masters have been created and tested then you will decide what slides need to appear in the template and then save the final file as a template.

Open the slide master again and from this point you should know whether the layouts (apart from the Title Master layout) will all be the same in terms of layout design. If this is the case then right-click the top Master Slide and click Duplicate Slide Master. If the layouts will be different then click Insert Slide Master from the Edit Master group.

The next step would now be to copy and paste all background and designs / logos etc. from the second old master into the second new master. Then sort out the Title Master much the same as for the first master. Make sure that the second master is preserved. This is very important!!!

Close the slide master and test the layouts. You should now see layouts for 2 masters. Save the file.

Now rinse and repeat for the third master not forgetting to preserve this master too.

You now need to save this file and then click File > Save As > Template.

It is rather laborious, but if done carefully will be user friendly and save a lot of time in the long run.

I hope this resolves your question. If it has, please mark this question as resolved.

If you require further assistance, please reply to this post. Or perhaps you have another Microsoft Office question?

Have a great day.
Regards,

Rodney
Microsoft Office Specialist Trainer