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The Simple Solution to Creating PowerPoint Borders

September 24, 2019

Boundaries are healthy, both in relationships and in PowerPoints.

Creating a boundary, heretofore referred to as a border, in Microsoft 365 PowerPoint is a simple way to add functional design elements into your presentation. As we’ve discussed earlier, sprucing up your presentation can help it better hold attention as well as impress the audience members.

You can do so by learning how to add a gif into your PowerPoint, converting your powerpoint to word, or reading on to discover the simple steps it takes to add a border into PowerPoint.

How to insert PowerPoint borders

PowerPoint does not have a tool that is specifically for the creation of borders, but unto everything there is a loophole. Follow these steps and you’ll be adding some pizzazz to your PowerPoint presentation.

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1. Insert shapes

On the slide where you want to add a border, select “insert” at the top of your PowerPoint and find where it says “shapes.” Select a rectangle.

insert shapes powerpoint border

2. Fill slide with rectangle

Click and drag the rectangle to fill the entire slide.

fill slide with shape powerpoint border

3. Format pane

Next, we have to play with the rectangle’s settings. Click on the rectangle you just created. In the top-right corner of the screen, select “format pane.”

format pane powerpoint border

4. Customize pane settings

Under “fill,” select “no fill.” This will change the rectangle to a thin border outlining the slide.

format shape powerpoint border

 

Next, you’ll need to make the border thicker so it’s visible. Under line, select either solid or gradient, and choose a width that works for you. You can also play around with other features, such as border color.

border width powerpoint border

For example, this is what it looks like when I change the width to 20 pt:

border example powerpoint border

5. Optional: add border to all slides

If you want all slides to have the same border, one easy way to do this is to copy it from one slide and paste it into the others.

If this is too time-consuming (for example, say you have 300 slides), you could save your current design as a slide theme, which would preserve your current presentation as a reusable layout.

Broaden your borders

Don’t feel like you have to stick with the same old PowerPoint style just because it’s what you’re used to. Mess around with fun features such as borders and you never know what’ll happen as a result!

Trying to convert your presentation for internet editing? Learn how to convert a PowerPoint to Google Slides.

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