How to Create a Powerpoint Handout

This updated guide examines How to Create a Powerpoint Handout and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1

Format a Handout for a PowerPoint Presentation

1. Choose a preformatted handout scheme for a PowerPoint handout.
   • Open the View tab on the PowerPoint toolbar and click the Handout Master button located in the Presentation view group.
   • Click the Themes button in the Edit Themes group and choose a theme from the selection available in the pull-down menu. Click the preferred theme to apply it to the Handout Master.
2. Select a preformatted color scheme for a PowerPoint handout.
   • Confirm that the Handout Master view is selected and locate the Edit Theme group in the toolbar.
   • Click the Colors button and click to select 1 of several preformatted color schemes visible in the pull-down menu.
3. Find a preformatted Effects theme. A number of preformatted effects themes can be applied to a set of Handouts. These effect themes include 3-D objects, gradients and background styles.
   • Click the Effects button in the Edit Themes group to open the "Built-in" pull-down menu.
   • Click on 1 of the available themes to apply it to the set of handouts.
4. Format the handout background. Choose 1 of the preformatted background options available.
   • Confirm that Handout view is selected and click the Background Styles option located in the Background group on the toolbar. A number of preformatted background options will be visible in the pull-down menu.
   • Click on a background style to apply it to the set of handouts.

Method 2

Apply a Custom Background or Color Scheme to a PowerPoint Handout

1. Create a custom color scheme for a PowerPoint handout.
   • Open the View tab on the toolbar and click the Handout Master button located in the Presentation view group.
   • Click the Colors button in the Edit Themes group and select the Create New Color Schemes option from the pull-down menu. The Create New Color Schemes dialog box will open.
   • Use the menu boxes in the column on the right to choose different colors for each of the 8 categories listed in the column on the left. A preview of the new color will appear in the column on the left once a new color is selected in each category. Preview your custom color scheme in the display to the right of the Scheme Colors menu.
   • Enter a name for the custom color scheme in the color scheme name field located at the bottom of the dialogue box.
   • Click save to exit the dialog box.
2. Apply a custom background to a PowerPoint handout.
   • Confirm that Handout view is selected and click the Background Styles option located in the Background group on the toolbar.
   • Click the Format background option located near the bottom of the pull-down menu. The Format Background dialog box will appear.
   • Choose Solid fill to fill the background with a single, solid color.
   • Select the Gradient fill option to create a custom gradient fill for the handout background.
   • Click the Picture fill option to use an image saved to your computer's hard drive as a background fill for a PowerPoint handout.
   • Click the Apply to all button to apply your custom background fill to the PowerPoint handout.
3. Adjust the number of slides to appear on a single page of a PowerPoint handout.
   • Confirm that the Handout Master view is selected.
   • Click the Slides Per Page button located in the Page Setup group on the toolbar. Select the desired number of slides per page from the options listed in the pull-down menu. The number of slides that will appear on each page has been adjusted.
4. Adjust the handout orientation of a PowerPoint handout.
   • Confirm that the Handout Master view is selected from the View tab.
   • Click the Handout Orientation button located in the Page Setup group on the toolbar. Choose from portrait or landscape.
5. Add or remove a header, footer, page number or date from a PowerPoint handout.
   • Confirm that the Handout Master view is selected and locate the Place Holders group in the toolbar.
   • Place or remove a check from the checkbox labeled Header to add or remove a header from the handout.
   • Place or remove a check from the checkbox labeled Footer to add or remove a footer from the handout.
   • Place or remove a check from the checkbox labeled Date to add or remove the current date from the handout.
   • Place or remove a check from the checkbox labeled Page number to add or remove page numbering from he handout.