Resource/Misc

“The updated PPT is in process.

“Do you have bandwidth to help design a new PPT?

“Look at the PPT slide 23 layout!

Question, why do people say “PPT” when referencing a PowerPoint file?
The answer is almost 20 years old, which proves it is difficult to change a name once it has been assigned!

We are going back even further, to 1997, when Microsoft released Office 97. PowerPoint was in the Office 97 bundle and all Office files; Word, Excel, PowerPoint, used 3-letter file extensions. PowerPoint files had the extension .ppt. So when hear some reference a PowerPoint file as a “PPT”, they are literally referencing a file format from over 2 decades ago!

Why did we start with saying the answer is almost 20 years old?
Because in 2007, 19 years ago, Microsoft release Office 2007. Office 2007 gave us the modern version of PowerPoint, powered largely by PowerPoint being rebuilt in the Office Open XML (OOXML) standard. With this update all of the 3-letter file extensions added the letter “X” for the new 4-letter file extensions; .pptx, .docx, .xlsx, etc. The “X” representing the XML code base.

And why did we say the XML version of PowerPoint, .pptx, is the modern version?
Because each XML file is really a .zip folder with all of the XML code, images, text files, videos and more inside that PowerPoint uses to display the slides. Modern meaning smaller file sizes (it is a .zip folder!), modular components inside (so 1 corrupt file does not ruin the entire presentation!), interoperability (the XML file structure is how Apple Keynote, Google Slides and every other presentation program can convert their presentation to a PowerPoint file!), embedded video and audio (it is a .zip folder, so things like videos and audio files can be added!).

-Troy @ TLC

New episode of The Presentation Podcast now available!

In this podcast episode, Troy, Nolan, and Sandy explore how AI is reshaping presentation design today. The conversation revolves around the two key spaces where AI operates: thinking (e.g. outlining, structuring) and design (e.g. visuals, layouts). While all three agree AI enhances efficiency, they also agree AI is not set to replace human storytelling, editorial judgment, and contextual understanding in professional presentation design. Ultimately, as AI produces “good enough” results, which makes human expertise more critical in creating authentic, memorable presentations that stand out.

Listen on your favorite podcast app, or at The Presentation Podcast site here.

We recently created a slide, using a cropped image and the Morph transition to shift the visible portion of the image between slides. I have to say, Morph has given PowerPoint a smooth, clean, cinematic visual pan effect!

Here is how we set this up using our static image (which we pulled from our video):  

Slide 1 = Add image, size, position, and crop (the effect relies on there being more of the image being non-visible) 

Slide 2 = Select the image, move the cropped area (in this example, sliding the image to the left), and set the slide transition to Morph. 

Slide 3 = And for this example, there was a 3rd view of the image. Select the image, move the visible cropped area back (sliding it to the right). 

But, trying to replicate the same effect with a video, using the identical morph setup? Well, that does not work so well… 

 Unfortunately, this showcases a limitation within PowerPoint. Videos cannot play across slide transitions. And in the case of a Morph transition, the video playback pauses when the transition starts, and there is no Morph movement. PowerPoint falls back to a Fade transition and resumes video playback by jumping ahead to where the video is on the timeline. 

If anyone at Microsoft is listening, we, the end users, really, really need videos to be able to play across slides for so many presentation needs! 

Troy @ TLC Creative

New episode of The Presentation Podcast now available!

As the world of graphic design continues to expand, the boundaries between traditional design disciplines and presentation design are blurring. And CreativePro Week, a premier design conference brings together designers, creatives, and presentation experts.

In this episode, Troy has a behind-the-scenes conversation with Nolan Haims, hearing about his upcoming CreativePro Week talks, the process, and his expectations for the event. They also talk about the growing importance of presentation design, and actionable strategies for leveraging PowerPoint as a true design tool. Listen on your favorite podcast app, or at The Presentation Podcast site here. 

New episode of The Presentation Podcast now available!

Episode 247: Unlock the power of PowerPoint in ways you may not have imagined. In this episode, Troy, Sandy, and Nolan are joined by Amanda Dalton, a seasoned graphic designer turned presentation and instructional design expert, to explore how PowerPoint can be a central tool for presentation design, video creation, and instructional storytelling.

In today’s ever-evolving world of digital communication, few tools are as versatile, or as underestimated, as PowerPoint. Amanda shares her professional journey and offers insights into how she leverages PowerPoint alongside other tools to create impactful stories, engaging training content, and dynamic visual experiences.

Plus, CreativePro Week 2026 is just weeks away! Amanda is one of the presenter at this year’s conference, and we are fortunate to have David Blatner, Director of CreativePro, preview what to expect at this year’s Nashville event. Listen on your favorite podcast app, or at The Presentation Podcast site here.

Ever tried to use an Adobe font in PowerPoint, and wondered why it’s not showing up? Or handed off a PowerPoint file to a designer, and the fonts look totally off when they convert it to InDesign? We see this situation often with people who use both Adobe and Microsoft products. Here’s the deal (and a hack to fix!)…

Quick answer: 

• Yes, Adobe CC fonts can be used in PowerPoint and other Microsoft apps (with a simple hack). 

• No, there is no equivalent hack to make Adobe apps recognize all Microsoft-only fonts. However, many Microsoft fonts are already installed on your system and work fine inside Adobe apps. 

Part 1: Using Adobe CC Fonts in PowerPoint (“The Hack”) 

1. Download and install the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app (if you don’t have an Adobe Creative Cloud account, you can create and use the free account version).  

2. In the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app, find and click the Fonts section, either in the top right nav bar or in the “Stock & Marketplace” section under Fonts. 

3. From within the Adobe Creative Cloud app (or by visiting fonts.adobe.com in a browser), search for the font you want to use in PowerPoint. 

4. Select the font and click “Add to Fonts”, and the font will sync to your PC through the Adobe CC app. Upon adding it, you will get a pop-up to manage your fonts in the CC app.  

5. Use these steps to ensure the fonts are set for use across all apps:

• Open the fonts page in the Adobe Creative Cloud app, and you should see the font you just added at the top.
• Click the “Install Family” button to allow the new font to be used in other apps like PowerPoint.
• Once it installs, instead of seeing “in Adobe apps”, it will now say “in Adobe & other local apps”, and the font is good to go! 

6. If PowerPoint was open, be sure to close and restart it since custom fonts (non-MS and non-Google web) only load when the PowerPoint app launches. After starting (or restarting) PowerPoint, use the font selector dropdown, and you should see your Adobe font listed! 

Success!! Newly installed fonts should appear in the dropdown menu in PowerPoint. Adobe CC fonts remain on the computer for 20-30 days from the last time the Adobe CC desktop app was online. As long as Adobe CC “checks in” periodically, the fonts stay active and available to all apps – Adobe and Microsoft.  

Note 1: The Adobe fonts you install are only available on that computer. To use the presentation on any other device, follow the same process to install the same fonts for PowerPoint to use.  

Note 2: Adobe CC fonts cannot be embedded in a PowerPoint file. Plus, TLC Creative does not recommend PowerPoint’s embedded font option because it has too many failure points. 

TLC’s Best Practices

For presentations built in PowerPoint, we default to Microsoft Cloud fonts whenever possible. They are cloud-based, require no installation, and most importantly, avoid font-substitution issues. When a client or brand requires specific Adobe CC fonts, we use the steps above to keep design files and presentations matching.   

In conclusion, getting Adobe CC and Microsoft fonts to play nice is doable. Use the Adobe CC desktop app hack to bring Adobe fonts into PowerPoint. It is a bit of a setup process upfront, but the option is available. 

Wondering if Adobe will recognize Microsoft fonts? We’ll talk about that in our next post.  

Jake @ TLC

I just bought tickets for us to see a sport climbing competition that is over 2 years away. In July 2028 to be more precise! That’s right: for the 2028 LA Olympics. And with the 2028 Olympics being nearby in LA, I was excited to be able to use the “locals” advance purchase option for us to see a few events in person.  

Quick backstory…rock climbing is something Troy and I have a long history with, including during our pre-presentation design years, when we owned and ran one of the original premiere-level rock climbing gyms in America. 

(Troy still rock climbs today, but more casually perhaps)

Now, while I was preparing to buy said Olympic competition tickets (and let me tell you, it is a process…well planned out and communicated…but a process nonetheless), the LA Olympics people suggested I watch a video about the ticket buying process. This is when I stumbled upon another video detailing the LA28 design system…and it’s really cool!  

From a very versatile letter “A” (think MTV logo of old) to the event color scheme (think flower superbloom and LA specific flowers) to the patterns of the 2028 LA Olympics design system…I can’t decide which I like best (okay, the patterns win). 

(Our local 2023 superbloom on a drive to LA)

Everyone who works in design will appreciate the 2028 LA Olympics design system in this less than 3-minute video!  

I love that the video highlighted design systems from past Olympics and from what I see, LA28 is going to represent LA extremely well – I can’t wait to see the colors and patterns play out. Funny enough, I’m not a fan of the LA28 font system. However, I see the strategy and am curious if I’ll change my mind as I see the whole system play out over the next couple of years.  

Enjoy! 

-Lori @ TLC Creative

New episode of The Presentation Podcast now available!

In episode 245 of The Presentation Podcast, Troy and Lori Chollar of TLC Creative Services give us access to their team’s design process by pulling back the curtain of a completed partnership pitch deck project. 

This project got them thinking about how we all approach presentation design. Everything starts before a single slide is designed with understanding and defining the purpose (and type) of presentation it is, which then influences the visual design and on-slide messaging. Our candid conversation is a great listen full of strategies and ideas for crafting visually rich, purpose-driven presentations! 

Listen on your favorite podcast app, or at The Presentation Podcast site here.