how to create a powerpoint presentation in indesign

InDesign to PowerPoint: a quick conversion method

A couple of weeks ago, a client asked me to create a PowerPoint from his Products Catalog that I had previously designed with InDesign.

As usual, he needed it for the next day.

The catalog contains 60 products, 2 for each page, and he wanted 60 slides, each with a single product. What was the quickest way? I already knew that an InDesign file could be converted to a Word doc ( see here how to do so ), but what about InDesign to PowerPoint?

I found out that I could easily convert a PDF into a PowerPoint file. The process was as simple as:

• create a new InDesign file with the page dimension to fit a single product
• copy and paste each product in a page of the document
• create an “Alternate Layout” with the page dimension of the Powerpoint
• export a PDF
• convert the PDF using Adobe Acrobat Pro (they have a free 7-days trial ).

The time it took me to do all of that was about 15 minutes (just a couple for the conversion) – this trick is incredibly useful!

Besides learning this trick, make sure you also read all about how to translate PowerPoint slides , you never know when you'll find it useful.

How to convert the InDesign file to PowerPoint using Adobe Acrobat

Since the post is about converting an InDesign file to a Powerpoint one, I won’t explain how to use the “Convert to Alternate Layout” function. If you don’t know it, it’s basically an option that allows you to convert a file from a page dimension to another. In the process, you have the option to scale or adapt the content to the new dimension.

• Open the document in InDesign and export it as a PDF.
• Open the exported PDF with Acrobat Pro.
• Click on File , select Export to and then click on Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation .

There are not a lot of options here. I suggest you change those options only if you experience any issues with the text recognition. Otherwise, they should be fine as they are.

• Click on Save . The conversion from the PDF to the Powerpoint file will take a few seconds.

For better results with the conversion from InDesign to PowerPoint, you should avoid using Condensed Font styles and advanced options like Opacity.

Try out Adobe Acrobat Pro for free for 7 days at this link .

Common errors

If you get the error, “The specified file could not be written to. It may be in use”, try to save the exported file in a different folder. That generally solves the issue. Let me know, in the comments, about any error you might encounter, so that I can add them to this post.

Other resources

If you are looking for a more in-depth understanding, there's this video by Anne-Marie Concepcion that you should watch. It's an extract from the course "Managing Conversions Between Adobe CC and Microsoft Office" she made for LinkedIn Learning.

Additionally, here's how you can translate your powerpoint presentations.

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How to Convert InDesign to Powerpoint

InDesign is a very powerful piece of layout design software, but if it has a flaw, it’s the limited number of export options that are available once you’re finished creating your masterpiece. InDesign’s primary export format is the reliable standard Portable Document Format (PDF), but unfortunately, it doesn’t have the ability to export files as Powerpoint slideshows.

There are a number of complex technical reasons for this, but the simplest way to explain it is that Adobe and Microsoft have very different app development styles. 

Microsoft Powerpoint is intended for simple business presentations that can be easily edited by the typical computer user, while Adobe InDesign focuses on creating highly-designed documents that prioritize visual quality over ease of use. 

This mismatch of approaches makes it almost impossible to convert an InDesign document directly into a Powerpoint slideshow, but there is at least one way around it – as long as you’ve got Adobe Acrobat. 

Table of Contents

Step 1: Export to PDF

Step 2: adobe acrobat, step 3: polishing in powerpoint, using third-party plugins to convert indesign to powerpoint, do you really need powerpoint , a final word, convert indesign to powerpoint with adobe acrobat.

Before we get started, it’s important to point out that this is a very rough workaround instead of a smooth and seamless solution. PDF conversion will only give you a rough start to your Powerpoint presentation. 

If you absolutely must use Powerpoint, then the best way to create your presentation is by using Powerpoint from the very beginning. 

Now that we’ve managed the expectations let’s take a look at how you can use this workaround. To complete the conversion, you’ll need access to Adobe InDesign , Adobe Acrobat , and Microsoft Powerpoint . 

If you have access to InDesign through a subscription to the All apps plan from Adobe, then you’ve also got access to the full version of Adobe Acrobat, so be sure to check your Adobe Creative Cloud app to see if it can be installed. 

If you subscribe to InDesign through another plan, you should be able to use the trial version of Acrobat, although the trial is time-limited, so it’s not a long-term conversion solution. 

Note: This process will not work with the free Adobe Reader app .

Once you’re finished designing your document using InDesign, you’ll need to export it as a PDF file. 

Make sure that you’ve saved your document, then open the File menu and click Export . 

In the Export dialog window, open the Format dropdown menu and select Adobe PDF (Interactive) , then name the file and click the Save button. 

InDesign will open the Export to Interactive PDF dialog, which has some useful options for configuring your PDF file as a presentation in case you decide not to use the converted Powerpoint file in the end. For now, just click the Export button. 

Next, switch apps to Adobe Acrobat. In the File menu, click Open , then browse to select the PDF file you just created. 

Once your PDF file has loaded, open the File menu again, select the Export To submenu, and choose Microsoft Powerpoint Presentation . 

Give your new presentation a name, and click Save . 

Now comes the real work! Open your new Powerpoint presentation in Powerpoint, and compare the look of the two documents. Some graphical elements may not have converted properly, colors may be off, and even the text characters may require some adjustment too. 

If you’re lucky, and your InDesign file was very simple, then you may have good success with the conversion process, and there won’t be much to do. But if you’re starting with a more complex layout with lots of graphics, spot colors, and fancy typography, you may find yourself looking at a jumbled mess in Powerpoint. 

I tested this conversion process using a number of different PDFs that I had lying around, and only the most basic PDF files were converted acceptably. All the PDFs that had complex layouts and graphics had conversion issues, ranging from poor object placement to missing characters to completely missing objects. 

The unfortunate reality is that Powerpoint and InDesign are intended for two very different markets, and apparently, neither Adobe nor Microsoft see much point in creating better interoperability between the two apps. 

While Adobe and Microsoft don’t want to tackle this conversion issue, they’re far from the only software developers in the world. InDesign and Powerpoint are two very popular programs, so there’s a tiny industry of third-party developers who create conversion plugins to solve this problem. 

However, despite the fact that they market themselves as problem solvers, you may not get better results than you do from the PDF conversion method described earlier. If you’re curious, though, Recosoft offers a plugin named ID2Office that might do what you need. 

I strongly recommend that you test out the free trial before purchasing the plugin , though, because you may discover that it’s not up to the job. 

Powerpoint has some good points (haha), but it’s far from the only way to create a good presentation. InDesign also allows you to create interactive PDFs that are perfect for on-screen presentations. 

The only trick is to treat each page as though it’s a slide, and then you can take advantage of all of InDesign’s advanced layout and design features while creating a PDF presentation that can be viewed on any device. 

Before you spend a lot of time trying to convert your InDesign file to a Powerpoint file, consider whether or not you can simply keep your file in the InDesign format and still get the results you need.

That covers everything that there is to know about converting InDesign files into Powerpoint files! While I wish there was a simpler process that created perfect Powerpoint files, the simple truth is that the two apps are intended for different markets. 

It doesn’t sound quick and easy, but it’s essential to use the proper app for the job from the very beginning. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and frustration! 

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Create a presentation

Create a presentation in powerpoint for the web.

With PowerPoint for the web running in your web browser, you can:

Create presentations that include images, videos, transitions, and animations.

Get to your presentations from your computer, tablet, or phone.

Share and work with others, wherever they are.

If you're using the desktop version of PowerPoint on a Windows PC, see the PowerPoint Quick Start .

If you're using the desktop version of PowerPoint on a Mac, see Office for Mac Quick Start Guides and PowerPoint for Mac Help .

Create, open, and name a presentation

Go to powerpoint.office.com .

Select New blank presentation , open a Recent file, select one of the themes , or start with a presentation template .

To name the presentation, select the title at the top and type a name.

If you need to rename the presentation, select the title and retype the name.

Add a slide

Select the slide you want your new slide to follow.

Select Home > New Slide .

Select Layout and the you type want from the drop-down.

When working in PowerPoint for the web, your work is saved every few seconds. You can select File > Save a Copy to create a duplicate copy in another location.

Or choose File > Download As to save a copy to your device.

When you're online, AutoSave is always on and saves your changes as you work. If at any time you lose your Internet connection or turn it off, any pending changes will sync as soon as you’re back online.

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Captivate your audience with stylish, professional presentations.

Design effective slide decks that help you make a lasting impression with Adobe InDesign. 

Tell a visual story to create engaging presentations.

Create dazzling pitch decks, business presentations, and summaries of research findings, or share ideas with a slide deck. But even the best presentation software is only as good as the slideshow you design with it — and a weak deck can undermine even a great presenter — so keep these principles in mind as you build your presentation.

Stick to a visual theme. A cohesive look with consistent typography and a simple color scheme will help your audience stay focused on the content of your slides.

Keep it simple. Avoid cluttering your deck with endless charts, tables, or bullet points too small for everyone to read. Allow for plenty of white space on each slide so crucial information stands out.

Find the right tools for every job. Pie charts are great for demonstrating percentages. Vertical bar charts show changes over time better than horizontal bar charts, which are best for comparing quantities. Try an infographic to help your audience visualize your data.

Incorporate video, audio, or animations. Get people to pay more attention with animated presentations that feature video, audio, and elegant transitions to break up static slides.

Do more with tools from Adobe Creative Cloud.

Access other Creative Cloud tools that make InDesign an even more effective presentation maker.

Choose unique fonts. Pick from over 17,000 high-quality fonts from Adobe Fonts to make your information organized and easy to read. User-friendly font styles make slides simpler to digest.

Start with Adobe Stock. Find inspiration with Stock assets. Use Stock photos for stunning background images or transitional slides, and use Stock to find a presentation template as a basis for your custom design.

How to design a presentation from scratch.

With some creativity, and these simple steps, you can create a custom presentation with InDesign.

Find the right page size. Whether you’re presenting a keynote on a massive screen or creating for mobile devices, start by selecting the dimensions you’ll use for your presentation.

Choose your background.

Pick a striking background image that works with text overlay. The deck’s title can also become part of the background. 

Create paragraph styles. 

Create no more than three text styles so you can keep the title font, body font, and footnote font consistent throughout the presentation. Set paragraph styles to change font and size with a click of a button.

Set up master pages. 

Create a few master pages to help ensure your presentation looks professional and well designed. Add image and text frames to the master pages so you can drop your content in later without having to overthink the layout.  

Add images and text.

Drag and drop Photoshop (PSD) files, PDFs, Illustrator (AI) files, JPEGs, PNGs, or GIFs into the image frames. To add text, just copy and paste text files or select the Type tool from the toolbar and type directly into the text frame.

Add page numbers.

Insert page numbers to keep you and your audience on the same page. InDesign can automatically number the slides. 

Add finishing touches.

From movies and sound clips to hyperlinks, cross references, and page transitions, you’ve got plenty of interactive options to make your story more compelling.

Export your slide deck.

The final step is to export your presentation in a format that can be projected or distributed in any presentation program. Exporting as Adobe PDF (Interactive) lets you play or click through interactive content in real time during the presentation. 

Discover more presentation design skills.

Explore these tutorials to start mastering design tools and techniques to help you create beautiful presentations with InDesign.

Create stylish layouts.

Learn how to design slide layouts with text and graphics that will effectively deliver information and impress your audience in projected or online presentations.

Keep it organized.

Enhance your slideshows with tables that clearly display information and can be adjusted to different sizes with ease.

Make it interactive.

Bring animated videos, hyperlinks, slide transitions, and more into your slideshow with interactive presentations in PDF format.

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