Microsoft PowerPoint is a familiar tool you can use to quickly create attention-grabbing digital signage. You won’t believe how easy it is to create digital signage content and speed up your workflows.

Need a PowerPoint template to get started? Skip the design time and get free, professionally designed PowerPoint templates for digital signage right here.

This guide shows you how to configure PowerPoint correctly for digital signage and easily turn a slideshow into engaging signage that makes people take action.

How to Create Digital Signage with PowerPoint

Step 1 — Prepare your document

Make sure your slides are the correct size to best fit the displays in your organization. Nobody wants square digital signage playing on widescreen TVs.

How to change your slide size:

• In PowerPoint, navigate to Design > Slide Size > Page Setup.
• From here, choose the best size option for your displays. This will vary depending on what devices your organization uses. However, a safe bet is the “On-Screen Show (16:9)” option. Most modern TVs display a 16:9 aspect ratio. You can also set custom dimensions if none of the existing defaults are what you need.

Step 2 — Design your signage

Creating and designing content for digital signage doesn’t have to be difficult. Start with the built-in PowerPoint templates if you need design inspiration. Keep things simple, legible and relevant.

Want to learn more about digital signage? Check out these helpful guides:

• Learn the Do’s and Don’ts of Digital Signage
• How to Use Digital Signage in a Crisis

Step 3 — Export your files

Now it’s time to turn your PowerPoint slides into digital signage:

• Make sure your slideshow is complete and saved. Then, navigate to File > Export.
• Choose the location where you’d like to export your files.
• In the dropdown menu, select your preferred file format of your new digital signage assets and click Export.

Exporting Tips

Ensure the file format you choose is compatible with your digital signage service. Most digital signage content management systems (CMS) will accept common image and video files. For example, Ditto digital signage is compatible with a variety of media file types, such as PNG, JPEG, GIF and MP4.

Make sure to set up your slides to the correct aspect ratio and export them to the correct dimensions. Your slides should fill up the entire screen of your TVs and monitors.

Common display dimensions:

These dimensions can vary depending on what displays your organization uses.

You can export your slides as a set of static images or have PowerPoint combine them into a single video file that plays all slides for a set amount of time.

PowerPoint settings allow you to change the dimensions for MP4, MOV, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, Animated GIF and BMP files.

Step 4 — Integrate with your CMS

Now that you have exported your slides, it’s time to get them up on your screens. Some digital signage solutions only play files from a physical source like a USB drive. However, the best type of digital signage includes a CMS that is touch-free and accessible from anywhere.

Organize your content and set scheduling and duration parameters. To do this you’ll need to upload the files to your preferred signage CMS or deploy physical hard drives loaded with your content to each display. The digital signage solution you use can make this process really simple or really time-consuming — opt for a centrally managed signage solution that has a built-in CMS, like Ditto.

Now your displays will begin playing the digital signage content you created from PowerPoint.