Slide Size In PowerPoint Photo Albums

Photo Albums in PowerPoint

Photo Albums are a very useful tool in PowerPoint and allow you quickly add a large number of images. The images can be formatted in a variety of ways so that you are able to create a professional looking presentation very quickly. There is though a major problem,

In Versions 2007 and 2010 the album always has a 4:3 aspect ration. If you need a 16:10 or 16:9 ration then changing the slide size will badly distort the images making the album unusable. In 2013 the aspect ration is always 16:9.  This version can do a much better job of resizing however the result is still not perfect. This article shows a way to get albums in the aspect ratio you need with no distortion.

The Method

This example uses 2010 but 2007 is pretty well identical. First choose the INSERT > Photo Album > New Photo Album and choose just one image.

When you create the album it will be in the 4:3 aspect ratio.

Go to the Design Tab and  Page Set Up. Change the slide size to 16:9 or 16:10. You will see that the image is very distorted.

Delete the slide with the image but leave the first slide which should have only text.
 

Fix The Album

Now go back to the INSERT > Photo Album button on the ribbon but this time choose "Edit Photo Album".


Choose the pictures to add including the original deleted image. You can choose any layout you wish.

When you update the album it is now in the wide screen format and the images are undistorted.
 

2013 Version

If you are using 2013 and wish to change from the default 16:9 to 16:10 or 4:3 the procedure is very similar except you find the controls to change the slide size in DESIGN TAB > Slide Size.

Summary

A method to create photo albums in PowerPoint without using the defaut slide size and without distortion.