Do you need to create ads for your website or newsletter? It’s not hard to create them yourself if you use PowerPoint.
That’s right, PowerPoint! Lots of people use PowerPoint to create their own graphics. You can save lots of money and get results fast. Here’s an ad that I created using PowerPoint.
But there’s a problem. For your website, you need to size your ad in pixels and PowerPoint doesn’t speak that language. But since you can resize an image, all you really need to know is the proportion. You also need to know that the minimum size for a slide in PowerPoint is 1 inch. Here’s how it works:
Let’s say you want to create an ad that is 468 x 60 pixels. That’s the standard banner size. You cross-multiply:
468 60
___ = ___
x 1
60x = 468
x = 7.8
So, you would make your PowerPoint slide 7.8 inches wide x 1 inch high.
In PowerPoint 2007 and higher, go to the Design tab> Page Setup to specify the slide size. as you see here.
Then use the familiar tools of PowerPoint to create your ad.
When you’re done, choose File> Save As and choose PNG as the file type. Save the file.
Next, open the file in the Microsoft Office Picture Manager or any image editor that lets you see the size of an image in pixels and resize it.
In Picture Manager, if that’s what you’re using, click Edit Pictures and choose Resize in the task pane at the right. Use the Custom Width x Height settings to resize the image to 468 x 60 and save. You can now insert the image in your website.
Another way to calculate the size
PowerPoint exports an image from a slide it does so using a calculation of 96 DPI (dots per inch), by default. For example, a standard slide that is 7.5 in. high x 10 in. wide exports to a PNG file that is 960×720 pixels.
10 x 96 = 960
7.5 x 96 = 720
So you can use this calculation if you want a 468 x 60 image:
For the width: 96x = 468 and x=4.875
For the height:96x = 60 and x=0.625
But because PowerPoint doesn’t allow a slide side less than 1 in., multiply both by 2;
2x = 9.75
2x=1.25
This slide size of 9.75 inches wide and 1.25 inches high exports an image of exactly twice the size you want. Then, in your image editor, you can quickly resize it to 50%.
Some other sizes
You can use the same technique for other sizes. Here are some examples:
- For a 728 x 90 leaderboard, use a slide size of 8.09 x 1.
- For a 120 x 600 skyscraper, use a slide size of 1 (width) x 5 (height)
- For 160 x 600 skyscraper, use a slide size of 1 (width) x 3.75 (height)
Have you used PowerPoint to create website graphics? Have you been searching for an inexpensive solution for creating your own graphics? Leave a comment!
5 replies to "Use PowerPoint to create website banner ads"
Another fabulous tutorial Ellen! Thanks for posting this. I’m always amazed at how you can take anything and make it so clear.
Thanks, Phyllis, glad you liked it! I used to create ads in Flash, because it used pixels, but PowerPoint is much easier and has enough features for my artistic ability.
I must say WOW, after seeing some exclusive things about creating website banner ads. Thank you so so much, Ellen, Find some new ways for design with powerpoint.
I” want to create for some thing like this *1456*6545# for my self service to my clients to be able to purchase product while they are away.please help me guzy
Hi Ellen,
Website banner ads are really important for any kinds of website. But I wasn’t sure about page set up and size. Thanks for your kind information.