The Differences Between a Powerpoint Template & a Powerpoint Background

Microsoft PowerPoint backgrounds and templates are two different things. A template provides the presenter with a PowerPoint format that can be applied to numerous presentations. A background formats the background of one slide or all of the slides in a single presentation. Backgrounds can be applied to a presentation, which can then be saved as a template for future use. PowerPoint also provides users with another formatting tool similar to templates and backgrounds called themes. Themes take templates a step further by providing preformatted styles.

Backgrounds
PowerPoint uses a feature called "Backgrounds" to add pictures, clip art, watermarks, textures, color or gradient of colors to customize a slide. Backgrounds always appear behind text and objects in the slide and cannot be brought forward using the arrange command. Creating backgrounds is easy; the user simply right-clicks on a blank area of the slide and selects "Format Background." From there, the user applies the desired format and selects whether to apply to just the one slide or to all slides in the presentation.

Templates Templates in PowerPoint take backgrounds and go one step further. Users can save a background as a template to apply for future use and also save as a template any formatting of text and any objects added to their presentation. Basically, a template is formatted content and text placeholders.

Not only can users make their own templates, but PowerPoint comes with many pre-formatted templates, as well. To avoid having to apply formatting to all the content in every slide, users should perform the bulk of the formatting in the Slide Master found on the View tab.
 
Saving a Background as a Template Once the background is complete with formatted text placeholders and content, then it is ready to be saved as a template. When saving, the user selects "PowerPoint Template" (.potx) file type. Templates are found under the New menu when creating a new presentation. PowerPoint templates are located by selecting "Installed Templates." Users find custom templates under "My Templates." After being applied, users can customize the template further by adding text and content to the slide show. More templates are available at Microsoft Office Online (see Resources).
 
Themes PowerPoint themes are often confused with templates. However, themes are the easiest and the quickest way to format a presentation. Themes provide consistent formatting of text, backgrounds, images, tables, smart art, charts and other objects. They also provide a professional look and feel to a presentation. Users can customize themes by changing the color scheme, which changes the colors of the font, the background, background images and other objects. Themes are found on the Design tab and more can be found at Microsoft Online (see Resources).