Overview
Text slides are the backbone of most presentations. The pptx.dev API provides text layouts in one, two, and three-column configurations — each with optional titles, colored boxes, and background images.
Text Layout Categories
Single-Column Text (1x)
| Layout |
Description |
text-1x-left |
Single text block, left-aligned |
text-1x-center |
Single text block, centered |
text-1x-left-box |
Single text block inside a colored box |
text-1x-center-title-center |
Centered text with a centered title above |
text-1x-left-title-left |
Left text with a left title above |
Two-Column Text (2x)
| Layout |
Description |
text-2x-left |
Two side-by-side text blocks |
text-2x-center |
Two centered text blocks |
text-2x-vertical |
Two text blocks stacked vertically |
Three-Column Text (3x)
| Layout |
Description |
text-3x-left |
Three side-by-side text blocks |
text-3x-center |
Three centered text blocks |
Example: Two-Column Comparison
curl -X POST https://api.pptx.dev/v1/presentations \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"title": "Product Comparison",
"colorScheme": "slate-gray",
"fontScheme": "segoe-ui",
"slides": [
{
"layout": "text-2x-left",
"content": {
"heading": "Plan Comparison",
"items": [
{
"heading": "Starter Plan",
"body": "Up to 100 presentations per month. Basic color schemes. Email support."
},
{
"heading": "Pro Plan",
"body": "Unlimited presentations. Custom themes and fonts. Priority support."
}
]
}
}
]
}'
Example: Single-Column with Background Image
{
"layout": "text-1x-center-slideimage",
"content": {
"heading": "Our Mission",
"body": "We believe every team deserves beautiful presentations without spending hours in PowerPoint.",
"slideImage": "https://example.com/team-photo.jpg"
}
}
When to Use Each Layout
- 1x layouts — mission statements, key quotes, single talking points
- 2x layouts — comparisons, before/after, pros and cons
- 3x layouts — three pillars, feature breakdowns, process steps
Tips for Better Text Slides
- Keep text short. Each block should be 2-3 sentences max. Slides are not documents.
- Use headings. A clear heading per column helps the audience scan.
- Pair with color schemes. The right color scheme keeps text readable and on-brand.
Next Steps