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)

Two-Column Text (2x)

Three-Column Text (3x)

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 '{
  "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
  "name": "Product Comparison",
  "slides": [
    {
      "layout": "text-2x-left",
      "title": "Plan Comparison",
      "blocks": [
        {
          "text": "Starter Plan\n\nUp to 100 presentations per month. Basic color schemes. Email support."
        },
        {
          "text": "Pro Plan\n\nUnlimited presentations. Custom themes and fonts. Priority support."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "design": {
    "colorScheme": "slate-gray",
    "fontScheme": "segoe-ui"
  },
  "catalogs": {
    "layouts": {
      "records": [
        {
          "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf-layout/v1",
          "id": "text-2x-left",
          "name": "Text 2x Left",
          "placeholders": [
            {
              "type": "text"
            },
            {
              "type": "text"
            }
          ],
          "composition": {
            "mode": "row"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}'

Example: Single-Column with Background Image

{
  "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
  "name": "Our Mission",
  "slides": [
    {
      "layout": "text-1x-center-slideimage",
      "title": "Our Mission",
      "text": "We believe every team deserves beautiful presentations without spending hours in PowerPoint.",
      "design": {
        "contentAlignment": "center",
        "slideImage": {
          "src": "https://example.com/team-photo.jpg",
          "position": "background"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "catalogs": {
    "layouts": {
      "records": [
        {
          "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf-layout/v1",
          "id": "text-1x-center-slideimage",
          "name": "Text 1x Center SlideImage",
          "placeholders": [
            {
              "type": "text"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

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

1. Keep text short. Each block should be 2-3 sentences max. Slides are not documents.
2. Use headings. A clear heading per column helps the audience scan.
3. Pair with color schemes. The right color scheme keeps text readable and on-brand.

Next Steps

• Add data with KPI number slides
• Style with color schemes
• Browse all text layouts in the gallery