Overview

Text slides are the backbone of most presentations. OPF offers adaptive prose, two-column and grid layouts. Each uses typed content blocks, with slide design settings for alignment, cards and backgrounds.

Text Layout Choices

Layout IDs express intent. Use slide design settings for alignment and cards, or a content group’s composition for a specific row or column arrangement.

Example: Two-Column Comparison

Use this complete OPF document with the complete authenticated API recipe, which saves the response bytes as a .pptx file.

{
  "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
  "name": "Product Comparison",
  "slides": [
    {
      "layout": "text",
      "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": {
    "default": {
      "source": "https://www.pptx.gallery",
      "colorSchemes": {
        "slate-gray": {
          "name": "Slate Gray",
          "summary": "Neutral gray palette for understated executive communication.",
          "description": "A disciplined gray scale with strong neutral contrast. Use it when the content should feel calm, mature, and analytical.",
          "accent1": "#9E9E9E",
          "accent2": "#424242",
          "accent3": "#616161",
          "accent4": "#757575",
          "accent5": "#9E9E9E",
          "accent6": "#212121",
          "dark1": "#000000",
          "dark2": "#1B1B1B",
          "light1": "#FFFFFF",
          "light2": "#F8F8F8",
          "hyperlink": "#212121",
          "followedHyperlink": "#424242",
          "tags": [
            "neutral",
            "minimal",
            "mature",
            "analytical",
            "restrained"
          ]
        }
      },
      "fontSchemes": {
        "segoe-ui": {
          "name": "Segoe UI",
          "major": "Segoe UI Semibold",
          "minor": "Segoe UI",
          "type": "sans-serif",
          "app": "powerpoint",
          "languageFamily": "latin",
          "languages": [],
          "textSample": "Modern interface font",
          "description": "Segoe UI is a sans serif OPF font scheme for Latin presentations, using Segoe UI Semibold for headings with Segoe UI for body text."
        }
      },
      "layouts": {
        "text": {
          "name": "Text",
          "summary": "Prose. Several blocks sit side by side when short and stack when long.",
          "tags": [
            "Text"
          ],
          "direction": "column",
          "regions": [
            {
              "name": "title"
            },
            {
              "name": "body",
              "accepts": [
                "text",
                "list",
                "quote",
                "code",
                "group"
              ],
              "role": "primary",
              "flow": "auto"
            }
          ],
          "description": "Explain one idea in continuous prose. Use paragraphs or flowing blocks for detail that needs to be read in sequence.",
          "preview": {
            "vectorSrc": "https://www.pptx.gallery/layout-previews/text.svg"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Example: Single-Column with Background Image

{
  "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
  "name": "Our Mission",
  "slides": [
    {
      "layout": "text",
      "title": "Our Mission",
      "text": "We believe every team deserves beautiful presentations without spending hours in PowerPoint.",
      "design": {
        "contentAlignment": "center",
        "background": {
          "type": "image",
          "src": "https://example.com/team-photo.jpg"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "catalogs": {
    "default": {
      "source": "https://www.pptx.gallery",
      "layouts": {
        "text": {
          "name": "Text",
          "summary": "Prose. Several blocks sit side by side when short and stack when long.",
          "tags": [
            "Text"
          ],
          "direction": "column",
          "regions": [
            {
              "name": "title"
            },
            {
              "name": "body",
              "accepts": [
                "text",
                "list",
                "quote",
                "code",
                "group"
              ],
              "role": "primary",
              "flow": "auto"
            }
          ],
          "description": "Explain one idea in continuous prose. Use paragraphs or flowing blocks for detail that needs to be read in sequence.",
          "preview": {
            "vectorSrc": "https://www.pptx.gallery/layout-previews/text.svg"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

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