How to Apply Themes to PowerPoint Presentations

Overview

A theme bundles a color scheme, font scheme, and background style into one preset. Instead of configuring each visual element separately, set a single theme parameter and get a polished, cohesive presentation.

Available Themes

Theme slug	Color scheme	Font	Background	Best for
`minimal`	Cool Horizon	Aptos	Dark	Clean tech decks, modern SaaS
`classic`	Cool Horizon	Tenorite	Light	Corporate reports, board decks
`dark`	Boost	Seaford	Dark	Product launches, keynotes
`bold`	Burnt Orange	Impact	Light	Sales pitches, marketing

Using a Theme

Pass the theme slug in your API request:

curl -X POST https://api.pptx.dev/v1/presentations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "title": "Product Launch",
    "theme": "dark",
    "slides": [
      {
        "layout": "title-center",
        "content": {
          "heading": "Introducing pptx.dev",
          "subheading": "PowerPoint generation for developers"
        }
      },
      {
        "layout": "list-3x-title-center",
        "content": {
          "heading": "Why Developers Love It",
          "items": [
            { "heading": "One API Call", "body": "Generate a full .pptx in seconds" },
            { "heading": "Native Output", "body": "Real PowerPoint files, fully editable" },
            { "heading": "No Design Needed", "body": "Themes handle the visual design for you" }
          ]
        }
      }
    ]
  }'

Theme vs. Manual Color + Font

Approach	When to use
`theme` parameter	Quick start, general-purpose presentations
`colorScheme` + `fontScheme`	Custom branding, specific design requirements

If you set a theme and also set colorScheme or fontScheme, the explicit values override the theme defaults. This lets you start from a theme and customize selectively.

Choosing the Right Theme

Minimal — Best for SaaS product decks and technical presentations. The dark background and clean Aptos font keep focus on content.
Classic — Best for corporate settings, investor updates, and board presentations. Light background conveys professionalism.
Dark — Best for product launches and keynotes. High contrast with Seaford font creates visual energy.
Bold — Best for sales and marketing. Impact font and Burnt Orange colors demand attention.

Background Styles

Each theme sets a default background:

Light backgrounds (light1) — white or near-white, professional, easy to print
Dark backgrounds (dark1, dark2) — dark gray or black, modern, screen-optimized

The background style ensures text colors automatically adjust for readability.

Next Steps

Customize colors with color schemes
Fine-tune typography with font schemes
Browse all themes in the gallery