Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 Version Overview
If you're considering upgrading to Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 before attending a training course or arranging custom training, check out this list of some of the new features in PowerPoint 2013.
If you are using PowerPoint 2016 or considering upgrading to PowerPoint 2016, see the Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 Overview.
Are you working on PowerPoint 2010? Check out new features in the Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Overview.
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Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 New Features
Applies to: Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 for Windows
The following are some of the key new features available in Microsoft PowerPoint 2013.
Default Widescreen Format
In PowerPoint 2013, the default format is widescreen or 16:9. However, if you're printing slides, they won't convert to print as 1 slide per page as easily as the 4:3 size (Microsoft recommends printing widescreen 2 slides per page).
There are a number of widescreen templates that are included with PowerPoint 2013. Also, if you switch from 4:3 to widescreen, graphics will need to be resized. It's best to start in widescreen if that is how you intend to run your presentation.
Enhanced Theme Options
There are new theme options or variations in PowerPoint 2013. Click on the Design tab on the Ribbon and you'll be able to choose between different themes and variations.
New Animations
PowerPoint 2013 features four new animations. There are two new entrance effects and two new exit effects.
Compress is available as an entrance and exit effect. There is also a Stretch entrance and a Collapse exit effect.
New Slide Transitions
There are 11 new transitions and Microsoft has brought back the random transition option.
The new transitions are:
- Fracture
- Crush
- Peel Off
- Fall Over
- Drape
- Curtains
- Page Curl
- Airplane
- Origami
- Wind
- Prestige
- Random
Improved Presenter View
In PowerPoint 2013, the improved Presenter View allows you to easily view the current slide, the notes for your current slide and a preview of the next slide. This view is seen only by the presenter while the audience views the current slide.
To launch Presenter View, press Alt + F5 to start your presentation from the beginning in Presenter View or press Alt + Shift + ALT + F5 to start Presenter View at the current slide.
You now also have a variety of options in Presenter View – a laser pointer / pen / highlighter, slide sorter, zoom and an option to switch between black screen and the current slide.
New Video and Audio Formats and Features
PowerPoint 2013 has a number of newly-supported audio and video formats that can now be viewed in PowerPoint without having to download other applications (such as QuickTime). The ability to include MP4 videos which play smoothly without adding QuickTime is a great improvement for those using video.
The following video formats are now supported in 2013 (the default is MP4):
- MP4 video file (.mp4, .m4v, .mov)
- Windows media file (.asf)
- Windows video file (.avi)
- Movie file (.mpg or .mpeg)
- Adobe Flash media (.swf)
- Windows media video file (.wmv)
The following audio formats are now supported in 2013:
- AIFF audio file (.aiff)
- AU audio file (.au)
- MIDI file (.mid or .midi)
- MP3 audio file (.mp3)
- MPEG-4 audio file (.m4a, .mp4)
- Windows audio file (.wav)
- Windows media audio file (.wma)
Feature enhancements include:
- Music can be played in the background easily with the Play in background feature.
- You can now drag and drop media files from folders directly into a presentation.
- In 2013, you can also export PowerPoint presentations to MP4 video instead of just Windows media video (wmv).
Match Colours using the Eye Dropper Tool
You can now match colours with the Eye Dropper tool. This tool allows you to pick up a color from another object and paste it to a different object.
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Check out our blog for more PowerPoint tips, tricks and shortcuts.
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Related courses
Microsoft PowerPoint: Introduction
Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers
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