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Overview

Slide masters and layouts provide the template structure for presentations in python-pptx. A slide master defines the overall look and common elements, while slide layouts provide specific arrangements for different slide types.

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Key concepts

  • Slide master: The top-level template that defines fonts, colors, backgrounds, and common elements
  • Slide layout: A specific arrangement of placeholders that inherits from a slide master
  • Inheritance: Slides inherit appearance from their layout, which inherits from the slide master

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Accessing slide masters

A presentation can have multiple slide masters, though most presentations use a single master.

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Get the first slide master

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()
slide_master = prs.slide_master
The .slide_master property is a convenience for the common single-master case. It returns the first slide master in the presentation.

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Access all slide masters

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()
slide_masters = prs.slide_masters

# Iterate through all masters
for master in slide_masters:
    print(f"Master: {master.name}")

# Access by index
first_master = slide_masters[0]
The .slide_masters collection supports:
  • Indexed access: slide_masters[0]
  • Length: len(slide_masters)
  • Iteration: for master in slide_masters:

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Working with slide layouts

Each slide master contains a collection of slide layouts that define different slide arrangements.

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Access slide layouts

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()

# Get layouts from the first slide master
slide_layouts = prs.slide_layouts

# Or get layouts from a specific master
master = prs.slide_masters[0]
slide_layouts = master.slide_layouts

# Count available layouts
print(f"Available layouts: {len(slide_layouts)}")

# Iterate through layouts
for layout in slide_layouts:
    print(f"Layout: {layout.name}")

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Find a layout by name

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()
slide_layouts = prs.slide_layouts

# Get a specific layout by name
title_layout = slide_layouts.get_by_name('Title Slide')

if title_layout:
    slide = prs.slides.add_slide(title_layout)
The .get_by_name() method returns the layout if found, or None if not found.

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Create slides from layouts

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()
slide_layouts = prs.slide_layouts

# Use different layouts for different slide types
title_slide = prs.slides.add_slide(slide_layouts[0])  # Title layout
content_slide = prs.slides.add_slide(slide_layouts[1])  # Content layout
blank_slide = prs.slides.add_slide(slide_layouts[6])  # Blank layout

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Understanding inheritance

Slides inherit properties from their layout, which inherits from the slide master.

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Get the slide layout for a slide

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation('presentation.pptx')
slide = prs.slides[0]

# Check which layout the slide uses
layout = slide.slide_layout
print(f"Slide uses layout: {layout.name}")

# Get the master from the layout
master = layout.slide_master
print(f"Layout inherits from master: {master.name}")

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Background inheritance

Slides can inherit their background from the master or define a custom background. 
from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[0])

# Check if slide follows master background
if slide.follow_master_background:
    print("Slide inherits background from master")

# Interrupt inheritance (adds custom background)
slide.follow_master_background = False

# Restore inheritance (removes custom background)
slide.follow_master_background = True
Setting follow_master_background = False may add a default background if no custom background exists.

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Customizing master elements

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Access shapes on a slide master

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()
slide_master = prs.slide_master

# Access all shapes on the master
for shape in slide_master.shapes:
    print(f"Shape: {shape.name}")

# Access placeholders specifically
for placeholder in slide_master.placeholders:
    print(f"Placeholder idx={placeholder.placeholder_format.idx}")

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Modify master background

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches
from pptx.enum.dml import MSO_THEME_COLOR

prs = Presentation()
slide_master = prs.slide_master

# Set solid color background
background = slide_master.background
fill = background.fill
fill.solid()
fill.fore_color.theme_color = MSO_THEME_COLOR.ACCENT_1
Accessing the .fill property on a background can be destructive. It may remove existing background style references. Only use when you intend to modify the background.

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Removing slide layouts

You can remove unused slide layouts from a slide master. 
from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()
slide_master = prs.slide_master
slide_layouts = slide_master.slide_layouts

# Get a layout to remove
layout_to_remove = slide_layouts.get_by_name('Blank')

if layout_to_remove:
    # Check if layout is in use
    if not layout_to_remove.used_by_slides:
        slide_layouts.remove(layout_to_remove)
        print("Layout removed successfully")
    else:
        print(f"Cannot remove: layout used by {len(layout_to_remove.used_by_slides)} slides")
A layout that is used by one or more slides cannot be removed. The .remove() method raises ValueError if the layout is in use.

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Working with layout properties

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Get layout name and index

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()
slide_layouts = prs.slide_layouts

for idx, layout in enumerate(slide_layouts):
    print(f"Index {idx}: {layout.name}")
    
    # Find which slides use this layout
    slides_using_layout = layout.used_by_slides
    print(f"  Used by {len(slides_using_layout)} slides")

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Access layout placeholders

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation()
layout = prs.slide_layouts[1]

# Iterate through placeholders in the layout
for placeholder in layout.placeholders:
    ph_type = placeholder.placeholder_format.type
    idx = placeholder.placeholder_format.idx
    print(f"Placeholder type={ph_type}, idx={idx}")

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Best practices

Always create slides from appropriate layouts rather than blank slides. This ensures consistency across your presentation and makes it easier to apply theme changes.
Before removing a layout, check if it’s in use with .used_by_slides. Attempting to remove a layout in use will raise an error.
Accessing .background.fill can remove existing style references. Always test on a copy of your presentation first.
Use .get_by_name() with descriptive layout names rather than relying on numeric indices, which may vary between templates.

Working with slides

Learn how to create and manipulate slides

Shapes and placeholders

Understand placeholders and shape manipulation

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