🎨 PPTX Expert — PowerPoint Mastery + Design Principles

Expert-level PowerPoint engineering via

python-pptx

🧠 The McKinsey Slide Rules

1. One slide = one message — single clear takeaway in the title
2. Action titles, not topic titles — “Revenue grew 12% QoQ driven by e-commerce” NOT “Q4 Revenue”
3. 3-second rule — viewer grasps the point within 3 seconds
4. Visual hierarchy — size, weight, color, position create reading order
5. Less is more — every element earns its place or gets removed
6. 6×6 rule — max 6 bullets, max 6 words per bullet
7. No 3D effects — ever. Flat design only.

📐 Layout System

Slide Structure

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  TITLE BAR (0.2–0.8")  │ Date │  Action title   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                     │
│  CONTENT AREA (40-60px margins all sides)            │
│                                                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  FOOTER: Source | Page X of Y | Date                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Layout Templates

Position Constants (16:9 = 13.333×7.5")

from pptx.util import Inches
TITLE_POS      = (Inches(0.5), Inches(0.2), Inches(9), Inches(0.6))
SUBTITLE_POS   = (Inches(0.5), Inches(0.7), Inches(9), Inches(0.4))
FULL_CHART     = (Inches(0.5), Inches(1.3), Inches(12.3), Inches(5.5))
HALF_LEFT      = (Inches(0.5), Inches(1.3), Inches(6), Inches(5.5))
HALF_RIGHT     = (Inches(6.8), Inches(1.3), Inches(6), Inches(5.5))
DATE_POS       = (Inches(9.5), Inches(0.3), Inches(3.3), Inches(0.3))
FOOTNOTE_POS   = (Inches(0.5), Inches(7.0), Inches(8), Inches(0.3))

✏️ Typography Hierarchy

Pt(24)

.bold=True

Pt(14)

Pt(11)

Pt(9)

Pt(7)

Pt(7)

Pt(36)

Rules: Max 2 fonts per deck · Max 3 sizes per slide · Never all-caps body text · Line height 1.4-1.6 · Left-align body (center only titles)

🎨 Walmart Brand Palette (python-pptx)

from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor

WMT_BLUE    = RGBColor(0x00, 0x53, 0xE2)  # Primary
WMT_SPARK   = RGBColor(0xFF, 0xC2, 0x20)  # Accent (never for text—fails contrast)
WMT_GREEN   = RGBColor(0x2A, 0x87, 0x03)  # Success
WMT_RED     = RGBColor(0xEA, 0x11, 0x00)  # Danger
WMT_CYAN    = RGBColor(0x00, 0x96, 0xD6)  # Info
GRAY_160    = RGBColor(0x2E, 0x2F, 0x32)  # Primary text
GRAY_100    = RGBColor(0x74, 0x76, 0x7B)  # Secondary text
GRAY_50     = RGBColor(0xD9, 0xD9, 0xD9)  # Borders
GRAY_10     = RGBColor(0xF5, 0xF5, 0xF5)  # Subtle backgrounds
WHITE       = RGBColor(0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF)

CHART_PALETTE = [WMT_BLUE, WMT_SPARK, WMT_GREEN, WMT_CYAN,
                 RGBColor(0x76, 0x23, 0x8C), WMT_RED]
RAG_RED_BG    = RGBColor(0xFC, 0xE4, 0xE1)
RAG_YELLOW_BG = RGBColor(0xFF, 0xF4, 0xD4)
RAG_GREEN_BG  = RGBColor(0xE7, 0xF5, 0xE2)

📊 Charts (python-pptx API)

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.chart.data import CategoryChartData
from pptx.enum.chart import XL_CHART_TYPE, XL_LEGEND_POSITION, XL_MARKER_STYLE
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

prs = Presentation()
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[5])  # blank

data = CategoryChartData()
data.categories = ['Q1', 'Q2', 'Q3', 'Q4']
data.add_series('Revenue', (120, 135, 148, 162))
data.add_series('Target',  (130, 130, 140, 155))

chart_frame = slide.shapes.add_chart(
    XL_CHART_TYPE.COLUMN_CLUSTERED,
    Inches(0.5), Inches(1.5), Inches(9), Inches(5), data)
chart = chart_frame.chart

Supported types:

COLUMN_CLUSTERED/STACKED/STACKED_100

BAR_*

LINE/LINE_MARKERS/LINE_STACKED

PIE

DOUGHNUT

AREA/AREA_STACKED

XY_SCATTER/XY_SCATTER_LINES

BUBBLE

Essential styling:

# Legend
chart.has_legend = True
chart.legend.position = XL_LEGEND_POSITION.BOTTOM
chart.legend.include_in_layout = False
chart.legend.font.size = Pt(9)

# Axes
va = chart.value_axis
va.minimum_scale = 0; va.has_major_gridlines = True
va.major_gridlines.format.line.color.rgb = GRAY_50
va.major_gridlines.format.line.width = Pt(0.5)
va.tick_labels.font.size = Pt(8)
va.tick_labels.number_format = '#,##0'  # or '0.0%' for percentages
ca = chart.category_axis
ca.tick_labels.font.size = Pt(8)
ca.has_major_gridlines = False

# Series colors
for i, s in enumerate(chart.series):
    s.format.fill.solid()
    s.format.fill.fore_color.rgb = CHART_PALETTE[i % len(CHART_PALETTE)]
    s.has_data_labels = True
    s.data_labels.font.size = Pt(7)
    s.data_labels.number_format = '#,##0'
    s.data_labels.show_value = True

Line with markers:

series.format.line.width = Pt(2)

series.marker.style = XL_MARKER_STYLE.CIRCLE

series.marker.size = 8

Pie/Doughnut: Use

XL_CHART_TYPE.DOUGHNUT

point.format.fill.solid()

Replace existing chart data:

chart.replace_data(new_chart_data)

📝 Tables

table_shape = slide.shapes.add_table(5, 4,
    Inches(0.5), Inches(1.5), Inches(9), Inches(4))
table = table_shape.table
table.columns[0].width = Inches(2.5)

Cell styling utility:

from pptx.enum.text import PP_ALIGN

def style_cell(cell, text, bold=False, font_size=10,
               font_color=None, bg_color=None, alignment=None):
    cell.text = ""
    tf = cell.text_frame
    tf.word_wrap = True; tf.auto_size = None
    tf.margin_left = tf.margin_right = Pt(4)
    tf.margin_top = tf.margin_bottom = Pt(2)
    p = tf.paragraphs[0]
    run = p.add_run()
    run.text = str(text); run.font.size = Pt(font_size); run.font.bold = bold
    if font_color: run.font.color.rgb = font_color
    if alignment: p.alignment = alignment
    if bg_color: cell.fill.solid(); cell.fill.fore_color.rgb = bg_color

Design rules:

• Header row: blue.100 bg, white text, bold, centered
• Alternating rows: white / gray.10
• Right-align numbers (always) · Left-align text
• No vertical borders — horizontal rules only
• Max 8 columns × 12 rows per slide
• Consistent number formatting across columns

Cell borders (XML):

from pptx.oxml.ns import qn
from lxml import etree

def set_cell_border(cell, color="D9D9D9", width=12700):
    tc = cell._tc; tcPr = tc.get_or_add_tcPr()
    for edge in ['lnL', 'lnR', 'lnT', 'lnB']:
        ln = etree.SubElement(tcPr, qn(f'a:{edge}'))
        ln.set('w', str(width))
        sf = etree.SubElement(ln, qn('a:solidFill'))
        etree.SubElement(sf, qn('a:srgbClr')).set('val', color)

Merge cells:

table.cell(0, 1).merge(table.cell(0, 3))

Conditional formatting patterns (HTML reports):

<span class="px-2 py-1 rounded-full text-xs font-medium bg-green-50 text-green-700">On Track</span>
<span class="text-green-600">▲ 5.2%</span> | <span class="text-red-600">▼ 3.1%</span>
<td class="bg-green-50">98.5%</td>  <!-- heat-map cell -->

🔷 Shapes & Text Boxes

from pptx.enum.shapes import MSO_SHAPE

# Text box
txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(Inches(0.5), Inches(0.3), Inches(9), Inches(0.8))
tf = txBox.text_frame; tf.word_wrap = True
run = tf.paragraphs[0].add_run()
run.text = "Title"; run.font.size = Pt(24); run.font.bold = True
run.font.color.rgb = WMT_BLUE

# Callout box
shape = slide.shapes.add_shape(MSO_SHAPE.ROUNDED_RECTANGLE,
    Inches(0.5), Inches(6), Inches(4), Inches(0.8))
shape.fill.solid(); shape.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(0xF0, 0xF7, 0xFF)
shape.line.color.rgb = WMT_BLUE; shape.line.width = Pt(1)

# RAG indicator
def add_rag_indicator(slide, left, top, color, label, value):
    c = slide.shapes.add_shape(MSO_SHAPE.OVAL, left, top, Inches(0.4), Inches(0.4))
    c.fill.solid(); c.fill.fore_color.rgb = color; c.line.fill.background()
    t = slide.shapes.add_textbox(left-Inches(0.3), top+Inches(0.45), Inches(1), Inches(0.5))
    r = t.text_frame.paragraphs[0].add_run()
    r.text = f"{label}\n{value}"; r.font.size = Pt(8)

Shape usage rules: Consistent border-radius · Subtle shadows only · Max 3 shape types/slide · Shapes must contain content (no decoration)

🖼️ Images & Logos

slide.shapes.add_picture('chart.png', Inches(0.5), Inches(1.5), Inches(8), Inches(4.5))

# From matplotlib BytesIO
import io; buf = io.BytesIO()
fig.savefig(buf, format='png', dpi=150, bbox_inches='tight'); buf.seek(0)
slide.shapes.add_picture(buf, Inches(0.5), Inches(1.5), Inches(8), Inches(4.5))

🔧 Slide Basics

# Layouts: 0=Title, 1=Title+Content, 5=Blank, 6=Title Only
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[5])

# Dimensions (16:9 default)
prs.slide_width = Inches(13.333); prs.slide_height = Inches(7.5)

# Find shape by name or text
def find_shape(slide, name=None, text_contains=None):
    for s in slide.shapes:
        if name and s.name == name: return s
        if text_contains and s.has_text_frame and text_contains.lower() in s.text_frame.text.lower(): return s

# Inventory all shapes
def inventory_slide(slide):
    return [{'name': s.name, 'type': s.shape_type, 'left': s.left, 'top': s.top,
             'has_table': s.has_table, 'has_chart': s.has_chart,
             'text': s.text_frame.text[:100] if s.has_text_frame else None} for s in slide.shapes]

🧩 MBR Slide Composition Patterns

Executive Summary

┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Executive Summary: [Period] Performance    │
├───────┬───────┬───────┬─────────────────┤
│ KPI1  │ KPI2  │ KPI3  │ KPI4            │
│$14.2M │ 98.5% │ 1.2M  │ 4.3★            │
│▲12.3% │▲ 0.5% │▼ 2.1% │▲ 0.2            │
├───────┴───────┴───────┴─────────────────┤
│ Key Insights:                              │
│ • Insight 1 with supporting data             │
│ • Insight 2 with action required              │
└───────────────────────────────────────────┘

MBR Engine Integration

• src/slide_assembler.py

  — scorecard table population

• src/appendix_assembler.py

  — appendix slides

• src/pptx_analyzer.py

  — design audit + chart generation

• config.py

  — RAG_COLORS, METRIC_THRESHOLDS

When modifying MBR slides:

1. Read template with

   Presentation(template_path)

2. Use dynamic shape discovery (don't hardcode indices)
3. Preserve threshold cells (cols 1-3 on detail slides)
4. Carry RAG colors from detail → overview
5. Update "Data as of:" with snapshot date
6. Add slide numbers + CONFIDENTIAL watermark

Brand Compliance Checklist

• blue.100 for main data + headers
• spark.100 as accent only (never for text)
• Text contrast ≥4.5:1
• No gradients on data elements
• Source attribution on every data slide
• Date/period clearly labeled
• Consistent rounded corners