T3 Technology Tips and Tricks
An Unusual Use of PowerPoint
In displaying pictures, it is often useful to place a related set of pictures on a single 8 ½” by 11″ piece of photo paper. A typical approach would be to open a blank Microsoft Word document and then place and resize the pictures as needed, adding text where appropriate. Sometimes, however, it is desirable to place the pictures on angles, so as to make the final product more interesting to the eye, in effect making a montage of the 
pictures. In order to rotate the pictures, it has been found that by placing them on a single PowerPoint slide, the pictures can each be variably rotated, producing a display that is very pleasing to the eye. To develop such a montage, open PowerPoint and from the Slide Layout menu, select a Content Layout that is blank. Format the background using Format-Background-Fill Effects-Two Colors (white and blue, for example), and then select a Shading style (Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal up, Diagonal down, From corner, and From title). Selecting “From title” provides an attractive location in the center for the title of the montage.
Then select and insert the pictures to be used. Resize and rotate as necessary to produce a montage that is attractive and interesting. The number of pictures will be greatly influenced by the sizes of the individuals in the pictures. Cropping can be very helpful in maintaining the visibility of the individuals in the pictures.
Decide what text will be used to title the montage and perhaps using WordArt, develop and place the text.
The more difficult task is then at hand-placing the pictures so as to produce the final product. It seems as if much trial and error comes into play at this point so as to allow the montage to tell the story that you desire.
Once the pictures and text have been positioned as desired, review your product one more time, and then print. In the PowerPoint print menu, you will be printing the only slide that you have produced.
This photo montage strategy could be used very effectively to record a class field trip, to honor students for class presentations, to report to parents about the range of work students have done, or for students to develop an attractive title page for a portfolio of their work. PowerPoint enables you or your students to create a very attractive and professional document to communicate high expectations, to honor students for their work and effort, and to generate excitement about what is happening in your classroom!
–Norman Bell, Co-Editor