How to Create Screensavers in PowerPoint
Yes, SCREENSAVERS. It’s perhaps a bit dated? All the more so since the migration to work from home since 2020.
Even so, being able to Create Screensavers in PowerPoint is a great idea!
And if a screensaver is created in PowerPoint then it can be edited by anyone in your team. That’s value for money, and probably “agile” too. That word gets bandied about so we’re gonna bandy it some more.
Screensavers work brilliantly for company-wide internal messages, non-critical updates, reminders of best practice etc. You can keep staff up-to-date with any data, targets or fun stuff that you want to share around the company.
So how do you create screensavers in PowerPoint? Here are 3 options:
1. The Simple PowerPoint to Screensaver Method:
This works well with static slides. Simply save your whole presentation as a series of jpegs (PPT will do the whole deck for you when you Save As… and choose jpeg). All your images will go into one new folder automatically created by PowerPoint.
Then go to your Screensaver Options on your desktop, choose the “Gallery” / “Slideshow” option. Navigate to the new folder with your jpegs and you’re done! (You can also set the timing for changing each image).
Simple, but the result is also simple.
2. The Advanced PowerPoint to Screensaver Method:
For a more cinematic end result, you’ll just need a conversion software (or two) to assist the process. In the past we’ve used iSpringPro with InstantStorm, but pptfaq lists a few others you could try.
Simply put, convert the PPT into a Flash file. [er, hold the phone! Flash? Does that work anymore? hmm. Well it did in 2017…] then we turn the Flash file into an SCR. This works perfectly and keeps all your PowerPoint animation effects. The software is simple to use and you can play around with the export settings to get the best result.
Step 1. Use the iSpring converter plugin: to export the presentation as SWF flash file.
Step 2. We then used InstantStorm instantstorm.com, and imported the SWF file, then published as an SCR. (InstantStorm is a Freeware Flash screensaver creator!)
Step 3. The SCR file can be browsed for when applying a new screensaver.
End result: animations to engage, grab attention and entertain.
Edit: this method isn’t going to be your first choice. We haven’t done new research, but both iSpring and PresentationPoint both have more up-to-date solutions. Read on!
3. Install MessagePoint:
Let’s rewind. Once you have created your PowerPoint screensaver, no need to even convert it into a SCR file. Instead, you can install MessagePoint, and host your presentation (per department) on a file server. The software MessagePoint then kicks in, downloads the server side PowerPoint locally, and runs the slideshow directly and without conversion as a screensaver.
MessagePoint: https://www.presentationpoint.com/software/messagepoint/
Each time it starts, it first checks if there is a newer server side file. So you can be sure your teams have the latest information. It can even link to an RSS feed for “live information”
MessagePoint can also be used to centrally control exactly who is viewing what.
As well as screensavers, you can use MessagePoint to control the windows logon picture, backgrounds of computers (optional of course). For example, your organisation might want to place a quote or KPI on employee’s desktops.
Good luck! We hope this helps you!
If you need our assistance to help you convert your PowerPoint into a screensaver like the one below: just ask!
