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Google Slides Guides

Google Slides book template

Learn how to create a digital book in Google Slides. Follow step-by-step guidance on setting page size, using templates, theme layouts, and exporting to PDF.

Draw Editorial Team8 min read

Creating a digital book with Google Slides requires converting the standard landscape presentation canvas into a portrait or square book page, configuring master theme layouts, and arranging pages into a neat reading flow. Unlike traditional slide presentations, this guide walks through book sizing, template management, page numbering, and PDF export workflows directly using official desktop web interface steps.

Decision Processes and Prerequisites in Digital Book Design

When preparing a digital book in the Google Slides web interface, the first stage involves deciding on page orientation and dimensions. While standard presentations use landscape screen ratios, digital books are generally constructed using portrait A4 or custom measurements suited to portable screens.

Before getting started, you must be signed in via a browser using a standard Google Account or Google Workspace account. Page design should be carried out in a desktop browser. The format (.gif, .jpg, or .png) and file size (under 50 MB) of any background or content images to be used in the book must be checked beforehand; official guides explicitly state that background images must not exceed these limits Use a Template or change the theme, background, or layout in Google Slides.

Depending on the book's structure, you should plan for single-column plain text or a multi-column magazine layout. For similar page design principles, you can also draw on the layout logic outlined in our resources on creating a brochure in Google Slides and preparing a school yearbook with Google Slides.

Adjusting the Page Size to Book Format

When a new presentation is opened, Google Slides starts by default in a widescreen (16:9) layout. To adjust this to a portrait or custom book size, follow these steps:

  1. On your computer, create a new presentation from the Google Slides home screen, or open a blank file directly using slides.google.com/create Create your first presentation in Slides - Google Help.
  2. From the top menu, click File > Page setup Change the size of your slides.
  3. Select Custom from the drop-down list Change the size of your slides.
  4. Choose one of the measurement units from centimeters, inches, points, or pixels; for a standard portrait A4 book, enter the width as 21 cm and height as 29.7 cm, then click OK Change the size of your slides.

This process converts the entire slide canvas in the file into a portrait book page. Because the proportions of existing objects and layouts may be altered, completing this sizing step before creating any page content is recommended.

Template Selection and Pre-Designed Layouts

Rather than designing a book from scratch, you can also take advantage of ready-made template structures. Google Slides supports template collections containing predefined themes, layouts, backgrounds, fonts, and color schemes Use a Template or change the theme, background, or layout in Google Slides.

Configuring Theme and Layout Structures

To ensure consistent margins, heading hierarchy, and page structure across every page of your book, you need to customize the master slide theme:

  1. From the top menu, navigate to Slide > Edit theme Use a Template or change the theme, background, or layout in Google Slides.
  2. Click the Colors tab to define your color palette; using the drop-down menu under "Theme colors" in the right-hand panel, configure default or custom hexadecimal (hex) colors Use a Template or change the theme, background, or layout in Google Slides.
  3. Prepare layouts for different page types: Cover Page, Table of Contents, Chapter Opener, and Text Page. Position text boxes so they remain inset from the page edges.
  4. To assign a background color or image, navigate to Slide > Change background, then click Done to assign the chosen color or image to a single slide, or Add to theme to apply it across the entire book Use a Template or change the theme, background, or layout in Google Slides.
  5. Close the theme editor panel to return to the workspace. When adding a new page, you can assign one of your prepared book layouts by clicking the Layout button on the toolbar Use a Template or change the theme, background, or layout in Google Slides.

Concrete Example: 'Introduction to AI' Booklet Layout

In this hypothetical example, suppose we are assembling an educational, fictional 12-page digital book titled 'Introduction to AI Handbook':

  • Slide 1: Cover page. On a canvas configured with Page Setup at 21 x 29.7 cm, add a background image, a large-font book title, and the author's name.
  • Slide 2: Imprint and copyright information. A small-font text box placed in the bottom-left corner.
  • Slide 3: Table of contents. Chapters are listed by adding shapes and text boxes from the Insert menu Create your first presentation in Slides - Google Help.
  • Slide 4-11: Chapter bodies. Each page features a running header, a two-column text box, and a page number.
  • Slide 12: Back cover. A brief summary blurb and contact details.

Once this framework is established, you can complete your pages by adding slide numbers, shapes, and images from the Insert menu Create your first presentation in Slides - Google Help.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Text Box Overflow: The Google Slides text editor does not automatically generate a new slide or page when a text box becomes full. For lengthy passages, you must manually move the overflow text into a text box on the next slide.
  • Image Size and Format Errors: When inserting background or on-page images, ensure the file format is .gif, .jpg, or .png and that the file size does not exceed the 50 MB limit; otherwise, the image cannot be uploaded Use a Template or change the theme, background, or layout in Google Slides.
  • Missing Template Menu: The organizational template button appears only if relevant templates have been configured by your administrator Create your first presentation in Slides - Google Help. If templates do not show up on individual accounts, you can create your own manual template by opening a blank presentation and setting the page setup to portrait Use templates.
  • Organizing Pages: To adjust the order of pages, drag slides in the left sidebar; to move multiple slides, hold down the Ctrl key while selecting; to delete, right-click and choose Delete; or select Duplicate slide to copy them Create your first presentation in Slides - Google Help.

Verification and Export Checklist

Before distributing your digital book to readers, complete these verification steps:

Does text flow automatically from page to page in Google Slides?

No. Because Google Slides is not a word processor, text does not flow automatically onto a new page when it reaches the bottom of a slide. Each book page must be inserted as an independent slide, new slides must be created via the Slide menu or the New slide button in the left panel, and text boxes must be split across pages manually Create your first presentation in Slides - Google Help.

Can a digital book be downloaded directly as a PDF?

Yes. By navigating to File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf) in the Google Slides menu, you can download your finished book to your computer as a single PDF file Google Slides cheat sheet - Google Workspace Learning Center. When opened in a desktop browser or reader, each slide in the PDF file functions as an individual book page.

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