So You Want to Show a Slideshow During Your Event at the North Garden Theater?
- Ryan North
- Aug 20, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 21
Absolutely! Sideshows are a great way to share some memories with your guests. The North Garden Theater has a ceiling mounted projector that shoots a 12-15' wide image at our back wall behind the stage. Sideshows usually happen in the background during some or most of the event. You let us know when you want the slideshow to be playing. We usually recommend shutting the slideshow down if you have a dance portion of your event with louder music as we prefer to close the curtain.
UPDATE (6/21/25): We've added another great method to create a slideshow at the NGT!
We use t̶w̶o̶ three methods that allow you to create your slideshow at home on your own schedule and easily and seamlessly share it with us at the North Garden Theater. The first two solutions are "Google" based applications. The first one is Google Photos and the second one is Google Slides. Both will require you to have an account with Google. Next, we'll share the "how tos" of each online method / application.
GOOGLE PHOTOS
Google Photos say they are "the home for all your photos and videos, automatically organized and easy to share." They are right! They do make it easy.
To create a slideshow on your desktop computer, first, open a web browser and launch the Google Photos site. Sign in to your account on the site if you haven’t already.
If you're starting from scratch, you'll need to upload your photos. You may already have photos there that you want to use or add to. You'll find the Up-load link in the upper right hand corner of your screen. Use that to get your photos uploaded.
Next, we suggest you create an album that you will decide which photos you'll want to include in the slideshow. To do this, click on the Albums link on the left hand side then click on the "CREATE ALBUM" link near the top right hand side of the page. Give your album a name and then add photos (follow the prompts on the screen)
Once you have your album you can test / view it by clicking on the three dots in the upper right hand corner. In the menu that opens, click “Slideshow” to test / view your slideshow. Your browser will go full screen and your slideshow will start playing. You can stop the slideshow at any time by pressing the Esc key on your keyboard.
Now you're ready to share your slideshow with the North Garden Theater. When you're in your album, click on the share icon (it looks like the "less than" symbol with dots attached). In the "To" field, type northgardentheater@gmail.com Our name and logo should pop up underneath, click it to select it.
Finally, hit the blue arrow to share with us.
GOOGLE SLIDES
The second method of creating a slideshow is a little more like a traditional power point experience. Except for you'll use Google Slides instead of Microsoft PowerPoint. Again, you'll need a Google Account.
To create a slideshow via Google Slides, first, open a web browser and launch the Google Slides site. Sign in to your account on the site if you haven’t already.
Go to Slides and click on the colorful + sign to start a new blank presentation. This will launch the slide creator.
Click near the upper left hand corner where it says "Untitled Presentation" to give your Slideshow a name and hit enter.
Get rid of the title and sub-title boxes by clicking on their box/frames. Selecting them will turn them blue. Then hit your delete or backspace key to get rid of each one.
On the right hand side, you'll find themes. You'll want to select the second one down which is called Simple Dark. This will make the background of your slides black which shows up the best at the North Garden Theater.
You're now ready to create your first slide out of many. Click on INSERT in the top menu, then float your mouse over the word IMAGE, then choose which method you want to use to get your photo there. You'll probably be uploading from your computer.
Once your image has been inserted on the slide, make sure it's centered. Drag and drop it in the center of the slide.
To create your next slide, go to the top left hand corner and click on the + underneath the Google Slides Logo. This will load your next slide. The "Click to add title" and "Click to add text" won't show up unless you click on them and want to add a title or text.
Repeat steps 6 through 8 to continue adding slides.
When you're ready to share it with us, click on the SHARE button in the upper right hand corner. Share it with northgardentheater@gmail.com
NEW METHOD: CANVA
Our new Slideshow creation tool is a design platform called CANVA. Canva is a fantastic, user-friendly platform for creating all sorts of designs, including engaging slideshows. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating your slideshow and sharing it with us at North Garden Theater. We also like it for its innovative slideshow control that allows you to snap a QR code and turn your mobile device into a remote control.
Part 1: Creating a Canva Account (If You Don't Have One)
If you already have a Canva account, you can skip to Part 2.
Go to the Canva Website: Open your web browser and go to www.canva.com.
Click "Sign Up": In the top right corner of the homepage, you’ll see a "Sign up" button. Click it.
Choose Your Sign-Up Method: Canva offers several options:
Continue with Google: If you have a Google account, this is often the quickest way to sign up.
Continue with Facebook: You can also use your Facebook account.
Continue with email: If you prefer, enter your email address, create a password, and then confirm your email (you’ll receive a verification email).
Follow the Prompts: Canva may ask about your purpose for using it (e.g., personal, small business). Select the option that best describes you. You can usually skip any offers for a free trial of Canva Pro if you want to stick with the free version.
You're In! Once you've completed the sign-up, you’ll be taken to your Canva homepage.
Part 2: Creating Your Canva Slideshow
Now that you're in Canva, let's create your slideshow!
Start a New Design:
On the Canva homepage, click the "Create a design" button in the top right corner.
In the dropdown menu, search for or select "Presentation." Canva will open a new, blank design for you.
Choose a Template (Recommended for Beginners):
On the left-hand sidebar, you’ll see a "Templates" tab. Click on it.
Browse through the wide variety of presentation templates. You can search for specific themes (e.g., "photo slideshow," "event presentation").
Tip: Look for templates marked "Free" if you don't have a Canva Pro subscription.
When you find a template you like, click on it. You’ll then have the option to "Apply all [number] pages" or apply individual pages. Applying all pages is a good option for a quick start.
Customize Your Slides:
Text: To edit existing text, double-click on the text box and type your new content. To add new text, click the "Text" tab on the left and choose a style. Drag and drop it onto your slide. Use the toolbar at the top to change font, size, color, and more.
Images and Graphics:
Upload Your Own: Click the "Uploads" tab, then "Upload files" to add images from your computer. Once uploaded, drag them onto your slides.
Canva's Library: Click the "Elements" tab for a collection of photos, graphics, shapes, icons, and more. Search for what you need and drag it onto your slide.
Elements: Explore the "Elements" tab for shapes, lines, stickers, charts, frames, and more to enhance your slides.
Background: Click on the "Design" tab and then "Background" to choose a new background color, gradient, or image.
Pages:
To add a new slide, click the "Add page" button below your current slide or at the bottom of the editor.
To delete a slide, click the trash can icon that appears when you hover over a slide.
To reorder slides, click and drag them.
Add Animation and Transitions (Optional):
Element Animation: Click on any element (text, image) on your slide. Click "Animate" in the top toolbar to choose an animation style.
Page Transitions: Between slides, you’ll see a small "+" icon. Click it and then "Add transition" to choose how one slide moves into the next.
Add Audio (Optional):
Click the "Audio" tab on the left-hand sidebar.
Browse or search for music tracks. Drag a track onto your timeline (at the bottom of the editor).
Preview Your Slideshow:
Click the "Present" button in the top right corner of the editor.
Choose "Standard" to see how your slideshow will look.
Part 3: Sharing Your Slideshow with North Garden Theater
Once your slideshow is ready to be shared with us for editing, here's how to send it:
Click "Share" Button: In the top right corner of the Canva editor, click the prominent "Share" button.
Invite People to Your Design:
A sharing window will pop up. In the "Invite people" field, type in our email address: info at northgardentheater dot com (please reformat the email to a regular email format)
After typing the email address, click the dropdown menu next to it (it usually defaults to "Can view").
Crucially, select "Can edit" from the options. This will give North Garden Theater full access to make changes to your slideshow.
Click the "Send" button.
Canva will then send an email invitation to info at northgardentheater.com allowing us to access and edit the slideshow directly from our Canva account.
Some things to remember about your slideshow.
In most cases, you can still edit your slideshow after you've shared it. Your changes will reflect in the shared version.
Please share your slideshow with the North Garden Theater at least a few days in advance of your event.
Please do not bring your photos on a flash drive, CD, or other separate medium.
Sometimes, we can open a Microsoft PowerPoint, but it does not always transition well.
There you have it! We hope you enjoyed this tutorial. We look forward to seeing your slideshow bring smiles to your face and the faces of your guests!
