How to Black Out a PowerPoint
By Tricia Goss
During a PowerPoint presentation, clients or staff members may have specific questions or you may wish to clarify a point before continuing with the slide show. Rather than simply pausing the PowerPoint on the current slide, which can be distracting, you can black out the screen until you are ready to resume. There are three simple ways to do so, as well as three means of reinstating the slide show.
Right-click anywhere on the presentation. Point to "Screen" and select "Black Screen." Resume the presentation by right-clicking the screen, pointing to "Screen" and selecting "Unblack Screen."
Press the "B" key, which is a keyboard shortcut for blacking out the PowerPoint screen. Pressing "B" again will restart the slide show.
Press the "." (period) key, which is a keyboard shortcut for blacking out the PowerPoint screen. Pressing "." again will restart the slide show.
Tips
All three methods are interchangeable for blacking out and unblacking the screen. For instance, you can press the "B" key to black out the screen and then right-click the screen, point to "Screen" and select "Unblack Screen" to resume.
References
Writer Bio
Tricia Goss' credits include Fitness Plus, Good News Tucson and Layover Magazine. She is certified in Microsoft application and served as the newsletter editor for OfficeUsers.org. She has also contributed to The Dollar Stretcher, Life Tips and Childcare Magazine.