How to create my own LaTeX Beamer theme?

[Amanheis]

Hi there,
I'm sure many of you use the LaTeX beamer class to create their presentations. I love it and find it highly superior to, say, power point or open office. The presentations are always visually appealing, elegant and consistent.
But one minor thing is bothering me: They all look the same! When we have a seminar at school where everyone has to give a talk, you see the same themes at 50% of the time.

Does anyone know a tutorial or something on how to modify existing themes so I can give my presentation a touch of uniqueness? Maybe by designing the colors according to the website of the institution I'm with, so in my case the right touch of red and yellow, like here: http://www.physik.uni-heidelberg.de/

Although this is probably going to take a lot of time that I don't have... I just thought I'd see what the rest of you is doing about that, if anything at all.

 

[nbo10]

I haven't found a tutorial. I just copied one of beamers themes and modified it to meet my needs. After you have a new theme run >> texhash so that LaTeX finds the new theme.

 

[oswaler]

As a scientist who has also used LaTeX Beamer for presentations, I can understand your desire to create a unique and visually appealing theme for your presentations. Fortunately, there are several resources available to help you achieve this goal.

Firstly, there are many tutorials and guides available online that can walk you through the process of creating your own Beamer theme. These tutorials often include step-by-step instructions and examples to help you understand the syntax and customization options available in Beamer. Some popular resources include the official Beamer user guide and the Beamer Theme Matrix.

Additionally, there are several online communities and forums dedicated to LaTeX and Beamer, where you can find helpful tips and advice from experienced users. These communities are a great place to ask for specific guidance on creating your own theme, as well as to share and receive feedback on your designs.

If you are short on time and prefer not to create a theme from scratch, there are also many pre-made themes available for download and use. You can find these themes on websites such as Overleaf and GitHub, where they are often shared by other users. You can also modify these existing themes to suit your needs and preferences.

In terms of incorporating your institution's colors into your theme, you can use the color customization options in Beamer to achieve this. However, if you are not familiar with color codes and design principles, it may be helpful to consult a graphic designer for assistance.

Overall, creating your own Beamer theme may require some time and effort, but it can be a rewarding experience and help you stand out in presentations. I encourage you to explore the available resources and experiment with different designs to find a theme that reflects your unique style and preferences. Good luck!