Creating LaTeX Formulas for PowerPoint Presentations

  • Context: LaTeX 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Lonewolf
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods for creating LaTeX formulas for use in PowerPoint presentations. Participants explore various tools and approaches for generating high-quality mathematical representations, including image files and alternative presentation software.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the possibility of generating image files from LaTeX for inclusion in PowerPoint presentations.
  • Another suggests using PDFLaTeX and mentions gnuplot as a tool that can export LaTeX output.
  • A different approach is proposed where formulas can be created on Physics Forums and then screen-shotted for use in PowerPoint.
  • One participant recommends the tex2gif program as a potential solution, while also introducing the prosper package for LaTeX, which is designed for creating slide shows and outputs in PDF format.
  • Another participant expresses interest in using tex2gif and mentions that they will consider using prosper for future presentations.
  • One comment mentions slitex and its derivatives as alternatives to PowerPoint.
  • A participant shares a negative experience with preparing slides in PowerPoint, suggesting that the effort did not match the presentation quality.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants share various tools and methods, but there is no consensus on a single best approach. Multiple competing views on how to effectively create and use LaTeX formulas in presentations remain.

Contextual Notes

Some suggestions depend on specific software capabilities and user preferences, and there may be limitations in the tools mentioned regarding output quality or ease of use.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals preparing presentations that require mathematical formulas, particularly those familiar with LaTeX and looking for alternatives to traditional presentation software.

Lonewolf
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I have to give a presentation and would really like some decent looking formulas to put in PowerPoint. Anybody know if it's possible to get LaTeX to output an image file? Thanks.
 
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Try PDFLaTeX. I know that you can use gnuplot to do LaTeX then export.
 
You could also do your formulas on PF, then take a screen shot and incorporate it into your powerpoint presentation.

[tex]\phi[/tex]

The Rev
 
There's a free program called tex2gif (you should be able to google it) which I've never used but seems to do what you want.

If I may I'd like to offer an alternative. Have you checked out the prosper package for latex? It is a latex package designed for making slide shows. When you're done it just outputs a pdf but it is pretty cool the stuff you can do with it. It may not have all the frills of powerpoint but you can make slides appear part way at a time, or have parts change. Any time I'm doing a talk these days and I need slides I do it with prosper. It's really nice just doing everything in latex instead of mixing and mathching.
 
I found text2gif online, so that should be ok. The presentation's already written apart from the formulas, but I'll definitely give prosper a go next time. Got plenty more presentations to practice on. Thanks for the tips!
 
you may also benefit from slitex and its derivatives. (who'd ever use power point?)
 
I know what you mean, preparing the slides on it was awful, and the effort it took doesn't reflect the quality of presentation. Oh well, we live and learn I suppose.
 

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