1. Create your Benner - intro
This file includes some tips for non-professional designers, who want to create a banner in a fast and simple way. I'll assume that you do not have a professional graphic application, and I'll show you how to use PowerPoint for the task. For the sake of the demo we will create a banner that fit for Facebook Groups.
At the time I post this file, Microsoft TechNet Wiki council is looking for new banners and log for the year 2018 in order to use in our Facebook group. We called the community to send their works. We will choose the top best works and we'll pronounce the winners at Microsoft website. This is your opportunities to show your skills.
I hope this tool (file) is useful and will help you in the task. Please feel free to post comment and feedback at the TechNet Wiki group on Facebook. You are welcome to upload your template for the use of others as well.
Regards, Ronen Ariely Microsoft TechNet Wiki council. [Personal Site][Blog][Facebook][Linkedin]
Created by: Ronen Ariely

2. Create your Benner - configure the Size
First step and probably the most important in this tutorial is to choose the right dimensions (Width & Hight) of the image. You should configure the dimensions of the presentation according to the dimensions of the banner you want to get in the result.
The design of Facebook interface is changed from time to time and we must follow the current format if we want to get best result. At the time I write create this tutorial the size of the banners on Facebook groups should be 820x428px.
On the View tab click “Normal” view . Then click the “Design” tab, and click “Slide” Size in the “Customize” group. Select the option “Custom Slide Size”.
Configure the width to “820px” and the high to “428px” => PowerPoint engine will convert the size into inches.
*This step already done in this file. If you are creating banners for Facebook group, then you can use it as it is.
Created by: Ronen Ariely

3. Create your Benner - why PowerPoint
Most users already have office application installed. You can use Microsoft Office or third party application like the free Open Office.
Using PowerPoint we do not need any previous design knowledge.
We can use this template in order to get the exact size we need
We can simply create multiple versions by duplicate a slide and make the changes
This iis highly recommend and allows to save multiple versions. This way, you can let the community to choose which version is best
We can use built-in feature “Insert Online Pictures”, in order to add free content (do not remove the filter Creative Commons Only in the search). In any case confirm that you are using resources according to their licence!
Created by: Ronen Ariely

4. At this time, Facebook website design use two panels (upper and bottom), which hide part of the image. Make sure that the upper and bottom of the image does not include any important information, as it will probably be cover by Facebook’s panels.
That’s it 
We are ready to create our banner using PowerPoint… Let’s see several templates for example. Read the comments on the slides for more information about how I created these templates.
Once the banner is ready, save the file for archive and future use. Next create the banner image by using “save as” and select the type of the file to JPG.
Created by: Ronen Ariely

5. Step-By-Step Tutorial for banners
Creating our first banner using PowerPoint

6. Created by: Ronen Ariely
Step 1: I found a nice image for my background, which I have the license to use

7. Created by: Ronen Ariely
Step 2: I added a simple triangular shape on the left

8. Created by: Ronen Ariely
Step 3: adding a nice line can make this a bit unique

9. TechNet Wiki TechNet Wiki Sharing Is Everything
By the community, For the community
Created by: Ronen Ariely
Step 4: and now we can add the text we want to show… and the first banner is ready 

10. TechNet Wiki Sharing Is Everything By the community, For the community
Created by: Ronen Ariely
Adding versions: In this version I tried to use different font, color, and I moved part of the test to the right size of the image.
Changing the text font, colors and even position is very simple since it’s all simple element on the slide.
If you create banner for the TechNet Wiki, then you please upload your banner to the Facebook group. You can ask for feedback and test different versions of the same basic banner. According to the feedback I got, I created 2 more versions of the same basic idea, as you can see in this slide and in the next slide.

11. TechNet Wiki TechNet Wiki Sharing Is Everything
By the community, For the community
Created by: Ronen Ariely
Version three, I changed the background of the left triangular shape

12. Template 02 – different versions of the same Base Image
Changing the font, Position, and so on it very simple using PowerPoint. We can store each version in different slide, which give us the power to compare versions.

13. Microsoft TechNet Wiki Sharing Is Everything
By the community, For the community
Created by: Ronen Ariely
Here is another banner I created, with a simple displayed

14. Microsoft TechNet Wiki Sharing Is Everything
By the community, For the community
Created by: Ronen Ariely
Same version in dark backgroung.

15. Microsoft TechNet Wiki Sharing Is Everything
By the community, For the community
Created by: Ronen Ariely
Testing different font for the text in the center

16. Microsoft TechNet Wiki Sharing Is Everything
By the community, For the community
Created by: Ronen Ariely
And here is another version of the same idea.

17. Logo template
The logo is usually a small image which fit to be use inline with a text. Creating a real logo size is very hard since we do not have a lot of place for our creative. For the sake of our need we can use Logo images in bigger size as well, especially since most of our uses are online (in web posts). Therefore, we will accept images in different sizes, but we will mark the images according to how they look & feel in 3 sizes (the smaller size will get the higher mark. For example an image that look best in smaller size will get 10 points while image that look nice only in the bigger size, might get 3 points, Yet in the general mark these bigger images have the chance to be elected.
Please create Logo that fit the template size in the next slide. (Hight is more important then width)

18. Wiki DO NOT ADD BORDER to the logo.
The borders here are only for the sake of presenting the size
120px Hight
56px Hight
Wiki
400px Hight
You should always create Big image so we will have a good resolution, but you need to test the logo in the smaller sizes and make an image that looks good on the smallest size as you can (between these three options)

19. Create your Benner – conclusion
I hope you find this file and tutorial useful.
If you have an idea on creating a banner using PowerPoint, then you are welcome to add slides with your banners
Add your name in the comment section under “Created by”. You can add one link to your Facebook page if you want.
Send the updated file with the new banners to me
And I will add to the original file some of the best works that I will get.
Regards, Ronen Ariely Microsoft TechNet Wiki council. [Personal Site][Blog][Facebook][Linkedin]
Created by: Ronen Ariely