> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://arka-agent-mintlify-f21cea86.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Compose slides

> Generate executive-quality slide decks from a topic — pptx, pdf, html, or markdown with style presets and visual themes.

Create structured slide decks from a topic. Arka uses presentation-specific prompts (action titles, speaker notes, section dividers) — not video scripts.

## Quick start

```bash theme={null}
arka make slides about kubernetes networking
arka pitch deck on AI infrastructure
arka academic presentation on quantum computing
arka compose_slides compose --topic "Python asyncio" --llm --style executive -f pptx
```

## Style presets

| Style | Best for | Default theme |
| - | - | - |
| `executive` | Business updates, KPI-focused action titles | `dark` |
| `pitch` | Startup decks — problem → solution → market → ask | `dark` |
| `academic` | Research talks — methodology, citations | `light` |

```bash theme={null}
arka compose_slides compose --topic "Series A" --style pitch -f pptx
arka compose_slides compose --topic "CRISPR" --style academic -f all
```

## Visual themes

Control colors and typography with `--theme`:

| Theme | Look |
| - | - |
| `dark` | High-contrast slides (default for executive/pitch) |
| `light` | Clean light background (default for academic) |
| `minimal` | White/neutral, print-friendly |

```bash theme={null}
arka compose_slides compose --topic "Q4 review" --style executive --theme light -f pptx
arka pitch deck on terminal AI agents --theme dark
```

Design features per deck:

* **Title slide** with subtitle and logo placeholder
* **Section dividers** (pitch decks use Problem/Solution sections)
* **Left-aligned action titles** with accent bar and slide numbers
* **Footer bar** with slide title and page number on content slides
* **Image/chart placeholder** panel on text-only content slides
* **Metric callout boxes** on pitch traction slides
* **8px spacing grid** and WCAG-friendly contrast on all themes
* **Max 4 bullets** per slide (≤8 words each)
* **Speaker notes** in `narration`; minimal on-screen text

### Plan before you export

Use [plan mode](/guides/operation-modes) to preview the design improvement steps without generating files:

```bash theme={null}
arka mode plan
arka "improve pitch slide design for terminal AI agents"
arka mode agent
arka compose_slides compose --topic "terminal AI agents" --style pitch --theme dark -f pptx
```

## Export formats

| Flag | Output |
| - | - |
| `-f pptx` | PowerPoint (requires `python-pptx`) |
| `-f pdf` | PDF export |
| `-f html` | HTML slideshow |
| `-f md` | Marp markdown outline |
| `-f all` | All formats |

Slides save to `~/Documents/arka-slides/` by default.

<Note>
  If pptx validation fails, Arka removes the invalid file and saves a **markdown outline** instead. For Keynote users, PPTX exports stay conservative by default; enable speaker notes only with `SLIDES_PPTX_NOTES=1`.
</Note>

## Convert existing decks

```bash theme={null}
arka compose_slides convert deck.pptx --format pdf
```

## Quality bar

* One idea per slide
* Action titles (not generic "Background")
* 6–12 slides typical
* Speaker notes in `narration`; max 4 on-screen bullets

## Related

* [Skills catalog](/guides/skills) — `compose_slides` row in Media section


## Related topics

- [Skills catalog: 70+ built-in Arka commands](/guides/skills.md)
- [Compose 3D](/guides/compose-3d.md)
- [Operation modes](/guides/operation-modes.md)
- [LLM orchestration with multi-provider failover](/concepts/llm.md)
- [Testing Arka with the pytest suite](/guides/testing.md)


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