> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.twistly.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.twistly.ai/create-a-presentation/how-creating-works.md).

# How Creating Works

There are three ways to create a presentation:

* **From a topic** — describe what you need and the AI writes everything. See [From a Topic](/create-a-presentation/from-a-topic.md).
* **From text** — paste your own content and the AI turns it into slides.
* **From a file** — upload a document (Word, PDF, PowerPoint, and more). See [From Text or a File](/create-a-presentation/from-text-or-file.md).

All three follow the same path:

1. **Content** — enter your topic, text, or file, and choose settings like slide count and language.
2. **Template** — pick a design. On the Free plan, Pro templates are marked with a crown and open an upgrade prompt instead of being selected. See [Templates](/create-a-presentation/templates.md).
3. **Generation** — the AI writes and designs the deck.
4. **Review** — check and edit the generated slides before anything touches your presentation. See [Review & Edit Before Inserting](/create-a-presentation/review-and-edit.md).
5. **Insert** — the finished slides are added to your open presentation.

## Start from a template

If you'd rather choose the look first, use **Start from Template** — second in the create menu, right after **Create from Topic**. It swaps the first two steps:

1. **Template** — browse the template catalog and pick a design. Double-click a template, or use it from its preview, to pick it and move straight on. You don't have to pick one: with no template picked, the AI chooses one that fits your content once you've added it.
2. **Source** — type a topic, paste text, or attach a file, all in one place. Anything longer than 450 characters is treated as text to turn into slides rather than a topic. A file and typed text can't be combined — clear the field to attach a file instead.
3. **Generation**, **Review**, and **Insert** work exactly as above.

A template you pick this way applies to that presentation only — it doesn't change the template your other create options remember. If you stop a generation, you go back to the **Source** step, not the catalog.

## Things worth knowing

* **Generation takes a few minutes** — longer for bigger decks and large files. While you wait you can play one of the built-in mini-games (Snake, Breaker, Bricks, Pong, Memory). If you started from a template and you're still playing when the slides are ready, Twistly waits for you — it moves on about 15 seconds after your last move, or as soon as you click **Continue to outline**.
* **The review step shows your actual slides**, not a draft outline. What you edit there is exactly what lands in PowerPoint.
* **Cancel really cancels.** Stopping a generation aborts the work entirely — nothing is inserted and nothing is charged.
* **Slides are inserted into the presentation you have open.** If you want a standalone deck, start from a new blank presentation.
* **Your settings are remembered.** Language, content style, tone, and other choices persist between sessions.