# Manage Presentation Themes in PHP

> Master presentation themes in Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java to create, customize and convert PowerPoint files with consistent branding.

Source: https://docs.aspose.com/slides/php-java/presentation-theme/
Updated: 2026-08-13


## **Introduction**

A presentation theme defines the properties of design elements. When you select a presentation theme, you are essentially choosing a specific set of visual elements and their properties.

In PowerPoint, a theme comprises colors, [fonts](/slides/php-java/powerpoint-fonts/), [background styles](/slides/php-java/presentation-background/), and effects.

![theme-constituents](theme-constituents.png)

## **Change Theme Color**

A PowerPoint theme uses a specific set of colors for different elements on a slide. If you don't like the colors, you change them colors by applying new colors for the theme. To allow you select a new theme color, Aspose.Slides provides values under the [SchemeColor](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/SchemeColor) enumeration.

This PHP code shows you how to change the accent color for a theme:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $shape = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 10, 100, 100);
    $shape->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $shape->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor->Accent4);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

You can determine the resulting color's effective value this way:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $shape = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 10, 100, 100);
    $shape->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $shape->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor::Accent4);

    $fillEffective = $shape->getFillFormat()->getEffective();
    $effectiveColor = $fillEffective->getSolidFillColor();
    echo(sprintf("Color [A=%d, R=%d, G=%d, B=%d]", $effectiveColor->getAlpha(), $effectiveColor->getRed(), $effectiveColor->getGreen(), $effectiveColor->getBlue()));
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

To further demonstrate the color change operation, we create another element and assign the accent color (from the initial operation) to it. Then we change the color in the theme:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $shape = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 10, 100, 100);
    $shape->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $shape->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor::Accent4);

    $otherShape = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 120, 100, 100);
    $otherShape->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $otherShape->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor::Accent4);

    $pres->getMasterTheme()->getColorScheme()->getAccent4()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->RED);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

The new color is applied automatically on both elements.

### **Set Theme Color from an Additional Palette**

When you apply luminance transformations to the main theme color(1), colors from the additional palette(2) are formed. You can then set and get those theme colors. 

![additional-palette-colors](additional-palette-colors.png)

**1** - Main theme colors

**2** - Colors from the additional palette.

This PHP code demonstrates an operation where additional palette colors are obtained from the main theme color and then used in shapes:

```php
  $presentation = new Presentation();
  try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);
    # Accent 4
    $shape1 = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 10, 50, 50);
    $shape1->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $shape1->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor::Accent4);
    # Accent 4, Lighter 80%
    $shape2 = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 70, 50, 50);
    $shape2->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $shape2->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor::Accent4);
    $shape2->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation::MultiplyLuminance, 0.2);
    $shape2->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation::AddLuminance, 0.8);
    # Accent 4, Lighter 60%
    $shape3 = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 130, 50, 50);
    $shape3->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $shape3->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor::Accent4);
    $shape3->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation::MultiplyLuminance, 0.4);
    $shape3->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation::AddLuminance, 0.6);
    # Accent 4, Lighter 40%
    $shape4 = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 190, 50, 50);
    $shape4->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $shape4->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor::Accent4);
    $shape4->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation::MultiplyLuminance, 0.6);
    $shape4->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation::AddLuminance, 0.4);
    # Accent 4, Darker 25%
    $shape5 = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 250, 50, 50);
    $shape5->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $shape5->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor::Accent4);
    $shape5->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation::MultiplyLuminance, 0.75);
    # Accent 4, Darker 50%
    $shape6 = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 310, 50, 50);
    $shape6->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $shape6->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setSchemeColor(SchemeColor::Accent4);
    $shape6->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->getColorTransform()->add(ColorTransformOperation::MultiplyLuminance, 0.5);
    $presentation->save("example_accent4.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
      $presentation->dispose();
    }
  }
```

### **Map `SchemeColor` to `ColorScheme` Colors**

When you work with [SchemeColor](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/schemecolor/), you may notice that it contains the following theme color values:

`Background1`, `Background2`, `Text1`, and `Text2`.

However, `Presentation::getMasterTheme()::getColorScheme()` returns [ColorScheme](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/colorscheme/), which exposes the corresponding colors as:

`Dark1`, `Dark2`, `Light1`, and `Light2`.

This difference is only in naming. These values refer to the same theme color slots and the mapping is fixed:

* `Text1` = `Dark1`
* `Background1` = `Light1`
* `Text2` = `Dark2`
* `Background2` = `Light2`

There is no dynamic conversion between `Text`/`Background` and `Dark`/`Light`. They are simply alternate names for the same theme colors.

This naming difference comes from Microsoft Office terminology. Older Office versions used `Dark 1`, `Light 1`, `Dark 2`, and `Light 2`, while newer UI versions display the same slots as `Text 1`, `Background 1`, `Text 2`, and `Background 2`.

## **Change Theme Font**

To allow you select fonts for themes and other purposes, Aspose.Slides uses these special identifiers (similar to those used in PowerPoint):

* **+mn-lt** - Body Font Latin (Minor Latin Font)
* **+mj-lt** -Heading Font Latin (Major Latin Font)
* **+mn-ea** - Body Font East Asian (Minor East Asian Font)
* **+mj-ea** - Body Font East Asian (Major East Asian Font)

This PHP code shows you how to assign the Latin font to a theme element:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $shape = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, 10, 10, 100, 100);
    $paragraph = new Paragraph();
    $portion = new Portion("Theme text format");
    $paragraph->getPortions()->add($portion);
    $shape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()->add($paragraph);
    $portion->getPortionFormat()->setLatinFont(new FontData("+mn-lt"));
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

This PHP code shows you how to change the presentation theme font:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation("pres.pptx");
  try {
    $pres->getMasterTheme()->getFontScheme()->getMinor()->setLatinFont(new FontData("Arial"));
    $pres->save("pres-out.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

The font in all text boxes will be updated.

{{% alert color="info" title="TIP" %}} 

You may want to see [PowerPoint fonts](/slides/php-java/powerpoint-fonts/).

{{% /alert %}}

## **Change Theme Background Style**

By default, the PowerPoint app provides 12 predefined backgrounds but only 3 from those 12 backgrounds are saved in a typical presentation. 

![todo:image_alt_text](presentation-design_8.png)

For example, after you save a presentation in the PowerPoint app, you can run this PHP code to find out the number of predefined backgrounds in the presentation:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation("pres.pptx");
  try {
    $numberOfBackgroundFills = $pres->getMasterTheme()->getFormatScheme()->getBackgroundFillStyles()->size();
    echo("Number of background fill styles for theme is " . $numberOfBackgroundFills);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

{{% alert color="warning" %}} 

Using the [BackgroundFillStyles](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/FormatScheme#getBackgroundFillStyles--) property from the [FormatScheme](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/FormatScheme) class, you can add or access the background style in a PowerPoint theme.

{{% /alert %}} 

This PHP code shows you how to set the background for a presentation:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation("pres.pptx");
  try {
    $pres->getMasters()->get_Item(0)->getBackground()->setStyleIndex(2);
    $pres->save("pres-out.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

**Index guide**: 0 is used for no fill. The index starts from 1.

{{% alert color="info" title="TIP" %}} 

You may want to see [PowerPoint Background](/slides/php-java/presentation-background/).

{{% /alert %}}

## **Change Theme Effect**

A PowerPoint theme usually contains 3 values for each style array. Those arrays are combined into these 3 effects: subtle, moderate, and intense. For example, this is the outcome when the effects are applied to a specific shape:

![todo:image_alt_text](presentation-design_10.png)



Using 3 properties ([FillStyles](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/FormatScheme#getFillStyles--), [LineStyles](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/FormatScheme#getLineStyles--), [EffectStyles](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/FormatScheme#getEffectStyles--)) from the  [FormatScheme](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/FormatScheme) class you can change the elements in a theme (even more flexibly than the options in PowerPoint).

This PHP code shows you how to change a theme effect by altering parts of elements:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation("Subtle_Moderate_Intense.pptx");
  try {
    $pres->getMasterTheme()->getFormatScheme()->getLineStyles()->get_Item(0)->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->RED);
    $pres->getMasterTheme()->getFormatScheme()->getFillStyles()->get_Item(2)->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $pres->getMasterTheme()->getFormatScheme()->getFillStyles()->get_Item(2)->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->GREEN);
    $pres->getMasterTheme()->getFormatScheme()->getEffectStyles()->get_Item(2)->getEffectFormat()->getOuterShadowEffect()->setDistance(10.0);
    $pres->save("Design_04_Subtle_Moderate_Intense-out.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

The resulting changes in fill color, fill type, shadow effect, etc:

![todo:image_alt_text](presentation-design_11.png)

## **FAQ**

### Can I apply a theme to a single slide without changing the master?

Yes. Aspose.Slides support slide-level theme overrides, so you can apply a local theme to just that slide while keeping the master theme intact (via the [SlideThemeManager](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/slidethememanager/)).

### What’s the safest way to carry a theme from one presentation to another?

[Clone slides](/slides/php-java/clone-slides/) together with their master into the target presentation. This preserves the original master, layouts, and the associated theme so the appearance remains consistent.

### How can I see the "effective" values after all inheritance and overrides?

Use the API’s ["effective" views](/slides/php-java/shape-effective-properties/) for theme/color/font/effect. These return the resolved, final properties after applying the master plus any local overrides.