Gamma Presentations Skill

Generate professional presentations with expert storytelling consulting based on Duarte methodology.

Gamma is an AI-powered platform with 50M+ users for creating presentations, documents, social posts, and websites. This skill enables Alex to generate polished content programmatically with professional presentation consulting.

Presentation Consulting Methodology

Alex uses the Duarte methodology — the industry-leading approach used by Nancy Duarte for Apple, Al Gore, and Fortune 500 companies.

The 7 Principles of Expert Presentation Design

1. The Hero's Journey Structure

Every presentation follows story structure:

• •Beginning: Establish the current state ("what is")
• •Middle: Contrast with the vision ("what could be")
• •End: Call to action and "new bliss" (attainable future)

2. Audience as Hero, Presenter as Mentor

• •The audience is the hero facing a challenge
• •The presenter (or content) is the mentor providing tools to overcome it
• •Position solutions as enabling the audience's success, not showcasing the presenter

3. The Presentation Sparkline™

Alternate between "what is" and "what could be" throughout:

What is → What could be → What is → What could be → NEW BLISS

This contrast keeps audiences engaged (unlike flat reports or pure pitches).

4. S.T.A.R. Moments™

Include "Something They'll Always Remember":

• •Dramatic demonstrations
• •Unexpected comparisons (like Steve Jobs sliding MacBook Air into envelope)
• •Emotional stories that crystallize the message

5. Data Storytelling

Transform data into meaning:

• •Humanize: Make numbers relatable to individuals
• •Compare: Use unexpected units of measurement
• •Surprise: Lead with insight, not just charts

6. Visual Hierarchy

• •One idea per slide (rule of one)
• •Clear title that states the insight (not just topic)
• •5-7 bullets maximum per slide
• •Use whitespace strategically

7. The New Bliss

End with a clear vision of the attainable future:

• •What does success look like for the audience?
• •How will their world be better?
• •Concrete, achievable, inspiring

Alex Consulting Workflow

When a user provides plain text or rough content, Alex follows this consulting process:

Phase 1: Discovery

Alex analyzes the content and asks clarifying questions:

• •Who is the audience? (executives, developers, investors, etc.)
• •What is the goal? (inform, persuade, inspire, teach)
• •What is the single most important takeaway?
• •Are there emotional stories or data points to highlight?

Phase 2: Concept Presentation

Alex presents a narrative storyboard:

📊 PRESENTATION CONCEPT

Title: [Compelling title framed as benefit to audience]
Subtitle: [Supporting context]

NARRATIVE ARC:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ HOOK: [Opening that establishes stakes]        │
│ PROBLEM: [What is - current pain/challenge]    │
│ VISION: [What could be - better future]        │
│ SOLUTION: [How to get there - your offering]   │
│ PROOF: [Evidence, data, stories]               │
│ CALL TO ACTION: [Clear next step]              │
│ NEW BLISS: [Vision of success achieved]        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

PROPOSED SLIDE STRUCTURE (10 slides):
1. Title slide with hook subtitle
2. The challenge your audience faces
3. Why this matters now
4. Section: The Vision [section divider]
5. What success looks like
6. The path forward
7. Proof point 1: [data/story]
8. Section: Taking Action [section divider]  
9. Key recommendations
10. Call to action + New Bliss

S.T.A.R. MOMENT: [Proposed memorable element]

Phase 3: User Feedback

User refines the concept:

• •"Add more data on slide 7"
• •"Make the call to action stronger"
• •"I want to emphasize X instead of Y"

Phase 4: Structured Markdown Creation

Alex generates the full structured markdown for approval:

# [Title]

## [Subtitle]

> [Speaker notes for opening]

---

# [Slide 2 Title]

- Bullet with **bold** for emphasis
- Another key point
- Third supporting point

> [Speaker notes with talking points]

---

## [Section Name] [section]

---

Phase 5: User Approval

User reviews the markdown:

• •Make inline edits if needed
• •Request changes to specific slides
• •Approve for generation

Phase 6: Generation

Alex converts approved markdown to PPTX with:

• •Alex brand colors and typography
• •Proper slide layouts per the Duarte principles
• •Speaker notes preserved
• •Illustrations as specified

Illustrations and Visual Elements

Alex supports multiple types of illustrations in presentations.

Illustration Syntax

Use markdown image syntax with type prefixes:

Company Logos

Local Logo Collection (PNG, JPG, SVG)

Place your company logos in a logos/ folder (configurable via alex.logos.folder setting):

workspace/
├── logos/
│   ├── acme.png        # PNG logos supported
│   ├── partner-a.jpg   # JPG logos supported  
│   ├── microsoft.svg   # SVG logos supported
│   └── google.webp     # WebP logos supported
└── presentation.md

Reference by name (Alex auto-detects format):

# Our Partners

![logo:acme]
![logo:partner-a]
![logo:microsoft]

- Partner A brings expertise in...

Ticker-Based Logo API

Fetch company logos by stock ticker symbol (requires API key in settings):

# Tech Giants Comparison

![ticker:AAPL]
![ticker:MSFT]  
![ticker:GOOGL]

| Company | Market Cap | Revenue |
|---------|-----------|---------|
| Apple | $3.0T | $394B |
| Microsoft | $2.8T | $211B |
| Google | $1.9T | $307B |

Setup:

1. •Get a free API key from Brandfetch (no attribution required) or Logo.dev (500K/mo free)
2. •Add to VS Code settings: alex.logos.brandfetchClientId or alex.logos.logoDevToken

Available Icons

Business & Charts: chart-bar, chart-line, chart-pie, trending-up, trending-down, target, trophy, briefcase, building, wallet

People & Teams: users, user, user-check, handshake

Technology: cpu, database, server, cloud, globe, code, terminal, wifi, brain, sparkles

Communication: mail, message-circle, phone, share, video, presentation

Actions & Status: check, check-circle, x, x-circle, plus, minus, alert-triangle, info, help-circle

Objects & Concepts: lightbulb, book, calendar, clock, file, file-text, folder, star, heart, lock, unlock, shield, zap, rocket

Arrows & Navigation: arrow-right, arrow-left, arrow-up, arrow-down, chevron-right, chevron-left, external-link, refresh

Available Stock Illustrations

Example: Slide with Illustrations

# Why Choose Us

## Key Differentiators

![icon:trophy#1a7f37]

- Industry-leading performance
- Enterprise-grade security
- 24/7 expert support

![stock:security]

> Emphasize the security certification in the demo

Consulting Prompts

Use these prompts to engage Alex as a presentation consultant:

Full Consulting Workflow

"Help me create a presentation about [topic]. 
I want to present to [audience] to [goal].
Here's my rough content: [paste content or file path]"

Concept Review

"Review my presentation concept and suggest improvements:
[paste existing content]"

Storyboard Request

"Create a storyboard for a presentation on [topic].
Audience: [who]
Goal: [what you want them to do/feel/know]
Key message: [single takeaway]"

S.T.A.R. Moment Ideation

"What would be a memorable S.T.A.R. moment for a presentation about [topic]?
I want the audience to remember [key insight]."

When to Use

• •User asks to create a presentation or slide deck
• •Need to generate a document or report
• •Creating social media content (carousels, stories)
• •Building simple webpages from content
• •Converting notes or outlines into polished presentations

Prerequisites

• •Gamma account (Pro, Ultra, Teams, or Business plan for API access)
• •API key from gamma.app/settings
• •Environment variable: GAMMA_API_KEY

Help & User Manual

How to Ask Alex to Create Gamma Content

Simply tell Alex what you want to create. Alex will write the actual content for you, then generate the presentation.

From a Topic (Alex writes all content)

"Create a 10-slide presentation about machine learning for executives"
"Make a pitch deck for my startup idea: [description]"
"Generate a social media carousel about productivity tips"

What Alex does:

1. •Creates a detailed markdown file with real slide content
2. •Sends it to Gamma API for professional formatting
3. •Returns the link and/or downloads the file
4. •Opens it automatically if requested

From Your Own Content File

"Create a presentation from README.md"
"Turn my CHANGELOG.md into a 15-slide deck"
"Make a document from .github/skills/cognitive-architecture/SKILL.md"

From Reference Documents

"Create a presentation about appropriate reliance using all the documents in the article folder"
"Make a pitch deck from my business plan - use investor-deck.md and financials.md"

Alex will:

1. •Read and synthesize the referenced files
2. •Write presentation content based on that material
3. •Generate the formatted presentation

With Specific Options

"Create a presentation from my-notes.md with 12 slides, professional tone, for investors"
"Generate a webpage from PROJECT.md in Portuguese"
"Make an Instagram carousel (4x5) from tips.txt with vibrant AI images"

Command Quick Reference

Available Options

When asking Alex to create Gamma content, you can specify:

Step-by-Step: Create from a Workspace File

1. •

   Tell Alex the file path:

   "Create a presentation from README.md"

2. •

   Alex reads the file and sends content to Gamma API

3. •

   Alex polls for completion (usually 15-60 seconds)

4. •

   Alex returns the link: https://gamma.app/docs/xxxxx

5. •

   Open the link to view, edit, or download your presentation

Customization Examples

Basic:

"Create a presentation from README.md"

With slide count:

"Create a 15-slide presentation from README.md"

With audience:

"Create a presentation from README.md for new developers, friendly tone"

With export:

"Create a presentation from ROADMAP.md and export as PowerPoint"

Full customization:

"Create a 12-slide pitch deck from my-startup.md in 16x9 format, confident tone, for VCs, with modern AI images, export as PDF and PowerPoint"

What Alex Does Behind the Scenes

1. •Reads the specified file from your workspace
2. •Sends to Gamma API with your options:
   • •textMode: "generate" (expands brief content) or "condense" (summarizes long content)
   • •format, numCards, textOptions, imageOptions based on your request
3. •Polls generation status every 2-3 seconds
4. •Returns the Gamma URL when complete
5. •Downloads export (PPTX/PDF) if requested
6. •Auto-opens the file if --open flag is used
7. •Reports credits used and remaining balance

Pro Tips for Great Results

1. Structure Your Content with Slide Markers

Use clear headers in your markdown — they become natural slide breaks:

## Slide 1: Title
Main message here

## Slide 2: The Problem
- Pain point 1
- Pain point 2

## Slide 3: Our Solution
Description of solution

2. Use Illustrations for Professional Decks

Specify --image-style with "illustrations" for consistent, modern look:

--image-model ideogram --image-style "modern clean illustrations, abstract concepts"

3. Match Tone to Audience

4. One Command, Open Result

Always use --open to immediately review your deck:

node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js -f content.md -e pptx --open

5. Iterate with Cost-Effective Models

Use cheaper models while iterating, premium for final:

# Drafts (2 credits/image)
--image-model flux-quick

# Final version (20 credits/image)
--image-model ideogram

Cost Awareness

Alex will inform you of credit usage after each generation:

Check your balance: gamma.app/settings/billing

Quick Reference

API Base URL

https://public-api.gamma.app

Authentication

--header 'X-API-KEY: <your-api-key>'
--header 'Content-Type: application/json'

Core Endpoints

Generate API Parameters

Required Parameters

Format Options

Text Options

"textOptions": {
  "amount": "medium",      // brief, medium, detailed, extensive
  "tone": "professional",  // free text, 1-500 chars
  "audience": "executives", // free text, 1-500 chars
  "language": "en"         // 60+ languages
}

Image Options

"imageOptions": {
  "source": "aiGenerated",  // see source options below
  "model": "flux-1-pro",    // see model list below
  "style": "modern, minimal" // free text, 1-500 chars
}

Image Sources:

• •aiGenerated - AI-generated images (use with model + style)
• •pictographic - Pictographic library
• •unsplash - Unsplash photos
• •giphy - Animated GIFs
• •webAllImages - Web images (any license)
• •webFreeToUse - Personal use licensed
• •webFreeToUseCommercially - Commercial use licensed
• •placeholder - Empty placeholders
• •noImages - No images (use if providing URLs in inputText)

Card Dimensions

Export Options

"exportAs": "pptx"  // or "pdf"

AI Image Models

Cost-Effective (2 credits/image)

Standard (8-15 credits/image)

Premium (20-33 credits/image)

Ultra (30-120 credits/image, Ultra plan only)

Credit Costs

Estimates:

• •10-card deck + 5 basic images = ~40-50 credits
• •20-card doc + 15 premium images = ~360-680 credits

Example Requests

Simple Presentation

curl -X POST https://public-api.gamma.app/v1.0/generations \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H 'X-API-KEY: sk-gamma-xxx' \
  -d '{
    "inputText": "Introduction to machine learning for business leaders",
    "textMode": "generate",
    "format": "presentation",
    "numCards": 8
  }'

Professional Pitch Deck

curl -X POST https://public-api.gamma.app/v1.0/generations \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H 'X-API-KEY: sk-gamma-xxx' \
  -d '{
    "inputText": "Our startup solves remote team collaboration with AI-powered async video messaging. Founded 2024, 10k users, $500k ARR, seeking $2M seed round.",
    "textMode": "generate",
    "format": "presentation",
    "numCards": 12,
    "textOptions": {
      "amount": "medium",
      "tone": "confident, professional, visionary",
      "audience": "venture capital investors"
    },
    "imageOptions": {
      "source": "aiGenerated",
      "model": "flux-1-pro",
      "style": "modern tech, clean, professional photography"
    },
    "cardOptions": {
      "dimensions": "16x9"
    },
    "exportAs": "pptx"
  }'

Document from Notes

curl -X POST https://public-api.gamma.app/v1.0/generations \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H 'X-API-KEY: sk-gamma-xxx' \
  -d '{
    "inputText": "Meeting notes from Q4 planning...\n---\nBudget discussion...\n---\nAction items...",
    "textMode": "preserve",
    "format": "document",
    "cardSplit": "inputTextBreaks",
    "textOptions": {
      "language": "en"
    },
    "imageOptions": {
      "source": "noImages"
    }
  }'

Social Media Carousel

curl -X POST https://public-api.gamma.app/v1.0/generations \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H 'X-API-KEY: sk-gamma-xxx' \
  -d '{
    "inputText": "5 productivity tips for developers: 1. Time blocking 2. Pomodoro technique 3. Code reviews in batches 4. Automate repetitive tasks 5. Take real breaks",
    "textMode": "generate",
    "format": "social",
    "numCards": 6,
    "cardOptions": {
      "dimensions": "4x5"
    },
    "imageOptions": {
      "source": "aiGenerated",
      "model": "ideogram-v3-turbo",
      "style": "vibrant, modern, tech aesthetic"
    }
  }'

Response Handling

POST Response

{
  "generationId": "gen_abc123",
  "status": "pending"
}

GET Status Response (Pending)

{
  "generationId": "gen_abc123",
  "status": "pending"
}

GET Status Response (Completed)

{
  "generationId": "gen_abc123",
  "status": "completed",
  "gammaUrl": "https://gamma.app/docs/xyz",
  "pptxUrl": "https://...",  // if exportAs: "pptx"
  "pdfUrl": "https://...",   // if exportAs: "pdf"
  "creditsUsed": 45
}

Polling Pattern

async function waitForGeneration(generationId, apiKey) {
  const maxAttempts = 30;
  const delayMs = 2000;

  for (let i = 0; i < maxAttempts; i++) {
    const response = await fetch(
      `https://public-api.gamma.app/v1.0/generations/${generationId}`,
      { headers: { 'X-API-KEY': apiKey } }
    );
    const data = await response.json();

    if (data.status === 'completed') return data;
    if (data.status === 'failed') throw new Error(data.error);

    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, delayMs));
  }
  throw new Error('Generation timeout');
}

MCP Integration

Gamma provides a hosted MCP server for AI tool integration.

Setup in Claude

1. •Open Claude Desktop or Web
2. •Settings → Connectors
3. •Search "Gamma" → Connect
4. •Authorize Gamma account access

MCP Tools Available

Effective MCP Prompts

Good:

"Create a 10-slide marketing strategy presentation covering target audience, campaign channels, budget breakdown, and success metrics. Use a professional blue theme and modern photography style."

Better:

"Create a pitch deck for investors about our AI startup. 12 slides, 16:9 format, professional tone. Include: problem, solution, market size, business model, traction, team, financials, ask. Export as PowerPoint."

Troubleshooting

Insufficient Credits

Problem: Error "insufficient credits"

Solution:

• •Check balance at gamma.app/settings/billing
• •Purchase credits or upgrade plan
• •Enable auto-recharge

Authentication Failed

Problem: 401 Unauthorized

Solution:

• •Verify API key is correct
• •Check plan supports API (Pro+)
• •Regenerate key if compromised

Generation Timeout

Problem: Status stays "pending" too long

Solution:

• •Complex generations take longer (large numCards, premium images)
• •Increase polling timeout to 2-3 minutes
• •Simplify request (fewer cards, basic images)

Token Limit Exceeded

Problem: Input too large

Solution:

• •inputText max: 100k tokens (~400k chars)
• •Split into multiple generations
• •Use textMode: "condense" for long content

Best Practices

1. •Start simple - Use defaults, then customize
2. •Match model to need - Basic images for drafts, premium for finals
3. •Use appropriate textMode:
   • •generate: Brief input → expanded content
   • •condense: Long input → summarized content
   • •preserve: Keep exact text
4. •Control costs - Use flux-1-quick or imagen-3-flash for iteration
5. •Export wisely - Only request PPTX/PDF when needed (adds processing time)
6. •Organize content - Use folderIds for workspace organization

CLI Script

A standalone Node.js script is available for command-line generation:

Location: .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js

Quick Examples

# Simple topic
node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js --topic "Introduction to AI"

# From file with PowerPoint export
node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js --file README.md --export pptx

# Generate and immediately open in PowerPoint 🚀
node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js --file README.md --export pptx --open

# Full customization with auto-open
node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js \
  --file my-content.md \
  --slides 15 \
  --tone "professional and inspiring" \
  --audience "executives" \
  --image-model ideogram \
  --image-style "modern illustrations, clean" \
  --dimensions 16x9 \
  --export pptx \
  --output ./exports \
  --open

CLI Options

Best UX: The --open Flag

The --open flag provides seamless workflow — generate and review in one command:

# Create presentation and open immediately
node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js \
  --file content.md \
  --export pptx \
  --open

# Works on all platforms:
# - Windows: Opens in PowerPoint
# - macOS: Opens in Keynote/PowerPoint
# - Linux: Opens with default application

Two-Step Workflow: Draft → Edit → Generate

For full control over content, use the draft workflow:

Step 1: Generate a Draft Template

# Create editable markdown template (no API call, no credits)
node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js \
  --topic "AI Ethics for Developers" \
  --slides 10 \
  --tone "thoughtful and practical" \
  --audience "software engineers" \
  --image-style "modern illustrations" \
  --draft \
  --open

This creates a markdown file with:

• •Slide structure placeholders
• •Your tone/audience settings preserved
• •Image style guidance
• •Opens immediately for editing

Step 2: Edit the Markdown

Fill in your actual content:

## Slide 1: Title
**AI Ethics: A Developer's Responsibility**

Building AI that serves humanity

*Illustration: Developer at computer with ethical symbols*

---

## Slide 2: Why This Matters
**The Code We Write Has Consequences**

- AI systems affect millions of lives
- Bias in training data becomes bias in decisions
- We are the last line of defense

*Illustration: Ripple effect from code to society*

Step 3: Generate from Your Edited File

# Now generate the real presentation
node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js \
  --file ./exports/ai-ethics-for-developers-draft.md \
  --image-model ideogram \
  --export pptx \
  --open

Why use the draft workflow?

• •✅ Full control over every slide's content
• •✅ No wasted credits on iterations
• •✅ Review structure before committing to generation
• •✅ Reuse templates for similar presentations

CLI Options Summary

Workflow tip: Create a markdown file with your content structure, then generate and review:

# Quick workflow
node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js -t "My Topic" --draft --open  # Edit the draft
node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js -f exports/my-topic-draft.md -e pptx --open  # Generate

Run node .github/muscles/gamma-generator.js --help for full documentation.

Related Skills

• •prompt-engineering - Crafting effective inputText
• •markdown-mermaid - Diagrams for presentations
• •image-handling - Working with generated images