Standard vs Smart: two engines, one brief

Teams argue about this in Slack more than we expected. The answer is boring: pick the mode that matches how much control you need before pixels appear.

Standard — outline first

You choose a template family, edit the outline, then generate slides into that spine. It is the right tool when stakeholders expect a known sequence — problem, solution, market, traction, team, ask.

• QBR and board packs
• Sales proposals with challenge → plan → proof → close
• Any deck where length and section order are political

Standard's superpower is saying no early. If slide eight does not belong, delete it from the outline before generation burns your attention budget.

Smart — story first

Smart reads the brief and composes layouts that follow the content — a tasting menu looks different from a GTM plan. Generation streams into the editor; you refine with chat in small steps.

• Creative or educational topics
• Decks where visual rhythm matters as much as section titles
• First drafts when you are not sure of the outline yet

The ten-second decision

You can mix habits

Smart draft, then enforce a Standard-shaped ending with manual slides. Standard outline, then Smart-style chat polish on weak sections. The product does not force purity — it forces a starting point.

What neither mode does

Pageworks does not replace your judgment on numbers, legal claims, or strategy. Both modes get you to an editable 16:9 deck with notes and PPTX export. The rest is still work — just not blank-slide work.