1. A computer-implemented method for selecting pictures for use with text items in creating presentations, the method comprising: identifying information about individual pictures in a collection of pictures, the information including (i) content information that identifies one or more topics associated with each of the pictures in the collection, and (ii) layout information associated with each of the pictures in the collection; identifying one or more requirements or conditions for use in selecting a given picture from the collection of pictures, the one or more requirements indicating a desired picture layout information, including implementing one or more rules that govern the appearance of pictures in a layout that includes one or more text items; identifying information about a content of the one or more text items; programmatically selecting the given picture from the collection of pictures; wherein programmatically selecting the given picture is based at least in part on the information about the one or more text items and the content information identified about the given picture; wherein programmatically selecting the given picture includes using the layout information of the given picture to determine that the given picture satisfies the one or more requirements or conditions; wherein programmatically selecting a given picture from the collection of pictures further includes selecting one or more candidate pictures based at least in part on the information about the one or more text items and the content information of the given picture; determining which, if any, of the one or more candidate pictures are to be used with the one or more text items based on a set of rules governing a usage of the pictures in the collection; wherein identifying information about individual pictures in a collection of pictures includes identifying respective slant information indicating a slant orientation of an object appearing in at least a portion of a respective one of the pictures in the collection; wherein implementing the one or more rules includes implementing one or more rules that govern the appearance of pictures based on the slant orientation of the pictures; wherein determining which, if any, of the one or more candidate pictures are to be used with the text item includes determining the slant orientation of one or more a candidate pictures; and providing the presentation using the text item and the given picture according to the determined layout for the presentation.